what’s in my lawn

sweetpooty – posted 11 July 2004 18:35

Last fall we put fescue sod down on a slope in our yard. I took soil to the county and had a test prior. I fertilized only according to their schedule the last time in May. It has been a beautiful lawn all through the year. Now we just came out of 20 days straight of rain, high temps and humidity. I noticed the lawn starting to brown and made it out 2 times 7 days apart to apply a fungicide. After the fact of course but I’m not sure if that is all it is. I have looked for grubs and not come up with any. I am tempted to use 10-10-10 since my husband keeps saying he thinks all of the nutrients have washed out but I am trying to resist the urge. I have a good Honda mulching mower that I keep on the highest setting and mow about 2 times a week except in that rain. I usually don’t bag but have been since I noticed the problem so as not to spread it. Now do I sit and wait or do I do something. Should I rake out the dead grass that is in there or just leave it. Help, I do not want to lose this lawn. I have good pictures of the lawn and the grass stems but can’t figure out how to put them in this forum. I will send them if someone will look at them. Thanks, Mary

ted – posted 11 July 2004 21:32

upon more careful reading, i noticed some more clues… if you’re living in the south or midwest, you would definitely not want to fertilize the lawn in may! also, it’s a good idea to remove all clippings, particularly in areas of the country with disease problems. also, look at the leaf blade- does it look like it has “cigaratte burns” on it? dead ringer for brown patch fungus– grubs not generally a problem on tall fescue lawns.

sweetpooty – posted 12 July 2004 04:30

Thanks for the reply. My county extension office has a schedule that kind of follows the holidays. I think labor day, thanksgiving, valentines and then in early my a light application of ammonia nitrate (?) 30-0-0.I live in the upper south. Almost north carolina. Will the fungal treatments I put on help to arrest it? Should I rake out the dead stuff and should I treat it again. It is dry now and it hasn’t had water for about a week.

seed – posted 12 July 2004 15:56

Mary, I posted the photos of your lawn here:https://turfgrass.com/diseases/

Is this tall fescue as I indicated in the caption? What state?

Phil

sweetpooty – posted 13 July 2004 09:59

I believe it is tall fescue. It does not have a spine. It came from Home Depot Landscape supply and was grown in Tennessee. I live in very north georgia in zone 7a.