Drought stress or fungus?
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- Posts: 1123
- Joined: April 14th, 2010, 7:01 pm
- Location: Syracuse, NY
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Drought stress or fungus?
I have a 9 month old KBG lawn in full sun. We have had a record breaking drought here but I have been irrigating. Mostly at night and mostly 1/4" at a time. Temps are in the 80s/90s and humid.
I know that my night time watering practices and 1/4" increments are not ideal but I am working within the limitations of my lawn's needs and my need for the dog to be outside during the day.
I have an area that's about 30sqft and growing that is "off." It has a different shade than the rest of the lawn and it does not bounce back as quickly when walked on. It gets it's share of irrigation - meaning it's not in a dry spot, however it does seem to have harder soil. My screwdriver only wants to sink in about an inch in this area while 6" is common in other areas.
I am worried that a fungus is brewing. Though I have done 2 apps of serenade this year.
It's 8pm and that area is getting irrigated right now. I will look at it in the morning. If it's still "off" I guess fungus is more likely. If it recovers I guess heat stress is more likely.
I could post pictures but with the lighting now it really doesn't show anything.
Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated. I do have Spectrum Ultra in the tool box and I could hit the area with that if it doesnt look right in the morning.
I know that my night time watering practices and 1/4" increments are not ideal but I am working within the limitations of my lawn's needs and my need for the dog to be outside during the day.
I have an area that's about 30sqft and growing that is "off." It has a different shade than the rest of the lawn and it does not bounce back as quickly when walked on. It gets it's share of irrigation - meaning it's not in a dry spot, however it does seem to have harder soil. My screwdriver only wants to sink in about an inch in this area while 6" is common in other areas.
I am worried that a fungus is brewing. Though I have done 2 apps of serenade this year.
It's 8pm and that area is getting irrigated right now. I will look at it in the morning. If it's still "off" I guess fungus is more likely. If it recovers I guess heat stress is more likely.
I could post pictures but with the lighting now it really doesn't show anything.
Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated. I do have Spectrum Ultra in the tool box and I could hit the area with that if it doesnt look right in the morning.
- andy10917
- Posts: 29739
- Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
- Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
- Grass Type: Emblem KBG (Front); Blueberry KBG Monostand (Back)
- Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
- Level: Advanced
Re: Drought stress or fungus?
Dave, I'd love to help you, but without more information about what's "off" about the trouble area, we'd be taking random guesses. You'd have to probe around with a 12" screwdriver looking for a shallow rock shelf, or use a sod cutter and find out what's below.
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- Posts: 1123
- Joined: April 14th, 2010, 7:01 pm
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- Grass Type: Bewitched, Award and Rhapsody
- Lawn Size: 10000-20000
- Level: Experienced
Re: Drought stress or fungus?
Here are some pictures. Watering seems to have helped it bounce back to better match the rest of the lawn. But I wonder if I have 2 things going on - shallow topsoil AND a fungus brewing.
I say "shallow topsoil" because the screwdriver test shows about 2" of depth in this area and 2 or 3x that in other areas.
And I say "fungus brewing" because of the lesions I see on some of the blades.
Here's my thinking - any comments or suggestions are appreciated:
I will be away for 8 days starting on friday so I think I need to be aggressive about treating for the fungus now - since I wont be here to do it next week. I have Spectrum Ultra and I would like to hit the front yard with that. I also have the BL soil conditioner with Kelp Help and I would like to start hitting the area with that today. And then again when I get back from vacation.
Any reason NOT to do these 2 things? Any better ideas? Thanks
I say "shallow topsoil" because the screwdriver test shows about 2" of depth in this area and 2 or 3x that in other areas.
And I say "fungus brewing" because of the lesions I see on some of the blades.
Here's my thinking - any comments or suggestions are appreciated:
I will be away for 8 days starting on friday so I think I need to be aggressive about treating for the fungus now - since I wont be here to do it next week. I have Spectrum Ultra and I would like to hit the front yard with that. I also have the BL soil conditioner with Kelp Help and I would like to start hitting the area with that today. And then again when I get back from vacation.
Any reason NOT to do these 2 things? Any better ideas? Thanks
- Jackpine
- Posts: 1081
- Joined: October 28th, 2011, 6:02 pm
- Location: Antrim County, Michigan
- Grass Type: N.W. Mi. KBG blend
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- Level: Experienced
Re: Drought stress or fungus?
Repeated shallow watering can leave the lower depths dry as a bone. I don't see any lesion on the green blades in your pictures so my guess is your roots are starving for H2O. Give that lawn a nice deep watering before you leave. As much as will soak in to replenish the soil to capacity.
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- 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: Drought stress or fungus?
Thanks. I'll put the soaker hose on it.
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- 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: Drought stress or fungus?
I thought I would report back. Just about 2 weeks later and this section of lawn is back to looking like the rest of the lawn - which is good. All I did was soak it with extra soil conditioner and then put the soaker hose on it for a few hours. Draught seems to have been the problem. Thanks
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