Help My Grass Is Dying

[Mark4davies]

I had my garden laid down as turf 2 years ago and has never been the thickest of lawns, however, after mowing my lawn a few weeks ago my grass has started to die progressively over this time.

As you can see from the pictures it’s rather bad. I assumed the bottom right corner was due to lack of sunshine as the grass there never grew much. But this cannot explain the other sections and as you can see from my neighbours garden, there’s is completely normal.

Is this a case of raking and sowing grass seeds or is it something more sinister? I need your help please.

Thanks guys.

 

[DirtMechanic]

Which direction am I facing?

 

[mgmine]

Well, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence but there could be something wrong with yours. Try digging a spot and see if you have any grubs. If not then I would replant the bare areas and fertilize everything. How often do you fertilize it? When you buy the fertilizer make sure that it doesn't prevent crabgrass. If it does you won't be able to plant seed for at least a few months. You might also consider getting the soil tested before fertilizing to determine what it needs.

 

[mgmine]

Which direction am I facing?

Towards the computer.

 

[DirtMechanic]

Towards the computer.

That explains the fuzzy lights!

 

[Mark4davies]

Which direction am I facing?

West

 

[DirtMechanic]

Just a guess but I think your pH is getting out of range. Because they have calcium, I do not think it unrealistic to point out the limeing effect of concrete and how the grass looks nice around the round steps.

Having gone that far out on a speculative plank, I might as well also point out that not only does concrete hold moisture,but nobody is stepping on weakened grass either.

And yeah, grass needs some sun, but heat will kill a fescue back pretty easily. There are some, like Titan Rx, that are very heat resistant.

Also, given the west facing orientation, white or reflective materials on the North fence will increase light on the South lawn. Decorative mirrors near a bird bath would cause fights with birds though.

I finally figured out how to use a stick pH meter. I use it the day after a rain. Mine was 20 bucks from Burpee. If it does not want to read, soak the prongs in some vinegar for an hour to acid clean the probes.

Careful what you wish for, my cheap meter led to 68 bags of pelletized lime. Yard looks good now though.

 

[DirtMechanic]

So you are in zone 9, no doubt hot summers, so what kind of sod was laid down 2 years ago? Hard to tell on my phone, but clumps are often a fescue but perhaps it was other? USDA 9 is getting pretty far south for fescue. The reason I ask is fescue has losses where fall reseeding is a standard practice to fill holes where heat kill occured over summer. Perhaps mixing seed into black kow composted manure would serve the purpose if it was spread thinly across the surface?

 

[mgmine]

The same yard with a fence down the middle tells me the neighbor has a different type of grass or that yours needs something done to the soil. Why not ask the neighbor what he is doing and do the same. But whatever you do have the soil tested.

 

[Mark4davies]

Thank you so much for this advice, very helpful.