replacing dead lawn ideas

magvve – posted 20 March 2009 15:56

Hello,

I bought my home in Conroe tx in 2006. Seller had partially sodded it with St. Augustine. During the first season it extended itself beautifully. I helped with sodding the rest of the yard a year later

Someway during the middle of the last summer the grass suddenly started to become brown and dying without nothing that I could do to prevent it…. It was so frustrating after investing a bunch of time and money on it.

By the time hurricane Ike hit us, my once beautiful lawn was cold dead for sure. Nevertheless, I followed peoples advice to wait until the next spring (this one) because grass could green up again!

Now in spring, I can say that the grass won’t green up anymore. Scotts Services people also told me that it wont since runners are dead. They don’t know what killed it though, a fungus? Chinch bugs? drought (although I tried hard to keep it watered)?

Next week I am going to my local agrilife extension and bring some samples of dead grass for them to analyze and try to give me an answer. I wanna find the cause before replacing it since I don’t wanna waist more time & money!

I know that St. Augustine is the most recommended grass for the area and that I most likely would end up sticking to it again, but the fact that it died once, makes me look towards other options… After lots of research, I found the Seashore Paspalum.

Seashore Paspalum dragged my attention for being more traffic and drought tolerant and also for being a native specie for the Texas area. The seed availability is also very tempting from the point of view of my pocket

I wanted to know what you guys think about it. Anyone has tried it in the north of Houston area? IMHO it might be a good choice for this area, but the low popularity and scarce information makes me reluctant though…

Any input would be highly appreciated!Miguel

Alex_in_FL – posted 21 March 2009 10:29

We installed a variety of paspalum on our golf course greens. It seems to be doing well. Lots of positives (very deep roots, can use salt as weed killer, etc). Downside is limited number of herbicides (but salt works) and may be susceptible to fungus.

Don’t know how good it will do as a home turf however. But you can always seed it and watch what happens.

magvve – posted 22 March 2009 09:51

quote:Originally posted by Alex_in_FL:We installed a variety of paspalum on our golf course greens. It seems to be doing well. Lots of positives (very deep roots, can use salt as weed killer, etc). Downside is limited number of herbicides (but salt works) and may be susceptible to fungus.

Don’t know how good it will do as a home turf however. But you can always seed it and watch what happens.

Thanks for your input Alex.I noticed that salt can be used as a weed control and I think that’s great. With regards to the fungus, can you treat it with comercial fungus control products? lets say scotts?

I guess you’re in florida right? I would also be interested in anybody who has installed it in the north Houston area.

spiva55 – posted 22 March 2009 15:41

I planted a little section of the seaspray paspalum last summer. It came up great and had no real problems but some nutsedge and few broadleaf that sedgehammer and trimec southern took out no problem without hurting the paspalum. I’m now clearing the rest of the backyard to plant more of the seaspray. Also it held it’s color all winter til we had a string of nights in the low 30s high 20s

magvve – posted 22 March 2009 17:22

quote:Originally posted by spiva55:I planted a little section of the seaspray paspalum last summer. It came up great and had no real problems but some nutsedge and few broadleaf that sedgehammer and trimec southern took out no problem without hurting the paspalum. I’m now clearing the rest of the backyard to plant more of the seaspray. Also it held it’s color all winter til we had a string of nights in the low 30s high 20s

Thanks Spiva55, may I ask where are you located?

spiva55 – posted 23 March 2009 14:42

sorry meant to say central Florida, not sure if that will compare to houston