Dallas Morning News – May 11, 2017
Turf Dying Out is a Common Question
Turf slowly losing color and dying out is a common frustration. Questions related to this dilemma are hard to specifically answer even when photos are provided but here’s an overview that should cover most situations.
It’s hard to say without knowing more details about what’s been used on the turf in the past but severe die-back usually involves the disease called take all patch and/or the other fungal disease called brown patch. Too much shade, too much or too little water and the wrong kind of fertilizers could all be the culprits. It’s important to eliminate the use of all synthetic fertilizers, especially “weed and feed” ones and start using the organic types such as Good Natured, Medina Groin Green, MaestroGro, Nature’s Guide, Espoma or GreenSense. Don’t use them any more than 2-3 times per season. Apply hydrogen peroxide mixed with water 50/50 at about a gallon per 1000 sq. ft. The commercial product is called BioSafe. Then apply whole ground cornmeal at 20 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft.
I would then plant new solid sod St. Augustine in the completely dead areas in the shady spots and use Bermuda or zoysia in the sunny spots. Set up an irrigation schedule that waters very heavily and then waits as long as possible before watering again. This “pulsing” of moisture from very moist to relatively dry is important. If using an automatic sprinkler system, turn the auto setting off. Push the button in the manual setting so the system only runs when water is needed. Most people water too often and too much.
Back to the “too much shade” issue for a second. This is the hardest problem to correct. Trees want direct sun and grass wants direct sun. Trees win! Some folks think heavy thinning and lifting lower limbs can help but this improper pruning really can’t, in the long run especially. Removal of trees is the only solution but that’s a bad idea for other reasons in most cases. Homeowners want their trees and their lush green lawns. Can’t be done. Shade is a problem but so is root completion. Trees win that battle too. The answer to the shade question is to change the turf to shade loving groundcovers, ferns and other shade loving plants. Hard surface materials can also be used for walks, sitting areas and decorative spots. For example, I have no turf in most of my landscape.
