Brown Patch

GrassMaster – posted 17 April 2004 08:56

Hello. I’m new to the forum…I did a search and didn’t see this particular question fielded before…if it has been and I’m being repetative, please excuse me.I live in the Metro Detroit area. My grass has been green for about 2 weeks now and really is the nicest on the block (toot my own horn . But there’s one little area of green grass that seems to being overpowered by hay-like brown, dry grass. Any thoughts? I dethatched the whole yard last spring. Like I said, the lawn overall is very very lush and green, with the exception of this one mildly brown patch…I’m probably the only person who would notice this since I’m so picky.

Any help would be appreciated.

cohiba – posted 17 April 2004 11:45

Grass Master, its really hard to say what it is over the net. However, it could be a patch of a warm season grass. Does it ever green up? Like June, say? I suppose its not crabgrass skeletons, or could it be?Your best bet would be to take it to a fertilizer or seed store and ask If they can ID it for you.

Good Luck…..

GrassMaster – posted 17 April 2004 14:09

Nice name, cohiba, by the way…I assume you’re a cigar smoker.

I will take it in. It’s not a weed of any sort. It’s actual grass that really looks more dormant than anything.

cohiba – posted 17 April 2004 14:36

Yes, I do enjoy a fine cigar now and again.

It’s probably Bermuda or Zoysia, either way its hard to get rid of. The stolons are forever and pop up just when you think you have it licked.

Good luck and keep us updated…..

GrassMaster – posted 17 April 2004 15:50

You ever get a chance to listen to Cigar Dave on Saturdays? He’s on from noon – 2pm EDT. Listen if he’s in your market.

So, you think it’s a different type of grass, and not a malady of any sort, huh? I’m assuming the majority of my lawn is a bluegrass/rye/fescue mix.

cohiba – posted 17 April 2004 20:37

Sounds like it.Check with a someone in the know. Not a high schooler at Home Depot. If its not, I’ll eat my hat.

Let me know….

GrassMaster – posted 18 April 2004 17:25

How do I take care of it then?

cohiba – posted 18 April 2004 18:08

Lets find out what it is first. Then we can look into a plan of action…I actually know a guy that uses gas and diesel mixed together to kill encroaching bermuda in a sand trap. Highly NOT recommended in any case! Does the grass ever green up?

Let me know what you come up with.

Good Luck…..

GrassMaster – posted 19 April 2004 14:39

From what I remember from last year, it never really greened up…it became less pronounced around June/July when the rest of the good grass started taking over…but in August and September it showed up pretty strong…in one patch I used a manuarl dethatcher and then overseeded and it seemed to fix it. I am going to take a picture after I mow next time and post it.

GrassMaster – posted 26 April 2004 17:02

I took a hand cultivator and all this brown grass came up very easily. Could it just be that the grass was too thick in that spot?

cohiba – posted 27 April 2004 14:03

Not Crabgrass,(“Skeletons”) is it?

cohiba – posted 27 April 2004 14:09

Also the only problems that come from grass being too thick is disease in summer(Brown patch from not enough air movement within the turf canopy), competition,(thinnig only not a total kill area) and competition for nutrients (yellowing and thinnig but not total kill.)