Question
I live in Maryland. Last summer my lawn was a complete mess, no grass, mostly weeds. Someone told me that I should aerate, seed and put down a thin layer of orgrow. I did just that, cost me a good amount of money to rent the aeration machine, buy the orgrow and 2 bags of seed. Maryland had a semi-mild winter, very little snow.

My grass started to come up real nicely in early Spring and was looking like it was going to be the envy of the block. I was so excited that all my hard work had payed off. Due to the emergence of weeds, I put down Scotts Weed plus turf builder fertilizer (2 in 1)in mid March. The grass took on a deep green beautiful color, I was so happy.  

Here come the turn of events. About 2 weeks ago I noticed that the grass was not as green as before, at first I thought it was just the fertilizer effects that had gone away but then I really worried because now it's looking like a more serious problem. The grass has not entirely turned brown, it still looks semi-green but there are some spots that are light brown. I'm really worried and disappointed that I will not be able to save my grass, after all the money I spent and time too.

I did not know that I needed to do a soil test until reading another thread on this website, which you wrote. I recently did a soil test and it was a 5 on the Ph scale. I am watering my lawn and have never put down lime because I'm afraid I will burn it. Incidentally, I've only use the Scotts fertilizer and weed killer one time (mid March). When I examine my grass I see that the roots are weak and I can just pull them up and the brown grass pops up. Ther is good green grass intertwined with the brown grass. This is so disappointing I don't even know what to do. What can get my grass to perk up and not completely die? I know it's not a lack of water because half of my neighbors don't water their lawns and their lawns are looking great! Any advice? Would any organic products work? I know you are against chemicals. Why was my lawn looking nice and then just over a couple of weeks started heading south? Your help/feedback is greatly appreciated!

P.S.  Do you have knowledge about clematis'. I just had one that was full of blooms, at least 50 of them, then it got Clematis wilt and died over night. I love clematis' anyting I can do to prevent this awful disease?

Answer
With regard to your Clematis, it is possible that the base of the stem was damaged.  The stem is the Achilles Heel on a Clematis.  Vulnerable, delicate and subject to breakage.

There is however a disease called 'Clematis Wilt'.  You can read about it at the Dayton Nursery Website (http://www.daytonnursery.com/tips/Care%20of%20Clematis.htm).   There is further information at the Ohio Cooperative Extension page on Clematis (http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1247.html).

Some authorities insist this is caused by bacteria, others by Fungus.  The Ohio experts note: 'The usual treatment is to remove the diseased stem below the wilted section, even below soil line. Plants usually recover from buds lower on the stem.'

Intelligent Gardening believes that the balance of Nature avoids problems and restoring them fixes them.  Damage in the garden by most predatory insects, most damaging Fungi and bacteria, are minimized by Natural enemies of those predators.  I read an estimate recently that as little as 3 percent of bacteria are pathogenic.  It should be impossible for them to ever erupt in disease, but they do -- as in your Clematis.

Clematis is often attacked by Mildew.  A treatment as simple as baking soda completely keeps the pH on the leaf from allowing Mildew spores to germinate.  That's not hocus pocus, Claudia, that's science.

Treat your ailing Clematis as directed by the Ohio Government Gardeners and stay away from bad stuff.  Watch out meantime for mildew.  And tell me more about your lawn.