Lawn Help (Bermuda grass)

jbellanca – posted 31 July 2009 23:04

I live in Atlanta, and we’ve been in a drought for the last 3-4 years. Things are getting better this year, there’s been a lot of rain, but my lawn has definitely been hurting with no rain and the watering restrictions. My front lawn (Bermuda grass) started thinning out two years ago, and sections started dying. Over time, the problem has spread to most of my lawn, in the front, side and back yards. I’m wondering if maybe there’s some kind of fungus, infection or pest causing it besides just the water issues, especially since this year has been pretty wet. Linked below are photos of a section of my lawn that at the end of last season and even this spring was beautifully lush and thick – now, just a couple months later, is all thin and dying. Can anyone help me diagnose what could be causing this and what I can do about it?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/64581428@N00/3777212764/http://www.flickr.com/photos/64581428@N00/3776406707/

Thanks in advance!

tommy – posted 01 August 2009 12:08

It looks like an insect problem. Use-‘Ortho bug b gon lawn insect killer’

Alex_in_FL – posted 03 August 2009 15:39

Might be fungal problem or insects as Tommy said.

Recommend that you rake all the dead grass then apply both insecticide and fungicide. I am thinking fungus only because I believe insects would have done more damage faster.

Alex

jbellanca – posted 03 August 2009 15:42

Thanks, I’ll give it a try and see what happens!

GreatGuy – posted 02 September 2009 19:44

if turf browned for a while looking like it was dry it is probably army worms, if it appeared suddenly with in a few weeks it would probably be a fungis. maybe a broad spectrum fungicide, like heritage, and an insectecide like sevin will solve your problems. Read the labels and apply the curative rate, not the preventative rate.

GSU Eagle – posted 28 October 2009 13:36

I live in the ATL area as well. Your photos hint at what many yards I have treated look like. Until you see evidence of insects, don’t waste your money. Not a disease, either.What we all have in ATL is 3 -4 years over Extreme drought, and the clay under the surface has turned rock hard. Noroot growth can occur under there…With our recent rains, the hard clay has turned to a play-doh consistency and roots still cannot penetrate this mess.Do this:1. Pre-emerge NOW. Barricade or Dimension will do the job.

2. Pre-emerge again in late January to Feb 14..It has to be done in this time frame.

3. In May, CORE aerate your yard at least twice in a one month period. Note that I said core aerate, not spike aerate…We need to pull plugs of clumpy clay OUT of the soil…You will put down 1 lb per 1000sq feet of N in early May, and again in June.You’ll do cartwheels if you follow this schedule I just gave you…

jbellanca – posted 28 October 2009 13:38

Thanks for the reply – do you own or work for a lawn service company?

saltcedar – posted 01 November 2009 09:33

Thinning and die out over the course of several years points to another problem besides insects.Is there now much more shade than previously?Bermuda grass is for full sun areas only. Drought by itself shouldn’t cause die-out and should regrow once conditions become wetter again.

[This message has been edited by saltcedar (edited 01 November 2009).]

GSU Eagle – posted 03 November 2009 12:49

The drought here in the ATL area did cause a lot of lawn damage because we were under a no-water anytime restriction for a long time. Add to that very little or no rainfall for weeks at a time, and it spelled disaster.I do own my own consulting company in the west metro (Carroll County) but I am always willing to travel. Years spent on golf courses taught me a lot about Bermuda needs and wa************@Be*******.net is my e-mail address

Russell