Lawns Problems

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Lawns Problems

Bare Spots

We have bare spots all over our zoysia grass. We had a service man come to spray it, but that didn’t do anything. Should we add new soil, loosen the present soil and re-sod?

Bare Spots

We have always had a beautiful, plush lawn, and this year it looks TERRIBLE!! Our new lawn service fertilized about 2-3 weeks ago, but since then with the HOT weather - we have these dried up -dead looking- bare spots mostly where the hot sun hits- not in the shady areas. Our lawn service said it is a fungus and our neighbor’s lawn service said it was insects.

Bare Spots

I have quite a few bare spots in my lawn. What is the best way to get grass growing in these areas again?

Chinch Bugs

In fall, a lawn service informed us we had chinch bug damage to our lawn. We thought it was just burned out from the hot, dry summer. How can we tell if we have chinch bugs? If so, how can we treat the lawn and prevent future problems?

Clover

My rather small backyard bluegrass lawn is being taken over by clover. The lawn is bordered by perennial flower gardens. Can I safely use some kind of weed killer on the lawn without causing damage to my flower gardens? The weeds seem impossible to control naturally.

Clover

My lawn is filled with clover. Someone told me I better treat the lawn or it will be ruined. I kind of like the flowers. Should I be concerned?

Coarse Fescue

Our Northern Illinois lawn has come up nicely this spring but there are little patches of grass that has grown much taller than the rest. The patches appear to be in a checkerboard pattern. What might be the problem?

Complete Shade

My daughter has a problem growing grass in her Lutz, Florida front yard. It is in complete shade. We have hot, humid summers with temps in the 90s for about three or more months. She has seeded several times and nothing seems to grow. It is also an area that the children play in. Do you have any suggestions for her? The homeowner association is giving her flack and yet they have no suggestions for her. She is a single mother and finances are low. Is there something besides grass that would grow and withstand children running over it?

Crabgrass

What do you know about the new pre-emergent product for crabgrass where you can also plant seed right away? Have checked the web and it may come from Preen.

Crabgrass

Here in the south Bermuda lawns are the most common choice. When crab grass and Johnson grass invade, is it a good idea to use ammonia nitrate fertilizer to correct the problem?

Crabgrass

My bluegrass yard was full of crabgrass last summer. How can I keep it under control, preferably without using chemicals?

Crabgrass

I took the opportunity to put down a pre-emergent crabgrass control plus fertilizer two weeks ago. The instructions said that you need to wait six weeks before doing any overseeding, or applying any grass seed (which I need to in some areas of my lawn), so I wanted to get it down as early as possible. Now what?

Crabgrass

I reseeded my Michigan lawn last spring. The grass grew well in the summer but in August it was heavily invaded by this light green grass. What should I do this spring?

Creeping Charlie

I have heard that Borax is an ideal treatment to get rid of creeping Charlie or ground ivy in your lawn. If this is so, what is the mixture? I tried different things and could not get it to dissolve in warm water.

Creeping Charlie

My lawn is slowly being overtaken by creeping Charlie. I have tried various weed controls including borax. None have worked.

Creeping Bentgrass

Every year around this time of the summer I notice areas of my lawn that begin to turn brown, even though I water during dry periods. The brown grass is thin, stringy and it is like pulling thread. Should I over seed with bluegrass?

Diagnosing Problems

We checked the internet and believe we have pythium blight on our lawn. Do you have any recommendations?

Diagnosing Problems

Our friend’s lawn, we live in the south, turned into a sickly carpet-like pattern last fall. It has since turned completely brown.

Dogs

I have dogs that destroy the grass faster than I can get it growing.

Earthworms

Earthworms are ruining my lawn. They are creating lumps, bumps and small holes.

Excessive Shade

I live in Milwaukee, WI and have a red maple tree that is about 40 to 45 feet tall and 40 inches around. I am having trouble growing grass around the base of this tree. I have tried seeding with a shade mix and had no luck.

Fairy Ring

I have a fairy ring in my front yard. It's always green and in the fall is a circle of mushrooms. What causes it and what's the best way to get rid of it?

Fall Weed Control

Weeds often gain a foothold in the lawn during the stressful summer months.

Fusarium Blight

Our Ohio lawn was diagnosed with fusarium blight. We used a fungicide but the disease seems to be spreading throughout the lawn. Someone told us we would have to replace all the sod. I hope this isn't the case?

Lack of Earthworms

Three years ago our Iowa lawn was submerged in water for eighteen hours. This was also the same time we hired a lawn care service. Since then we have not had any earthworms. IS there anything we can do this fall?

Lack of Vigor

We have been having a problem with our front lawn; the grass is just dying with big brown patches all over. Who can we call to come out and look at it and give us a "professional" answer as to what the problem is?

Lack of Vigor

Our bluegrass/fescue lawn looks pretty bad. Each year it seems to have more weeds and bare patches. We don't water and have lots of shade. Where do we begin?

Lumpy Lawn

My grass is so lumpy that it is hard to walk on it. Would it be OK to roll it flat? When the guys cut the grass, some of it is longer and some too short. I have so many bald spots that I thought of getting some soil, filling in the holes and seeding these areas.

Lumpy Lawn

In a recent column a reader asked you what to do about their lumpy lawn. We have the same problem as your reader and I tried top dressing but the mole-induced lumps reappeared. How do we get rid of the moles that are causing the lumps?

Melting Out

I have large brown areas of dead grass in my bluegrass lawn. It seems to turn brown, dry up and disappear. What is it and can I fill in the bare areas with sod this fall?

Moss

My lawn is filled with moss. The area is shaded with pine and oak trees. I tried liming the soil, but it did not help.

Moss

We built our home in 1978 on a ridge with a lot of gravel underneath. Our lawn was done from seed and was hardly ever fertilized. Now with the mature trees, both deciduous and evergreen, our lawn is getting slowly worse. There is less grass and more moss in the lawn even in the areas that get more sun than shade. Where do I start?

Mushrooms

Every year in August and September I find large mushrooms growing in my lawn. How can I stop them from growing?

Perennial Weed Grasses

My lawn has a number of patches of light green and bent-like grass patches that have persisted all season. Last year I treated several spots with Roundup and then reseeded but with poor results. Is this the only method of coping with these spots?

Planting Under Bird Feeders

What can I plant under my bird feeders that will grow? The fallen birdseed seems to stunt the grass.

Quack Grass

Over the past several years, I've been noticing "patches" of quack grass appearing in my lawn. I fertilize and use a weed killer every year and aerate every fall. Do you have any remedies that I could use to get rid of this quack grass problem?

Rust

For the last couple of years, I’ve had problems with rust in my lawn. Summers are very dry here and there are periods when it’s just too expensive to water the grass. Is there anything I can do to prevent it from happening next summer?

Rust

My lawn has turned brown in spots and when we walk across it we get a orange powdery residue on our shoes. It even gets on the dogs paws. What is causing the problem and what can I do about it?

Snow Mold

After this winter, my yard has patches of flattened whitish brown grass. Is it dead? Can I do anything to improve it?

Sod Webworm

I need information on how to control sod webworms. I have had problems with them every year for the three years we have lived here. I am looking for an easy, quick and cheap solution as I was recently laid-off.

Thatch

What is the best time to power rake my lawn? I've been bagging my clippings for the last two years, but I still have a fairly thick layer of thatch left over from before I was bagging. I'm planning on putting down a crabgrass preemergent and fertilizer this spring, which recommends not raking the lawn for several months. What's your opinion?

Tree Roots

I have two silver maples whose roots have broken the ground and are above the grass. I'd like to fill in the area with soil to cover the exposed roots but have been told this could injure or even kill the trees. What's your opinion?

Urine Burns

Is there anything to help urine burns in the lawn? I have heard you have some concoction of dish soap and beer ... or something like that.

Violets in the Lawn

I have purple violets in my lawn. I have tried several different weed killers but had no success killing them.

Violets in the Lawn

For many years, my lawn has been plagued with violets. How can I once and for all get rid of this pretty—but prolific—little flower!

Weedy Lawn

I have a 3 acre lot. One acre is lawn and the other two are left wild. I have lots of weed seeds blowing into the lawn. In the past I have been able to keep the weeds under control with spot treatment. Now I am considering aeration and maybe a weed and feed application.

Weedy Lawn

My bluegrass lawn is overrun with weeds. I want to get rid of the weeds this fall while being kind to the environment.

Wild Onion

Can you please give me a few suggestions for killing wild onion in my lawn? I have sprayed with 2,4-D and also Round-Up, but the onions just keep multiplying?

Lawns Problems

Search Ask Melinda

Lawns Problems

Bare Spots

Bare Spots

Bare Spots

Chinch Bugs

Clover

Clover

Coarse Fescue

Complete Shade

Crabgrass

Crabgrass

Crabgrass

Crabgrass

Crabgrass

Creeping Charlie

Creeping Charlie

Creeping Bentgrass

Diagnosing Problems

Diagnosing Problems

Dogs

Earthworms

Excessive Shade

Fairy Ring

Fall Weed Control

Fusarium Blight

Lack of Earthworms

Lack of Vigor

Lack of Vigor

Lumpy Lawn

Lumpy Lawn

Melting Out

Moss

Moss

Mushrooms

Perennial Weed Grasses

Planting Under Bird Feeders

Quack Grass

Rust

Rust

Snow Mold

Sod Webworm

Thatch

Tree Roots

Urine Burns

Violets in the Lawn

Violets in the Lawn

Weedy Lawn

Weedy Lawn

Wild Onion

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