Not Rooting

Ryan77 – posted 29 July 2010 10:20

Need some advice. I’ve lived in my Dallas, TX home for 5 years, and the St. Augustine lawn was well established long before I took ownership. For the first time, this year, the St. Augustine runners do not appear to be rooting well. The runners appear healthy and are fast-growing, (ample rain, supplemental watering, etc), but in a number of locations throughout the lawn, they simply are not taking root. Thoughts? Suggestions?

turfgrass – posted 29 July 2010 20:43

have you applied any sort of pre-emergent herbicide?

Free Man – posted 10 August 2010 16:41

Hmmm, if you pull on your grass in these areas does it come up easily? Is it mainly in certain areas? Do you notice a thinning of the grass anywhere?

It almost sounds like grubs might be eating at the roots, which could cause this issue. If so I would put something down with Merit in it, or from Bayer Advanced Season Long Grub control (from Lowes or HD).

Ryan77 – posted 11 August 2010 14:55

I applied pre-emergent in late winter, early spring. The grass is not thinning in any other area… none of the traditional indicators of grubs, but the first 5 to 12 inches of the runners pull up very easily. I’ll look into the herbicides again… chat with the folks at HD and Lowes. Thanks.