What else besides grubs?

[Donald]

My back lawn has large brown areas. Over the past week it's gotten twice as bad as in this picture. The dead spots do not peel away like I was expecting. Dug up two 1 sq ft sections on the edge of dead/green grass. No grubs.

What else. A fungus?

Treatment?

 

[skyactiv]

You need to dethatch your lawn.

 

[doitmyself]

If you dare think that you have good knowledge of these things and have everything figured out, mother nature intervenes to knock you down a few notches. Been there, done that over and over.

In Michigan we have been getting annual extreme heat/drought cycles in August that really turn lawn management upside down. New critters cycle that were never a problem before.

You can use a soapy solution to force insects out for identification: https://bughunter.tamu.edu/collection/collectionequipment/turfsampling/

Not this year, but I have had sod webworms wipe out large patches of drought/heat stressed grass that never comes back in the fall: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/sod_webworm_tips_for_your_lawn ....one sign is small gray moths fluttering about every time you mow.

As you know, taking a shotgun approach without identifying the problem is just like replacing car parts until you get lucky. Insects, disease, physical/environment problems....yikes. Maybe you can enlist your local turfgrass extension services for diagnostic help.

http://turf.cals.cornell.edu/pests-and-weeds/insect-management/
http://www.nysta.org/news/nystapr/2014/The Sod Webworms in New York State.pdf
http://ccenassau.org/resources/-sod-webworms

Disease Key: http://www.msuturfdiseases.net/browse-by-name/

Don't take my ideas about the sod webworm as fact without keeping yourself open to other things. Good luck.....aggravating!

 

[KJSmith]

Down here in the deep south we have brown patch.
Its a fungus that is best treated with a spray.

 

[joekingcorvette]

I am no lawn expert but it looks to me like an aeration, raking, insecticide, and tons of water with some fertilizer will bring that right back to life again. Maybe even do some over-seeing after you do the de-thatching. Kind of like throwing parts at a car until you get it fixed.

 

[toneydoc]

If you have a coop in the area maybe take a sample and photos to a coop expert

 

[MasterSolenoid]

Go to a local Nursery with your info, photos and a sample.

I've had very good luck talking to them about various problems.

 

[Donald]

A lawn care expert felt it was over stressed and not a disease. From the pictures.

I have recently used an overseeder and dropped in a mix of quality perennial rye.

 

[Lubener]

That pix looks my my front yard. It's like straw. I hope it perks up with some rain since it is getting too late here to effectively seed new grass and have it harden off before the cold sets in.

 

[LubeFiner]

As previously mentioned, it just appears to be stressed. It also appears you have a very heavy layer of thatch. Either rent a dethatcher or rake your yard, then use your mower to bag it if you have a bagger, or just bag the thatch in trash bags. Rent a plug aerator to aerate the lawn. Then spread some Milorganite down at the recommended rate, and water until you reach an inch of water twice a week for a couple of weeks. After two weeks, get more seed and over seed it, do another Milorganite treatment, then resume twice a week watering for two more weeks. Should be pretty green and full after that. If you are going to be receiving plenty of rain, forego the waterings.

https://www.milorganite.com/

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted by LubeFiner
As previously mentioned, it just appears to be stressed. It also appears you have a very heavy layer of thatch. Either rent a dethatcher or rake your yard, then use your mower to bag it if you have a bagger, or just bag the thatch in trash bags. Rent a plug aerator to aerate the lawn. Then spread some Milorganite down at the recommended rate, and water until you reach an inch of water twice a week for a couple of weeks. After two weeks, get more seed and over seed it, do another Milorganite treatment, then resume twice a week watering for two more weeks. Should be pretty green and full after that. If you are going to be receiving plenty of rain, forego the waterings.

https://www.milorganite.com/


It gets water via rain.

 

[irv]

Originally Posted by Donald
Originally Posted by LubeFiner
As previously mentioned, it just appears to be stressed. It also appears you have a very heavy layer of thatch. Either rent a dethatcher or rake your yard, then use your mower to bag it if you have a bagger, or just bag the thatch in trash bags. Rent a plug aerator to aerate the lawn. Then spread some Milorganite down at the recommended rate, and water until you reach an inch of water twice a week for a couple of weeks. After two weeks, get more seed and over seed it, do another Milorganite treatment, then resume twice a week watering for two more weeks. Should be pretty green and full after that. If you are going to be receiving plenty of rain, forego the waterings.

https://www.milorganite.com/


It gets water via rain.


This time of year could one expect to find grubs? I obviously don't know but how long has it been damaged like this? What about Chinch bugs? Is that a possibility in your area?

Personally, like what has been said, I'd dethatch it then purchase some Scott's Grub X and water it in. I believe it kills Chinch bugs and some others as well.

Mine was more patchy than yours due to grubs and chinch bugs but the Grub X fixed it right up. I also fertilized with Scott's Iron Plus fertilizer and my lawn is currently looking great, imo.

 

[bubbatime]

Based on your location I would call it quits for this year and try next spring to spruce it up.

 

[Lubener]

Originally Posted by bubbatime
Based on your location I would call it quits for this year and try next spring to spruce it up.

Too late to seed and harden off to survive the winter. I just raked out the thatch and am hoping for some rain.

 

[LeakySeals]

You water at night?