BIG PROBLEM !

GregS – posted 15 September 2002 07:18

First let me start off by saying this forum is GREAT. My first post on here.

Here goes.

About a week ago I fertilized my lawn (Scotts Turf Builder). A few days later I used (Ortho Weed Be Gone). 2 days after that my lawn is DEAD. I have St. Augustine grass. My soil under is some type of clay. I raked up all of the dead grass. I have some green blades here and there. I looked at the runners in the ground and they seem green in most sections. Some of the greenery that I see looks like weeds found in my landscape bed ( I live in Oldsmar Florida by the way ) in the Tampa Bay area. I have been told to water water water. I have been watering at 2 AM for 30 minutes a zone. I walk out into the yard and it is MUSHY. I need advice and or help. I went from having the nicest lawn on the street (homes are 2 years old) to the deadest grass in the neighborhood. I take much pride in my lawn and can not stand looking at it. I am seriously thinking that maybe laying new sod will be easier than waiting for something to happen with what I have. It almost seems as if the grass does come back it may be full of weeds. I would appreciate ANY advice. If you live in the area you can also swing by and take a look. I will also take some digital photos on Monday.

This forum is a great idea.

Greg

seed – posted 26 September 2002 15:36

GregS, it’s dreadful that neither I or anyone responded to your post sooner.

Whatever green you see on the runners on the surface, that is the only thing that can produce a new lawn. St. Augustinegrass has only stolons, above ground runners, there is nothing with buds below ground.

In cases of herbicide injury, it is best to wait a few weeks to see what’s going to happen. Watering constantly may cause other problems such as to stimulate the germination of weeds and encourage fungal diseases. Most of the damage was probably due to this herbicide being taken up through the leaf, not the soil, and you have seen the systemic effects from the herbicide already in the turfgrass plant.

Phil