Question
James
I live in western Canada.
A few years ago I bought a newer home with a bad lawn,bordering on a busy highway with prevailing winds from the west and no breaks.
I wanted a quick fix so I planted a row of tower poplars and a northwest poplar.
I also hauled in a truckload of new soil and bought some good grass seed.
For a few years my lawn was beautiful, but lately it takes a long time to green up, and is a patchwork of yellow, dark, and light green.
Since I fertilize, aerate, etc.,all I can think of is the poplars.
They are now a good size and look great in the summer and block the views, but are the roots competing with the grass?
Is there anything I can do, or is it a matter of giving the grass more water fertilizer?
What if I reseeded to a dryer grass mix?
Thanks!

Answer
Hi Bud, I suspect you are right, it's the competition from the tree roots and possible effects from increased shade.  I think you are doing all you can.  Aerate every other year, fertilizer regularly, keep your pH at 6.5, water deeply and infrequently and re-seed as needed.  Woodlands and pastures don't normally co-exist.  If one does well, the other normally suffers.   Jim