thinning/straw colored bermuda patches

[CarolinaMatt]

Hi everyone-

New to the site and look to learn and help when I can! I have tifway bermuda that has been down just about a year now. I live in Charlotte, NC and make sure to water and feed my lawn on a regular schedule and mow every 4-5 days at about 1.5 inches (rotary mower). I've raised the height a little with the current June/July heat of 95 or so each day. I've stuck to the Scotts Green Max and have been pleased with the results. New construction home and the builders put down the sod so its taking some work to improve the bermuda's condition as they did a poor job.

Overall the lawn is looking good, but I have a few areas that seem very thin and a little bit straw colored. Any suggestions on what may be causing it or what my course of action should be?

I've uploaded a photo of the thin area and then a shot of a healthy area.
Thanks in advance!

[txlawnrookie]

Do you have a sprinkler system or hand water. Also have you put down any insecticide

[ Post made via Android ]

[Mightyquinn]

Looks like an area that needs more water to me.

[McLovin]

Check for buried construction debris (poke the area with a long screwdriver and see if you hit anything).

[CarolinaMatt]

Hi Guys-
Thanks for the quick responses! I just setup my tick sprinkler when I water. I put down the Scotts Insect Killer for Lawns that lists hundreds of different bugs.

I will definitely check for debris--they were pretty lazy with pickup after construction.

Could it possibly be too thick of a layer of thatch? My thought was to rake it up really good and then put down some sand and fertilizer to see if it fills in.
Thanks!
-Matt

[Mightyquinn]

If your lawn is only a year old I doubt you have built up any thatch yet. I would check for debris or you just might have a dry spot that needs more water or a wetting agent. Try looking for debris and then just give that spot a little extra TLC with water and see what happens in a week or two.

[CarolinaMatt]

Thanks MQ and McLovin. I think you guys are spot on with the debris. I used a screwdriver and about 6 inches down hit a very hard base. I think I'm going to have to dig up the area and do some more investigating and pull any and all of the debris out.

[McLovin]

My house is about 20 years old and I am still finding debris in the yard whenever I have to dig.

[gtnike]

WE had a very hot, dry 2 weeks while I was out of town and I came back to a cooked lawn. About 90% of it perked up with some quick irrigation, but I do have a few spots that are still tan. Those areas have had tough soil, I am going to try and rejuvenate these area but then I'll pull a few plugs and replace them with a sand/soil mix. That should improve water at the root level.

Sometimes you just have problem areas...

[mrmeaner]

Six inches down should be fine to grow grass, probably something else. Also If the screwdriver went in easily to six inches it should be plenty of moisture for grass to grow, again leading to something else wrong. If the ground was rock solid from the dirt level down then using a soaker hose would help with moisture but that does not seem to be the case here.

I personally do no know anything about disease or fungus type stuff but that may be a possibility and someone else here could help.

I would try core aerating using a hand aerator and throw some 50/50 sand and compost top dressing on the area, rake and water in to see if that may help or the next couple weeks.

[Sixohh]

that bermuda looks very plush and thick overall! id say thats way more progress than i have had in a years time.

what is your mowing height? i wish i had tifway instead of common.

[CarolinaMatt]

I had been mowing it at about 1.5 with my rotary. Raised it to about 2 because its been so hot lately and it just seemed a little stressed and I was bottoming out far too much for my comfort. I know I need to level out the areas with sand as the builders did not do a good job. A task I may try and take on this weekend as Lowe's has bags of Play Sand for $2.50 a piece! I know some folks do not recommend actual play sand, but my friends and I have had awesome results! I'll post some pictures once I hopefully get these yellow/straw patches green again.

[CarolinaMatt]

Alright so I was able to get my sand down yesterday. I started by raking up the area really well and getting the hay colored grass out. Then I took a screwdriver and hammered it all over the place (cheap/easy aeration of sorts). Then I put down some lawn starter fertilizer and then applied my sand and watered it it. Here is the before and after photo. We shall see what my results are over the next few weeks!
-Matt

[grow_dammit]

You can get a decent, cheap, manual core aeration tool from Yard Butler. Does two plugs at a time and you don't have to bend over to use it. Its a cheap tool to help rejuvenate spots that are struggling.

[CarolinaMatt]

Alright so here is my progress after two weeks of sand/fertilizer and plenty of water! I'm pleased and need to get it back to mowing height. Before and after photos.

[nowataboomer]

Very nice recovery.

[mrmeaner]

Agreed worked out nicely!!