Here are the most common causes.
http://redwoodbarn.com/brownlawn.html
posted by Darkseid at 12:31 A.M. EST on Fri May 05, 2006 #
Gardening and working in the yard is one of my hobbies, too, by the way. Find it very relaxing.
posted by Darkseid at 12:32 A.M. EST on Fri May 05, 2006 #
our spots were grubs...we used the grub killer and were told to rake up all the dead stuff and plant new grass over it ... (I'm sure there were more details, but my responsibility is the flowering portion...)
posted by MaggieThurber at 06:36 A.M. EST on Fri May 05, 2006 #
Good topic,
I have the same problem, and thought it was thatch. I was planning on doing a little raking and putting some dirt/seed mix. Is that advisable?
How are you Maggie?
posted by lloyd at 09:03 A.M. EST on Fri May 05, 2006 #
The dead spots on your lawn are caused by your pool boy Pedro, who has taken to pissing on your lawn instead of in your pool.
posted by madjack at 09:51 A.M. EST on Fri May 05, 2006 #
madjack, you are too funny 8-)
posted by tm at 09:58 A.M. EST on Fri May 05, 2006 #
madjack - but the pool isn't open yet, so why is he even here - and how do we make him stop? :)
Lloyd - doing great, thanks...thinking about how to get rid of dandelions without killing the yard and without digging them up (looking for an easy way) ... AND, considering what to do with the yard since it's got 4 different kinds of grasses in it, not counting crabgrass...
Also, I've got grass growing up between my lavendar hedges. The grass killer that we had doesn't say that it can be used on lavendar, despite being able to be used on just about everything else. Any suggestions?
posted by MaggieThurber at 11:20 A.M. EST on Fri May 05, 2006 #
so that's where that pesky pedro has wandered off to.
Maggie - I wouldn't use any chemicals on the lavender - if you grew it you know it's really hard to start and sensitive.
I'd hire a neighborhood kid to weed. Run the sprinkle for about half an hour and let it soak for 10 minutes or so. Then the weeds come very easily with pulling, roots and all.
Then spread mulch around the base of the bushes to discourage regrowth of the weeds.
Love lavender.
posted by katie82640 at 12:20 P.M. EST on Fri May 05, 2006 #
I just used this Ortho hose end week killer (weed b gon max, about $8) and it worked great! It even killed some nasty clover I have had for several years that a standard "weed and feed" didn't get.
Knock on wood, but my lawn is looking the best it evey has. Of course, it is only May and we'll see what it looks like come August.
I do still have some bare spots though...
posted by lloyd at 02:16 P.M. EST on Fri May 05, 2006 #
Katie - the weeding portion is easy...it's the grass that grows up between all the lavendar that's so hard to get to. And the mulch is already as close to the base as I can get it...guess I'll have to get out there and do it myself and that way, I'm sure it's done right...just the price I have to pay for a nice garden...sigh
posted by MaggieThurber at 02:22 P.M. EST on Fri May 05, 2006 #
Frigus- Once you take care of Pedro, if the problem persists, my guess would be grubs. They are nasty, little white worm like things that feed on your grass roots. Buy some Grub-Ex. Stick it down into the earth in the areas you are describing, and the grubs will move into one of your neighbors' yards. Also, Scotts makes a mulch/seed/fertilizer product for patching up dead areas. Just make sure you water the hell out of it after you put it down.
posted by nick44 at 03:26 P.M. EST on Fri May 05, 2006 #
I think moles eat grubs. The other day my neighbor asked me if we were bothered by moles. I told him we weren't.
posted by madjack at 04:03 P.M. EST on Fri May 05, 2006 #
So we put the grub-ex on the affected areas...getting ready to rake up the dead stuff and plant new grass...
In weeding the vegetable garden, hubby informs me the grubs have moved there now...
Does the whole lawn have to be treated? Can they move from lawn up 2 feet into flower boxes? Don't they only feed on grass and, if so, what are they eating in my veggie garden? The row of lavendar which forms the border?
posted by MaggieThurber at 04:03 P.M. EST on Fri May 05, 2006 #
If they are from grubs, you'll find that you can easily take your heel and scrape it along the thin spot and it will just peel away. Thats because the grubs eat the roots.
posted by JeepMaker at 05:55 P.M. EST on Fri May 05, 2006 #
Bugs and Grubs I know how to deal with, My lawn has been overtaken by wild strawberry and rubarb....besides diggin this stuff out anybody know how to get rid of it?
posted by ebcsizi at 06:56 A.M. EST on Sat May 06, 2006 #
Maggie- Grubs will eat plant roots as well, but the roots of most plants/flowers are heartier than grass roots. The grubs will not be able to eat more than the tip, thus doing little or no damage. I am not sure about lavender.
posted by nick44 at 10:56 A.M. EST on Sat May 06, 2006 #
FREE to a good home.....
I have a bunch of small sedums that have sprung up all over this year. Some have landed in pots, others under hedges, etc. I need to find them good homes.
If you would like some just let me know and we will work out how to get them to you. They are pretty resistant to even the brownest thumb! :)
I'm in the Point, so you know they will grow in that sandy type of soil.
Check out more about sedums at http://www.naturehills.com/new/product/perennialsdetails.aspx?prodid=1286
posted by DoknowDocare at 03:40 P.M. EST on Sat May 06, 2006 #
They're good for ground cover, in case nobody knows what they are. Will withstand a drought, too. Though as nails.
posted by Darkseid at 05:56 P.M. EST on Sat May 06, 2006 #
DNDK - I'd love to have them...we're actually in the process of putting sedum on our "rocks" between the lawn and the water...I'm sure they'll do well there next to the other sedums. Do you know what kind?
posted by MaggieThurber at 06:22 P.M. EST on Sat May 06, 2006 #
Maggie - you are welcome to as many as you would like. They are Autumn Joy - they get spikes in fall with huge clusters of magenta flowers. Extremely colorful, but they are taking over the front of my house! :)
I also have a bunch of Yucca if you would like them. You just have to dig them out. I've been trying for 2 years to get them out of this front bed. They were here when we bought the house.
Email me at: invest4toledoATbexDOTnet and we can put it together.
posted by DoknowDocare at 07:01 P.M. EST on Sat May 06, 2006 #
thanks, DKDC - email sent!
posted by MaggieThurber at 08:15 P.M. EST on Sat May 06, 2006 #
Lloyd - took your advice and got the Weed B Gone spray - it worked like a charm! Thanks!
posted by DoknowDocare at 06:54 P.M. EST on Wed May 10, 2006 #
Maggie - I have had experience with lavender. It's very hard to get started. It takes several years and they're finnicky. If you have the patience for it - it's worth the effort. Out of 20 (25?) plants I had four that wintered long enough to mature. Smelled heavenly every year.
Now my second husbands fourth wife has them. (I think. I'm going to get a drink now :-)
posted by katie82640 at 09:04 P.M. EST on Thu May 11, 2006 #
Katie - I think you need to evaluate your type of lavender. I've always had tons of it because I love it so much. I'd just buy some plants at a local greenhouse, put them in the ground and watch them spread...trim each spring after they start to get green.
We moved into our current house in 2002 and planted the lavendar in 2003/2004. I lost 2 plants the first winter (they never really looked that good after planting anyway) and one more this year...BUT - the other lavender seeds spread into my vegetable garden and there were two transplantable plants there...we did that last weekend.
My only complaint is that they get so thick that it's hard to get out the grass that grows between them.
I've always found my type of lavender to be anything but finnicky.
What kind do you have and did you start them from seeds?
posted by MaggieThurber at 06:44 A.M. EST on Fri May 12, 2006 #
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