Question
QUESTION: We have tried for over 10 years to grow a nice stand of grass in our front yard.  We have added topsoil and peat moss to the soil.  However, we can get grass to sprout but it will stop growing and die.  There are large patches of bare soil; it's almost as if the soil is poisoned or diseased.  From what I have read on the web, it is probably brown spot.  Whatever it is, we are going to need to take a very aggressive approach to getting it back to normal.  Please let me have your thoughts or recommendations.

ANSWER: Hi Carol, I need a little more info.  What kind of grass are you trying to grow? How much sun does it get? Are there trees anywhere near the area? What kind of soil do you have?  Thanks
Jim

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QUESTION: We live in Powhatan, VA.  Fescue seems to be the grass of choice in our state, and our region has prevalent red clay soil.  The front yard gets sun most of the day and is fringed with trees.  We did have the soil tested and the results indicated we needed to add lime, which we did.  But it will not grow anything but weeds.  My husband wanted to try Bermuda but until we find out what the problem is with the soil it would be pointless (and costly).  We have not applied any fungicide to the area yet; we have pets and would have to use something environmentally friendly.  Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Answer
Hi Carol,  Grasses perform best in full sun (8 or more hours).  They need good drainage and do best with little or no root competition.  They also need a pH around 6.5.
First, determine how many hours of sun you really get.  It may be different at different times of the year and at different distances from the house or nearby trees.  Bermuda must have 8 hours of direct, uninterrupted sun.  Bermuda also suffers when there is root competition from nearby trees and the root zone of most trees is about twice as wide as the canopy.  Roots extend out much further than the dripline so you need to determine if bermuda may suffer.  In USDA zone 7, July 1 is the latest date you can plant bermuda from seed and expect to get it established well enough to survive the winter.  Sprigging or sodding can be done well into the fall.
If fescue is the grass of choice, there is probably a reason.  First, fescue is evergreen and it's growing season is reversed from bermuda.  It's nearly dormant in the summer (but green# and in the winter, under deciduous trees, it's in nearly full sun.  Fescue is more tolerant of root competition and shade but expect to do some reseeding yearly.  September-October is the best time to plant fescue so plan on doing the following then.
Clay is good, it just needs to be loosened. Till the area to a depth of 6".  If you can't till because of roots, then rent a core aerator and cover the area repeatedly.  Check you pH. It needs to be 6.5.  A 40 lb. bag of pelletized lime applied to 1000 sq. ft. will raise your pH about 12 point, so adjust the pH if necessary.  Then sow the seed.  Fescue should be up in about 7 days, so keep it muddy the first week.  Once the seed has germinated, water thoroughly, deeply but less frequently.  Fertilize it only twice a year.  Once in March and again in September.  Through the summer, it will need 2" of water a week particularly in areas where the trees compete for water. Keep the mower set around 3" and try not to mow it in the summer unless it gets tall enough to start laying over on itself.
Once planted, fertilized and the pH is correct, grass goes backward from soil compaction #vehicles including riding mowers, children or pets#, water stress or disease.  Some diseases like fairy ring establish thick layers of mycelium below the surface that prevents root development and often even water from penetrating, so tilling will help but you'll still need to apply a fungicide.  Brown patch is easy to cure with a fungicide, spring dead spot is more difficult so if you think you have a disease issue, see your local garden center or lawn care professional for a correct diagnosis and cure.
Often I'll plant annual ryegrass in an area to see how it performs.  It's cheap, comes up in 4-5 days and will not be a weed for you later.  If it grows fine, plant the fescue.  It it performs poorly, I'd suspect a fungal issue.  Jim