Question

downsize image   we live in wilson,ny(western New York) and our lawn is developing bright green circles of grass and the leaf is broader in the circles than the rest of the lawn.  the company that we have put the fertilzer on it thinks that the grass were the circles are need to have nitrogen on them, do you think this is correct? or is it some other grass trying to take over and if it is what do you recommend we do to the circles to stop them?  this problem is only in our front lawn

thank you

Answer
My first reaction is a fungus disease - but I can be entirely wrong.
We will just have to eliminate other causes.

1. Is it a weed problem? This is comparatively easy to eliminate. Remove a few pieces of the affected sod and have the grass identified.

2. Is it an insect problem? Pour some soapy water ("gray Water" is fine) on a few of the patches and on the good area also. Allow the water to penetrate the top 6 inches of the soil and if anything moves, crawls or flies, trap and identify it. Only if you have harmful insects and in a sufficient quantity, will you need to control the situation. Your County Extension Agent will be of great help.

It is hardly likely to be a nutrition problem because the discoloration will show up as stripes if a drop spreader was used; and in random arcs if a rotary spreader was used.

If none of the above applies, then it is a disease. Here again the County Agent will be able to help you identify it.