Help with grass growth on red clay lot

odaddybanker – posted 06 September 2005 12:15

I have been in a new home for about a year now. The home when built, had fescue sod laid down. The sod took in some parts of the yard, however, in most parts the sod still slides under foot, has bare spots and ahs completely died in others. No irrigation system but watered on a regular basis. Have used the Scott’s products according to cycles on the bag. In bare or dead spots, have laid topsoil and seeded with a fescue and the seeds gerinated, gre to about 2 inches and then died. Started the process again with a heat tolerant seed and the same result. Through the summer, in the healthy parts of the yard, I have contracted brown patch disease to which I am treating. Its time of the year for aerating and seeding, however, I have not been successful. Should I tear up the yard and dig out a few inches of clay and lay a bed of topsoil? Can I get grass to grow on top of the clay by aerating the sod that is there? I live in charlotte NC. Most of the sod has failed to root as wll. HELP!!!! My yard is the sore spot of the neighborhood!!!

tommy – posted 07 September 2005 11:23

Its very difficult to establish cool season grasses in the summer time! The cool fall weather will be “just what the doctor ordered” for your situation. Soil replacement is probably not neccesary, but aerifying will help loosen the soil and help you establish new seed or sod in the fall.

k2o – posted 07 September 2005 11:52

Are there grasses or a grass that you would recommend that is more durable year round? Should I expect to see th yard consumed by brown patch each summer?? Am I being impatient and just need to let the sod have more than 11 months to establish strong root systems because again, it slides in several areas of the yard as it sits on red clay. I will aerate and over seed………….suggestions??

tommy – posted 07 September 2005 22:16

Use a Tall fescue/ bluegrass mix when you over seed. Usually its pretty easy to find this mixture- as its very popular in a lot of states. Make sure you read the labels…..many times if the seed contained has brown patch resistance- it will be advertised some where on the bag. Some of the newer brown patch resistant tall fescue’s are- ‘wolfpack’ and ‘Tar heel’.

Swamp – posted 16 September 2005 18:33

I’ve had good luck with Southern Gold fescue from Lowes here in Charlotte. They also sell a gypsum product that helps to break up the clay.

You did mention it was a newly built house. You might want to check for debris below the surface. I’ve had dead spots and spots were the grass would grow an inch and die too. Invariably, I would dig down and find several bricks, a layer of spilled concrete, whole boards of siding and once even half a panel comp board. Rocks can cause the same trouble.