My Applogies; trouble w/ St. Augustine

twoseas – posted 04 July 2003 06:39

I want to applogize for yesterday’s multiple posts that did not amount to anything. Thanks to Will to trying to help me. How can I preview the post prior to sending to verify addition of the image ???I was attempting to attach 3 pics of what appears to be gray leaf spot on my St. Augustine Grass Blades. Some time in the Middle of May I sprayed my Lawn w/ concentrated liquid weed killer to get rid of White Clover and other weeds. I apparently used too much as I didn’t follow the instructions. A few days after the application, the grass blades commenced to develop brown circular lesions. My neighbors on either side of me have the same grass type but they do not have my issues. I contacted the local University Ag guy and he said that I chemically shocked the lawn and this was compounded by the fact that the application was too close to the summer heat. I can almost buy his theory but I have areas that I didn’t spray that are showing the lesions on the grass blades, though not as much as the areas where I sprayed. He told me to water my lawn frequently and this problem would go away. I live in Patterson, La and it rained for most of the month of June. I’m not seeing any improvement. I read some where that gray leaf spot is a fungus and can be treated but I don’t want to continue to add chemicals to a lawn already stressed.I would like to put down summer fertilizer but again don’t want to compound my problem.

Will this get better with time ?What should I do, treat or leave alone ??

I appreciate any help w/ this.Ray

twoseas – posted 04 July 2003 08:04

One more question, Can I core aerate to help me with this problem or is it already too warm/hot to do so ??

I reside in Patterson, La where the temps are lingering in high 80’s to low 90’s.

Thanks,Ray

Dchall_San_Antonio – posted 05 July 2003 00:36

I see you read my FAQ on organic turf management. You can probably guess my suggestion…corn meal at 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet should control any fungus you get in St Aug.

I know you can’t control Mother Nature but when it stops raining, let the grass tell you when to water again. When it dries out, the blades will fold together lengthwise up the middle. This happens first in the afternoon heat. I try to refrain from watering until I see the drought stress effect in the morning. When that happens, I water for 2 hours in each zone. That usually gets me through at least another week before the blades fold together again.

twoseas – posted 05 July 2003 09:43

Dchall_San_Antonio

I appreciate your reply..Ray