Newly planted lawn came in strong then just stopped growing.

mrusk · Sep 19, 2007

I seeded a lawn about 5 weeks ago. We installed about 5 inches of top soil. We had the irrigation hit it 3 times a day for 6 minutes each time. For the first 3 weeks it came in strong. For the last 2, it has no grown at all.

What should i do. I used the same seed, from the same supplier i always use. I have never had this issue before. Do i hit it up with starter fert again?

Please give me some good advice!

carcrz · Sep 19, 2007

fertilize it again. Is it still green? Keep watering regardless. I water mine 2 times a day for 30 minutes each.

dcgreenspro · Sep 19, 2007

you should have gone out with a slow release or another round of starter fert three to four weeks after seeding. New plants need more nurients

Mike33 · Sep 19, 2007

Water is the main issue. You have to water an hour or two to get a inch of water. If you used a good starter fertlizer it should last at least 8 weeks, i use 18-24-12. I would say not enough water.
mike

tjsquickcuts · Sep 20, 2007

Mike33 said:
Water is the main issue. You have to water an hour or two to get a inch of water. If you used a good starter fertlizer it should last at least 8 weeks, i use 18-24-12. I would say not enough water.
mike

Exactly...18 mins a day isn't good enough with this dry weather this year on the east coast.....just bump up the time to 25 mins, 3 times a day.....I would also spread more starter fert out as well.....

mrusk · Sep 20, 2007

tjsquickcuts said:
Exactly...18 mins a day isn't good enough with this dry weather this year on the east coast.....just bump up the time to 25 mins, 3 times a day.....I would also spread more starter fert out as well.....

Did both today.

tjsquickcuts · Sep 20, 2007

That should be the cure.....I have been over-seeding for the last two weeks with Rye Grass, and a few of the lawns I seeded last week are already springing up.....

tthomass · Sep 20, 2007

Not to start a debate but don't you have to be licensed even just to put down regular good ol fert in any application?

I know its minor, but just asking.

mrusk · Sep 20, 2007

To the best of my knowledge its ok to do fert just not anything that kills weeds. Like weed and feed, round up, etc.

kootoomootoo · Sep 20, 2007

Hit it with ammonium nitrate and water it in. The customer and a few neighbors will think you are a genius.

Mike33 · Sep 21, 2007

tthomass said:
Not to start a debate but don't you have to be licensed even just to put down regular good ol fert in any application?

I know its minor, but just asking.

Since your a common wealth state its hard to say, but here in Md. you dont have to have a license to apply fertlizer on new lawn.

avjohnson · Sep 21, 2007

I just had the same issue with a lawn I seeded. But in one area a problem I got was a gooey fungus which wiped out big sections, which I assume is from too much fert and humidity. Is there a remedy for this or how do you prevent it?

jrc lawncare · Sep 21, 2007

mrusk said:
I seeded a lawn about 5 weeks ago. We installed about 5 inches of top soil. We had the irrigation hit it 3 times a day for 6 minutes each time. For the first 3 weeks it came in strong. For the last 2, it has no grown at all.

What should i do. I used the same seed, from the same supplier i always use. I have never had this issue before. Do i hit it up with starter fert again?

Please give me some good advice!

Do a soil test. Ph may be off.

Mike33 · Sep 22, 2007

I dont think ph could be off that bad in a few weeks, i think it was a water issue.

jrc lawncare · Sep 22, 2007

Mike33 said:
I dont think ph could be off that bad in a few weeks, i think it was a water issue.

I've seen where a new lawn was put in, came in well, then did nothing. Not one I did, but ph was at 8.5. Put down all the fert you want on a lawn like that, & it wouldn't be able to do anything with it. My .02.

Smallaxe · Sep 22, 2007

Here in the midwest grass will be slowing down to a halt soon.
New seedlings should be watered thoroughly then allowed to grow roots deeper as the top dries out. You do not want to see a vigorous green growth this time of year as much as you want to know the roots are growing well.
How is the air supply? With that constant soaking there is a big danger of just sealing off the surface of the soil.

PR Fect · Sep 22, 2007

kootoomootoo said:
Hit it with ammonium nitrate and water it in. The customer and a few neighbors will think you are a genius.

Ammonium nitrate?

Mike33 · Sep 23, 2007

jrc lawncare said:
I've seen where a new lawn was put in, came in well, then did nothing. Not one I did, but ph was at 8.5. Put down all the fert you want on a lawn like that, & it wouldn't be able to do anything with it. My .02.

Damn, i was just going by the 2 different top soils i use and have had tested. I lime, and apply 50 lb. of 18-24-12 per 5k sq' and figured that would cure any thing. Maybe is soil is that bad. My lawns always come up green not yellow and hold color.

dcgreenspro · Sep 23, 2007

Mike33 said:
Damn, i was just going by the 2 different top soils i use and have had tested. I lime, and apply 50 lb. of 18-24-12 per 5k sq' and figured that would cure any thing. Maybe is soil is that bad. My lawns always come up green not yellow and hold color.

You do realize that that is way off the recomended setting? That bag should cover 12/m

mdlwn1 · Sep 23, 2007

Without a pic..how could anyone say it's water? Sure 24 minutes sounds low...but shade? Also..the definition of topsoil is regional. I worked for a year in edison NJ and as long as it wasnt too red..it was called top soil. It was still mostly clay and could retain water for long periods. Anything more than 15 min would just run off. "A good starter should last 8 weeks"? Huh? Let's see..you're gonna put down a pound of phos and close to two pounds of nitro in one shot..so that it lasts 8 weeks? New seed would really like that! If the seed is about an inch or so, you can switch over to a regular fert that is 40-50% slow. If your soil has a high clay component, stick with max 1lb n apps and do follow ups. If the soil is truly good draining top soil, you can go closer to 1.5lbs n as long as it's 50% slow. DCgreenspro said it best.

Newly planted lawn came in strong then just stopped growing.

mrusk

carcrz

dcgreenspro

Mike33

tjsquickcuts

mrusk

tjsquickcuts

tthomass

mrusk

kootoomootoo

Mike33

avjohnson

jrc lawncare

Mike33

jrc lawncare

Smallaxe

PR Fect

Mike33

dcgreenspro

mdlwn1

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