Question
after a fine year last year our lawn emerged from the winter in v sad shape indeed (I'd say at least 1/3 of it appears to be dead). several people have suggested grubs but when i dig--and i've tried a few places--i don't see anything. we haven't used any kind of chemicals or fertilizer. can you help? Thanx from gloucester, ma

Answer
Sorry to hear about this, Jennifer.  I can help you with your Lawn.  I agree, Grubs are not going to be your problem -- but people with the best intentions love to blurt out answers, and sometimes they are right.  Not today, though.

I was not there when this fire took place, so I'll have to ask you what was going on in the dead part of the lawn when this fire broke out.  Did any of it catch fire, too?  Was there equipment on the lawn from the Fire Dept?  What about Fire Extinguishers -- any used?

Grubs are not something you usually get unless you DO use chemical fertilizers and weed killers for a time.  Using one or more of those products breaks the balance of Nature in the soil; with defenses gone, pathogens and Grubs break loose and spread like ... wildfire!

The BEST thing you can do right now is to get a Soil Test.  This is the beginning of every new Lawn or Renovation.  You can get a professional analysis at University of Mass/Amherst:

(http://www.umass.edu/plsoils/soiltest/soilbrocha.htm)

Order the Standard Soil Test with Organic Matter for $13.  See if you can get 2 tests -- one for dead area of Grass, another for parts that are healthy.  The world is full of surprises.

Meantime, I recommend you sow a good Green Manure over any dead areas plus any areas that are not looking as happy as you think they should.  That will take up space that will keep Weeds from invading, and improve everything they touch.

Thanks for writing.  Let me know when your test comes back, and if you have any recollection of what may have happened to your Lawn when this fire broke out -- or if you have any questions.