Question
I am stationed in ITaly, and have rye grass/clover in the back.  I don't use chemical and cut my lawn at 2.5 inches.  I don't have to water because it rains like crazy here...but at one end of the yard the rye just won't catch.  The clover won't grow at all there.  For the most part my lawn looks beautiful.  Nice and green and then I have this 10x10 ft spot of mainge!  I tried adding some top soil with seeds, but that didn't work.  Tried a little extra watering, but nothing.  It isn't the dogs pee, because they do that in the other end of the lawn.  Weeds are not an issue, so I am not sure if it is an ph problem, but it may be.  Also, since I am in Italy I have no idea where to go to get my soil tested...that would normally tell me all I need to know.  While my wife and I have had pride in our lawns where ever I have been based, but here...well like I said mainge.

Answer
Interesting problem.  Do you know they have forensic soil scientists who specialize in questions like this?  Not that I'm recommending you hire one -- they usually work with detectives on criminal cases -- but it sure would help here.

My first inclination is to blame another plant.  Tell me please the HISTORY of this particular uncooperative part of the property.  Certain plants -- Salvia, for instance -- stop germinating Rye seeds in their tracks.  Some trees are notorious for zapping specific plants inside their drip zones.  And Rye itself is able to keep competing Grasses at arms length by secreting chemicals that weaken and destroy them.  It's a jungle out there.

Getting your Soil tested professionally would be very helpful here.  But there are fewer of these services outside the U.S., as you point out.  The premier (and one of the more expensive) Soil testing service in the U.S. is the Soil Foodweb, which boasts an elite and sophisticated clientele that pays for the high standsrds and precision this laboratory can offer.  They have an affiliate lab to serve Europe, based in England, Laverstoke Park Farm:

www.laverstokepark.co.uk/soil_testing_laboratory

Try contacting them and describing your problem:

Chemistry Lab Manager - 01256 772668
email: [email protected]

But in the meantime I would appreciate more information on what used to grow there, and grows now, besides Rye.  Thanks for writing.  What's for dinner?

THE LONG ISLAND GARDENER