Critical Lawn Theory
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wrote on 4 Mar 2023, 20:45 last edited by
Why do you suppose my lawn has such inequity between the thriving brightly colored parts and the oppressed brown parts?
I do note that grass thrives when built on the burial mounds of red skinned natives. That explains a lot. These bright green spots of tall grass used to be fire ant mounds.
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wrote on 4 Mar 2023, 20:47 last edited by
I am still working out my PhD thesis, but suffice to say that, in order to fix the problem, I'm training my dogs to pee and defecate on the thriving parts. It works in san francisco and it'll work here.
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wrote on 4 Mar 2023, 20:52 last edited by
Please explain that wood/aluminum fence.
Why switch material and why in that location?
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wrote on 4 Mar 2023, 20:54 last edited by
@Copper said in Critical Lawn Theory:
Please explain that wood/aluminum fence.
Why switch material and why in that location?
There's a water view to the left. But I don't see how that addresses systemic oppression of brown grass.
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wrote on 4 Mar 2023, 21:19 last edited by
Centipede?
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wrote on 4 Mar 2023, 23:47 last edited by
Fungus?
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wrote on 5 Mar 2023, 00:25 last edited by
Hard scape ftw
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wrote on 5 Mar 2023, 00:47 last edited by
Aerate the lawn then try a load of garden mix and hardy playground grass seed. Water the hell out of it and see what happens. If you’re not satisfied - then like Mik says, hardscape it. Lawns are way overrated.
Thinking of doing away with mine- or going to a low maintenance, low water ground cover. Have half the backyard that way - don’t love it but it is always green, needs virtually no water and as of last summer after four years, is truly low maintenance. You’ll have to check what is suitable for your growing zone. It’s a cheap fix but you need to kill off your existing lawn and weeds and rent a rototiller and roller, level it and get a load of garden mix and the seed. Mix and spread. Enjoy. It will be green.
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Aerate the lawn then try a load of garden mix and hardy playground grass seed. Water the hell out of it and see what happens. If you’re not satisfied - then like Mik says, hardscape it. Lawns are way overrated.
Thinking of doing away with mine- or going to a low maintenance, low water ground cover. Have half the backyard that way - don’t love it but it is always green, needs virtually no water and as of last summer after four years, is truly low maintenance. You’ll have to check what is suitable for your growing zone. It’s a cheap fix but you need to kill off your existing lawn and weeds and rent a rototiller and roller, level it and get a load of garden mix and the seed. Mix and spread. Enjoy. It will be green.
wrote on 5 Mar 2023, 01:32 last edited by@Renauda said in Critical Lawn Theory:
Aerate the lawn then try a load of garden mix and hardy playground grass seed. Water the hell out of it and see what happens. If you’re not satisfied - then like Mik says, hardscape it. Lawns are way overrated.
Thinking of doing away with mine- or going to a low maintenance, low water ground cover. Have half the backyard that way - don’t love it but it is always green, needs virtually no water and as of last summer after four years, is truly low maintenance. You’ll have to check what is suitable for your growing zone. It’s a cheap fix but you need to kill off your existing lawn and weeds and rent a rototiller and roller, level it and get a load of garden mix and the seed. Mix and spread. Enjoy. It will be green.
I’m letting clover take over my back yard. Lawns are a huge waste and bad for the ground water.
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@Renauda said in Critical Lawn Theory:
Aerate the lawn then try a load of garden mix and hardy playground grass seed. Water the hell out of it and see what happens. If you’re not satisfied - then like Mik says, hardscape it. Lawns are way overrated.
Thinking of doing away with mine- or going to a low maintenance, low water ground cover. Have half the backyard that way - don’t love it but it is always green, needs virtually no water and as of last summer after four years, is truly low maintenance. You’ll have to check what is suitable for your growing zone. It’s a cheap fix but you need to kill off your existing lawn and weeds and rent a rototiller and roller, level it and get a load of garden mix and the seed. Mix and spread. Enjoy. It will be green.
I’m letting clover take over my back yard. Lawns are a huge waste and bad for the ground water.
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wrote on 5 Mar 2023, 02:35 last edited by
Good for the bees, too.
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wrote on 5 Mar 2023, 03:04 last edited by
Is the problem too much water, or not enough?
It looks like the brown areas are at the lower elevations. The lower elevations are usually wetter - the water runs downhill. So, maybe too much water.
Too much water can prevent needed air from getting to the roots. It will also slow root growth. The roots will grow to get to the water in the soil. If they don't need to grow, they won't, at least not as much.
I can never figure out whether my problem is too much or too little.
Since the base under the sod is so new, the brown areas might be firmer and don't hold the water, so there is not enough on the brown areas. If that is the case, aeration might help loosen the soil. Annual aeration is usually a good idea anyway.
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Is the problem too much water, or not enough?
It looks like the brown areas are at the lower elevations. The lower elevations are usually wetter - the water runs downhill. So, maybe too much water.
Too much water can prevent needed air from getting to the roots. It will also slow root growth. The roots will grow to get to the water in the soil. If they don't need to grow, they won't, at least not as much.
I can never figure out whether my problem is too much or too little.
Since the base under the sod is so new, the brown areas might be firmer and don't hold the water, so there is not enough on the brown areas. If that is the case, aeration might help loosen the soil. Annual aeration is usually a good idea anyway.
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wrote on 5 Mar 2023, 12:19 last edited by
@Renauda said in Critical Lawn Theory:
Most of my no maintenance lawn cover is clover.
Mik, does clover spread?
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wrote on 5 Mar 2023, 12:25 last edited by
It does if you let it.
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wrote on 5 Mar 2023, 13:02 last edited by
@Friday said in Critical Lawn Theory:
Fungus?
Most likely, with dog urine providing the fertilizer.
I went back and looked, because I was wondering if he had St. Augustine grass. Sometimes, that will brown spot for different reasons.
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@Friday said in Critical Lawn Theory:
Fungus?
Most likely, with dog urine providing the fertilizer.
I went back and looked, because I was wondering if he had St. Augustine grass. Sometimes, that will brown spot for different reasons.
wrote on 5 Mar 2023, 14:44 last edited by@Jolly said in Critical Lawn Theory:
@Friday said in Critical Lawn Theory:
Fungus?
Most likely, with dog urine providing the fertilizer.
I went back and looked, because I was wondering if he had St. Augustine grass. Sometimes, that will brown spot for different reasons.
Yes, that's what it is.
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Aerate the lawn then try a load of garden mix and hardy playground grass seed. Water the hell out of it and see what happens. If you’re not satisfied - then like Mik says, hardscape it. Lawns are way overrated.
Thinking of doing away with mine- or going to a low maintenance, low water ground cover. Have half the backyard that way - don’t love it but it is always green, needs virtually no water and as of last summer after four years, is truly low maintenance. You’ll have to check what is suitable for your growing zone. It’s a cheap fix but you need to kill off your existing lawn and weeds and rent a rototiller and roller, level it and get a load of garden mix and the seed. Mix and spread. Enjoy. It will be green.
wrote on 5 Mar 2023, 14:45 last edited by@Renauda said in Critical Lawn Theory:
Aerate the lawn then try a load of garden mix and hardy playground grass seed. Water the hell out of it and see what happens. If you’re not satisfied - then like Mik says, hardscape it. Lawns are way overrated.
HOA rules are that I have to use their grass. I'll try aerating and fertilizing.
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@Renauda said in Critical Lawn Theory:
Aerate the lawn then try a load of garden mix and hardy playground grass seed. Water the hell out of it and see what happens. If you’re not satisfied - then like Mik says, hardscape it. Lawns are way overrated.
HOA rules are that I have to use their grass. I'll try aerating and fertilizing.