Lawn Problem

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Gary

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We have a problem with what I'm guessing is blight or some other sort of lawn disease? In the Spring or anytime we are getting adequate moisture the problem almost, but not completely, goes away. But when we get a dry spell this patch shows up. It's also the first to turn brown in the fall, like now. It's been there for years and is affecting the neighbors lawn also. I've tried de-thatching and raking up all the loose grass clippings, thinking the clippings might be chocking out the grass, but no difference. (this area of the lawn is also thicker than other areas) Sometimes the neighbors fertilize and we don't, sometimes we do and they don't. Doesn't seems to make a difference. Seems to be brown at the roots, green on top which is why our side looks worse now, as I just now mowed. Any ideas what this could be, and how to get rid of it? Thanks.


lawn blight.jpg
 
Almost sounds like a different type of grass like a dormant Bermuda. I’m pretty sure you don’t live in a Bermuda grass zone, but at my old house I had an area just like that and years ago they sold a grass you would put in plugs and it would spread and it was like a cool climate Bermuda. They called it Zoysia grass.


I see they still sell it just googled it. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Harmony...CgR-Jz-cxX1keNglggxoClokQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds


Wonder if you have some of that.
 
Where are you located? What kind of grass do you have? Does this grass go brown after the first heavy frost of the year? Could it be Zozia or Bermuda? Have you had the soil analyzed?
 
We're in Northern Illinois. I seeded it originally with Kentucky bluegrass, probably 20 years ago, but I think it was a blend. This is the only spot it's occurring. The neighbors lawn has been established for much longer. It does appear to be a finer blade of grass than the rest, so maybe something got started years ago and is taking over?

Thanks for the fast replies. Any ideas for a fix, short of digging it up and starting over?
 
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Roundup this fall rough it up in the spring and seed.
 
Fall is when you want to seed. It gives the grass a chance to root before the heat of summer. Given your northern location, it may be too late to seed this fall.

Unless you're planting a warm-season grass like Zoysia. Fescue and Bluegrass are best done in the fall. Bluegrass has a finer blade than fescue. It doesn't like our heat here, so you don't see it planted here.
 
Its getting a little late for grass this year maybe even to late for the roundup as the grass you are trying to kill is dormant. Spring is fine to start grass in the north you just want to get it in when the temps are in the mid 50’s for best results.
 
Looks like my Zoysia lawn. Zoysia spreads and will crowd out other lawn types. I like it because it is slower growing, has a thicker mat and spreads to cover bare spots and weeds. I don't have a single dandelion on that portion of my lawn. But it does turn brown in the fall/winter.
 
Looking at your picture, the worst area seems to be at the sidewalk and then it seems to propagate in straight lines toward the house. If this is correct, I would be wondering if you spread/spray anything in lines or if there's anything going on under the sod (6" or so) that might make it dry out quicker. Also, I can't help but notice that the sidewalk had one "tile" fixed right there and there seems to be a small area to the right of the sidewalk also affected. Do you have any sort of underground piping in that area?
 
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