Tip Of The Day - 8/22/05 - Diagnosing

[Sean Adams]

If you are not applying fertilizer properly, it is usually possible to figure out the problem from the appearance of the turf...

Yellow and slow growth - probably nitrogen deficiency

Grass Turns Bright Green, then Purplish - could be phosphorus deficiency or beginning of cold weather

Yellow - could mean lawn needs more iron

Slow growth, reddish color - needs more calcium which usually only shows up in acidic soil

Stripes in lawn or blotches - probably means the fertilizer is not being spread properly

Brown areas - could be from the use of too much fertilizer

[GreenUtah]

Please add to this long and yellowish/bright green can be an indication of excessive nitrogen(nitrogen induced chlorosis) and/or overwatering. Fert burn usually has a very distinctive tannish/orange color to it, will be crispy to the touch and there will be tips burned on blades nearby. Please also keep in mind that other problems(i.e. watering, disease or insects) can also be the root of discoloration and can actually be exagerrated by attempting a fertilizer "fix" without properly diagnosing the true problem. Eliminate all possibilities before making any fix.