Question
Dead Patch
My location is around Cincinnati, OH. My yard, which is 2 years old, has tall fescue and we have used Sod. Everything was fine for the first year. Last year after a treatment from Scotts Lawn service (I am not sure if this is the reason though) some patches in my front yard started turning yellow and eventually died (this was in September of 08).
I scraped the spots this year took it apart, added some fresh topsoil and re-soded it (only the patches). Mother Nature helped with plenty of rain and the result was a beautiful front yard again. But now in the last 15 days the problem has reappeared at pretty much the same spots and some of the grass is already dead.
When I had dug the yard to re-sod it earlier I had seen some grubs under the dead grass so I had put the Bayer Grubex in my complete yard after re-soding it. Also Scotts Lawn service professional came and had put a fertilizer (I have the package for 4 visits during the year and this was the second for the year around 10th of May) to my yard (complete yard).
My entire yard is in good shape except these patches, which have reappeared pretty much at the same spots. The most confusing part is that grass around these patches is in perfect condition and it was the same last time around too.
I checked with Scotts last year and they had all kinds of BS stories of rocks being under there (that was the reason for me to dig it and put new top soil before I re-soded it this year). I didn抰 find anything extraordinary under there. I am sending you some pictures and can send you more if that help.
Thanks for all your help in advance.
AnswerUnfortunately, without a direct "hands on" inspection, I'd have a very hard time actually coming up with a confident diagnosis. The rocks could be a problem as I've seen that many times before, and it would certainly explain why the same spots keep dying. When you laid the new topsoil, how much was there exactly? If it's not more 4 inches, you could have problems ongoing.
I didn't see anything in the picture that would indicate that the rock problem diagnosis is not correct. I just cannot see enough to come up with another explanation.
Sorry I couldn't be more help! Good luck.
-C.J. Brown
www.TheLawnCoach.com
