Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nancy E Jenkins on September 8, 2011 at 10:09pm

Do you get cold weather where you live, if not heavy rake the patches put in garbage, not compost. Get some good soil from garden nursery, spread and then some overseed grass seed and lightly rake in to nursery soil. For the rest there is a weed n feed that is safe around pets and people it is a corn base, look for the symbol, spread over area where violets are and leave for rain in 24 hours or whatever bag says. Oh the other thing do you have a female dog, that could be cause of brown patches too, or someone elses dog is coming into your yard.

Try these and see.

Permalink Reply by michelle haslam on September 9, 2011 at 7:32am

I know that these dead spots are not from a dog, unless it is the size of a water buffalo.   It is that fungal strain like fairy ring and all those problems.  I was just hoping for a wonderful cure for what ails my poor lawn.

Permalink Reply by Joan weed, Z5, VT on September 9, 2011 at 6:42am

Good answers by Nancy.  My answer to the violets is let them live there. it's all green to me. 

At Chatsworth in England, they have a natural lawn and they call it a Salisbury Lawn.  I guess because the Duchess of Salisbury lives there.  It's full of all sorts of plants including grasses. So you could proudly announce that you have a Salisbury lawn. Think of the work you'll save!

Permalink Reply by michelle haslam on September 9, 2011 at 7:34am

You could be right.  If I let it go for a few years, it will be just that.  I planted violets when we first moved into our home 17 years ago.  Should have put a warning label on those babies.  Been pulling them out ever since.  They are pretty in the spring .  Thanks for the advice.

 

Permalink Reply by Rich Bishop on September 11, 2011 at 6:19pm

Michelle, you can use 2-4D weed killer on those violets instead of pulling for endless hours.    As for the brown patch, make sure the grass gets regular waterings-doesn't got from very dry to wet and back again.   Constant soil moisture helps as well as fertility that is adequate.   The latest I would fertilize the lawn would be July 1st, so the lawn will be strong as it goes into August, yet no excess Nitrogen hanging around.    Mow as high as your mower will go also helps alot.    You may find that those spots become hydrophobic (won't wet up) and a good application of soap and water and hole punching helps.   One more strategy would be to overseed with another grass, like Rye and red fescue, or another variety of Bluegrass that has better resistance.  Good luck, I know it isn't an easy thing to battle.