Dead spots

[JohnnyBeGood]

Hello,

Before posting here I was searching thru forums but couldn't find any related information.
As you can see from attached pictures my lawn has lot of those dead spots.
Last year I've put so many times seed and nothing grew back.
Today I'll be scraping off old/dead grass and was wondering is there anything you guys can recommend buying online that will "patch" those spots?
Thank you!

[FYS777]

what is your watering schedule like?? what I suggest is get a shovel and see if those spots are moist enough to grow healthy grass, sink the shovel in about 6 inches and push forward so you can see the soil, if its dry there is your problem, do the same in a lush green spot of grass compare the difference in the soil, plus your grass looks kind of tall could it be possible blocking the sprinklers from watering efficiently.

[Smallaxe]

Definately cut the grass shorter. 3" is adequate. Overseed with compost, if you are in cool season region, and you should have a shot at some grass this summer.

It is important to know what state we are talking to.

[BostonBull]

Agree with smallaxe here......

[JohnnyBeGood]

Thanks for the reply!
Here in the WA state we finally got some nice weather. Although is spring it's still cold and rainy.

Yesterday I mowed the lawn and scraped off all of old grass.
I was also think to get some compost and maybe put down again grass seed?
Last year I did same put nothing grew. So I'm hoping compost will help. Last year it was watered and regularly fertilized.
Spots that have grass are good and stay healty thruout the summer but those spots stay "bold" and no grass grows there.
Do you guys can recommend grass seed brand that I can get in local store or online?

[BostonBull]

Rake all the spots clean, and the area around them. Put down seed, compost, another light layer of seed. Water daily for two weeks, ad then every 3rd day for 1-2 weeks, then to your regular watering schedule.

Penningtons is sold in Lowes and is good seed. It's innoculated with mycorrizhae fungi.....
http://www.smartseed.com/

[FYS777]

Thanks for the reply!
Here in the WA state we finally got some nice weather. Although is spring it's still cold and rainy.

Yesterday I mowed the lawn and scraped off all of old grass.
I was also think to get some compost and maybe put down again grass seed?
Last year I did same put nothing grew. So I'm hoping compost will help. Last year it was watered and regularly fertilized.
Spots that have grass are good and stay healty thruout the summer but those spots stay "bold" and no grass grows there.
Do you guys can recommend grass seed brand that I can get in local store or online?

could have rock under those spots also.

[FYS777]

did you use a shovel to see if the soil is moist in those spots, is there rock under those spots, if you don't know this, you'll waste your time, can we have a pic of a larger part of your lawn, there must be an underlying problem that you need to address, ????? if there is rock under there it will just cook it again,

[Smallaxe]

did you use a shovel to see if the soil is moist in those spots, is there rock under those spots, if you don't know this, you'll waste your time, can we have a pic of a larger part of your lawn, there must be an underlying problem that you need to address, ????? if there is rock under there it will just cook it again,

Definately a must do... If you can't see the soil... you can't visualize the problem... :)

[JohnnyBeGood]

Thanks guys for your help!

I just checked the soil with small shovel and its dirt no rocks at all because I put sod down and we only used top soil (about 4-5 inches, that was 2 years ago).
It seemed fairly moist because we had rain for a while and now couple of days nice sunny weather.
So, put down seed first and then do layer of compost?

[Smallaxe]

Yes the seed first. The compost serves as a cover for the seed. As close to 1/4" as you can but any amount is better than nothing. It is easier to cover the seed rather than scratch all that dirt around.

Does that grass look tall still because it is in clumps? or is it still tall?

[For seeding you want it short anyways, and let it grow a little longer in the heat of summer , then shorter again for the fall. ]

What kind of seed is reccomended for your area?

[JohnnyBeGood]

Does that grass look tall still because it is in clumps? or is it still tall?

You're right it appears toll cause of clumps. It was moved on Saturday.


What kind of seed is reccomended for your area?
I'm not sure. I guess person in local garden store would know?

[betmr]

Johnny boy, we don't know where you are, so we don't know the climate. South, Central, North East, what state.

I think maybe someone planted straight Rye Grass there. You need a seed that is going to spread by Stolons & rhizomes that will fill in the bare spots, But we can't tell what seed, without knowing where it is for. And is it sunny, or shady.

[Kiril]

Johnny boy, we don't know where you are, so we don't know the climate. South, Central, North East, what state.

---------------------------

Here in the WA state we finally got some nice weather. Although is spring it's still cold and rainy.

[Kiril]

Get some soil samples of the major problem areas tested.

I would do a composite of two areas, one composite for areas where the grass is doing good and one for areas where the grass keeps dying. Assuming all other factors are more or less equal between the two, it should help narrow down what might be causing the problem. Also check for compaction and the efficiency of your irrigation system.

Compost Does a Soil Good!

[JohnnyBeGood]

I forgot to mention that I don't have irrigation. Usually I water it manually in the morning and late evening.
I'll start first with buying Penningtons seed at local Lowes and cover it with compost as recommended.

Thanks guys!

[BostonBull]

I forgot to mention that I don't have irrigation. Usually I water it manually in the morning and late evening.
I'll start first with buying Penningtons seed at local Lowes and cover it with compost as recommended.

Thanks guys!

where are you located?


are you watering twice a day normally?

[FYS777]

where are you located?


are you watering twice a day normally?

he is in washington state somewhere.

[JohnnyBeGood]

where are you located?


are you watering twice a day normally?
I'm in Seattle, WA
Yes, I'm watering twice a day.
Would this be good time or wait for much warmer weather?

[Kiril]

I'm in Seattle, WA
Yes, I'm watering twice a day.
Would this be good time or wait for much warmer weather?

Too much water ... are you watering with a hose?

IMO, if you really need the lawn, then you really need irrigation if you want it to look good.

[BostonBull]

WAY too much water! Cut it down to 1" per week, whether from a hose or natural rainfall. in the hot weeks, and dry weeks, double it.

This is a general rule of thumb and you need to alter it by your lawns needs.

[FYS777]

WAY too much water! Cut it down to 1" per week, whether from a hose or natural rainfall. in the hot weeks, and dry weeks, double it.

This is a general rule of thumb and you need to alter it by your lawns needs.

depends on what type of soil, if its to much water.

[BostonBull]

I dont know too many types of soil, besides PURE SAND, that need water twice a day everyday........maybe I am wrong though?

[FYS777]

I dont know too many types of soil, besides PURE SAND, that need water twice a day everyday........maybe I am wrong though?

every other day is good, if he puts seed down he should keep it moist untill the seeds pop,

[BostonBull]

every other day is good, if he puts seed down he should keep it moist untill the seeds pop,


yes for the first 2 weeks, then every 3rd day, then once a week. let them roots get DEEEEEEP into the soil

[FYS777]

yes for the first 2 weeks, then every 3rd day, then once a week. let them roots get DEEEEEEP into the soil

he will need to check and see if its gettig wet down to at lest 5 inches or 6 when he does water though if its every 3rd day.

[betmr]

I dont know too many types of soil, besides PURE SAND, that need water twice a day everyday........maybe I am wrong though?

I'm out east here, but I understand that Seattle is a pretty damp place. That is why I havn't said anything about what seed to use. I think you have a unique climate out there. Isn't there a mist in the air almost all the time.

I'm one who doesn't know what kind of grasses they use out there, I'd like to know just for my own knowledge.

[JohnnyBeGood]

Too much water ... are you watering with a hose?

IMO, if you really need the lawn, then you really need irrigation if you want it to look good.
Yes, I'm watering with the hose.
Installing an irrigation is not possible at least for now until/when things get better.
Just trying to do my best with what I have.

[JohnnyBeGood]

Isn't there a mist in the air almost all the time.
WA state is know for rainy weather and clouds all the time. Though, mist is not all the time in the air. In the summer it can get really hot but that's only for a short time.

[Kiril]

Yes, I'm watering with the hose.
Installing an irrigation is not possible at least for now until/when things get better.
Just trying to do my best with what I have.

That could be your one of your problems then. It is difficult to get even coverage with a hose, or any hose end sprinkler.

With respect to water requirements you can ignore most everything that has been posted.

Depth: water to the soil depth you wish the roots to reach, plus any leaching requirement. A brown probe or tile probe can be used to determine the wetting depth.

Amount: whatever has been depleted due to ET (evapotranspiration) at the desired depth you wish to maintain soil moisture. This can be estimated using historical data, reference crop ETo, and other related data.

Time: depends on how quickly your effective root zone dries to the PWP (permanent wilting point). A moisture meter or manual sample is needed to determine this.

The above applies to any soil type and climate.

Seeding requires keeping the seed moist ... so you water however often you need to germinate & establish the seed. I will say this ... it is difficult at best to keep on top of seed water requirements manually.

[FYS777]

thats right,
depth: check with a shovel( probe)
amount: check with shovel to see if maintaining moisture.
time: check with shovel is moisture meter, to show you how long to water


use multiple probe sites with shovel, and use sprinkler that distributes water evenly.

what I been trying to say Kiril but you said it better.

[JohnnyBeGood]

That could be your one of your problems then. It is difficult to get even coverage with a hose, or any hose end sprinkler.

With respect to water requirements you can ignore most everything that has been posted.

Depth: water to the soil depth you wish the roots to reach, plus any leaching requirement. A brown probe or tile probe can be used to determine the wetting depth.

Amount: whatever has been depleted due to ET (evapotranspiration) at the desired depth you wish to maintain soil moisture. This can be estimated using historical data, reference crop ETo, and other related data.

Time: depends on how quickly your effective root zone dries to the PWP (permanent wilting point). A moisture meter or manual sample is needed to determine this.

The above applies to any soil type and climate.

Seeding requires keeping the seed moist ... so you water however often you need to germinate & establish the seed. I will say this ... it is difficult at best to keep on top of seed water requirements manually.

Thank you!
I know it'll be hard to do without irrigation but I have to do something until things get better.