KBG near the road dies every year

Kentucky bluegrass, Fescue, Rye and Bent, etc
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Longclaw
Posts: 1
Joined: September 24th, 2018, 7:10 pm
Location: Albany NY
Grass Type: KBG
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KBG near the road dies every year

Post by Longclaw » August 27th, 2019, 1:31 pm

Hey guys,

Need some advice. I have a lawn with Bewitched, Award and Midnight KBG on sandy soil in Upstate New York. My side yard faces west and the 3-5 inches of grass next to the road always dies each year during the really hot days in July/August.

Any thoughts on how to best protect against this? The pavement gets really hot and I am sure that is why it is dying. Is there another type of grass I should use at the edge of the road? Should I dig it up and place Clay there instead of Sand? Any thoughts would be helpful.

Little eye candy - picture of my yard. I can take a snap of the dead area if it will help.

Image

Image

Pway
Posts: 771
Joined: May 29th, 2014, 5:42 pm
Location: Piscataway NJ
Grass Type: Northern Mix
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Some Experience

Re: KBG near the road dies every year

Post by Pway » August 27th, 2019, 3:00 pm

I have an irrigation zone down by the street and I water there more frequently. Also be sure not to cut the grass too low in the heat.

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HoosierLawnGnome
Posts: 9591
Joined: May 22nd, 2013, 5:59 pm
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Grass Type: Blueberry KBG
Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
Level: Advanced

Re: KBG near the road dies every year

Post by HoosierLawnGnome » August 27th, 2019, 4:22 pm

More water.

Or landscape away from the road so you dont have to fight hot blacktop.

Jackson
Posts: 61
Joined: July 11th, 2017, 9:31 pm
Location: Hinsdale IL
Grass Type: Cool Northern
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Re: KBG near the road dies every year

Post by Jackson » August 27th, 2019, 10:34 pm

Do you edge? Not with a weedwacker but an actual edger? I edge 2-3 times a year and maintain weekly with a weedwacker and have never had any significant discoloration.

bpgreen
Posts: 3871
Joined: January 3rd, 2009, 2:28 am
Location: Utah (Wasatch Front)
Grass Type: Western, Streambank, Crested wheatgrass in front (with blue grama added in the heckstrips), sheep fescue in back; strawberry clovetr in both
Lawn Size: 3000-5000
Level: Experienced

Re: KBG near the road dies every year

Post by bpgreen » August 28th, 2019, 12:40 am

Does the grass die or does it go dormant?

Either way, you might be able to keep it green by watering more in the spots that are browning.


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Wally
Posts: 804
Joined: July 16th, 2009, 1:25 pm
Location: NJ
Grass Type: Northern Mix
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Re: KBG near the road dies every year

Post by Wally » August 28th, 2019, 7:34 am

Would working plenty of OM in the hot zones help hold moisture? How about using vermiculite?

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HoosierLawnGnome
Posts: 9591
Joined: May 22nd, 2013, 5:59 pm
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Grass Type: Blueberry KBG
Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
Level: Advanced

Re: KBG near the road dies every year

Post by HoosierLawnGnome » August 28th, 2019, 10:01 am

Hard to fight blacktop heating the root zone to dormancy.

I have the same challenge. Water is best, but even then it's hard to water just that 1 ft strip and not overwater the rest of the irrigation zone. Lesser of two evils.

schreibdave
Posts: 1123
Joined: April 14th, 2010, 7:01 pm
Location: Syracuse, NY
Grass Type: Bewitched, Award and Rhapsody
Lawn Size: 10000-20000
Level: Experienced

Re: KBG near the road dies every year

Post by schreibdave » August 28th, 2019, 11:27 am

I have run a soaker hose to this area but that's a PITA. In my current home when I graded the lot (new house) I made sure to dig out the gravel along the road and replace soil. That seems to have worked well.

Where in Albany are you? I lived in Glenville, Delmar and wife grew up on Whitehall Rd.

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