Brown spot in yard during summer? Fixes?

[johnnybow]

I dont mow the grass at this customer but i take care of her landcape maitence. I noticed a brown re occuring spot in her front yard about 100 square feet. I was told when the house was built they used a lot of shale and then just spread topsoil over it. It gets so hot it drys it out during the middle of summer. I want to try to fix it for this person. Any suggestions? Basically it needs to hold more moisture in this area during the warm part of the summer. Should i top dress it? should i build the soil up evan higher and replant? Thanks

[RigglePLC]

Simple--just install irrigation. Or...dig down to discover the real problem. Correct it by removing the offending shale--restore by adding about 12 inches topsoil. JMHO.

[Southern Elegance]

could be a fungus

[johnnybow]

I dont think its a fungus. The whole develepment is known to brown up

[Hoy landscaping]

had that on a few customers who dont want me to do a grub-ex application.

[loupiscopolandscaping]

check and see how many inches of topsoil are there...if not enough with shale/rock the topsoil might be drying out to quickly...if not its probally fungus/brown patch or an insect/grubs

[johnnybow]

Its in the same spot every year. Would fungus or grubs do that? thanks

[loupiscopolandscaping]

yes...fungus, if the client uses the same lawn apps/ same water program....grubs,id believe if not killed/controlled theyd stay in the soil