Question
We live in the Ca. desert and our backyard has an area that doesn't get as much sun during the day and grass absolutely will not grow in that area. It does receive an adequate amount of water, but mold & mildew is now present where the grass doesn't grow.  Should there be more sunshine to kill the mildew or should we take a sample of soil in to be checked for something else??  HELP!!!

Answer
I would bring in a sample to get a better description at least of your problem -- Mold and Mildew do not grow on Soil.  But some Fungi would grow on organic matter that is present in the Soil.  So I admit, I'm a little confused.  But I don't want to delay your answer.  You sound too stressed for that and who knows what the future holds in California, or anywhere else in the country at this oint?  Half of Iowa under water, New Orleans bracing for another Hurricane, we're getting tornadoes in New York and downtown Atlanta, what's next?

Mold on dirt in California?  Maybe this is it!

OK.  Back to your answer.

If you can get more light into that area, sure, it would help.  Less moisture -- IF this is mold/mildew -- MIGHT help.  Remember the old story about the bathroom towel on the floor.  It doesn't get Mildew when you hang it up, which is why we do that, which is something I cannot get the teenagers of the house to learn but that's another story.

I would like to know what kind of chemicals if any you have been using in the vicinity of this 'Mold/Mildew'.  Perhaps you are destroying the natural balance that keeps M/M from erupting and taking control of the world.  If that's what happened, a good dose of high quality Compost Tea will solve the problem, because it re-seeds the culture that keeps Mold at bay.  Let me know if you need instructions, and please answer my other questions here while you're at it.

If you need your Coop Ext location I can get you that.  But I need your zip.  Thanks for your question.

THE LONG ISLAND GARDENER