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Patches on grass

justinpgreenawayjustinpgreenaway Posts: 21
in Problem solving

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Hi

my lawn has started to show dead patches in the last few weeks and I'm stumped on what it is and how to treat.

we don't have any pets or local cats so it's not urine but we have had a lot of ants mounds around the lawn( about 30 over the summer so there must be an extensive nest under there.  I cut the grass quite low once a week and did wonder if I was cutting too low.

any suggestions?  I did think about leatherjackets but can't find any sign of grubs.

the lawn was scarified in the spring and has been weed and feed early spring and mid June.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I d like to diagnose so I can resolve the issue

Thanks

justin

Posts

  • Dave HumbyDave Humby Posts: 1,145

    Have you lifted an area of turf where the light patches are Justin? It does look like it could be leatherjackets.

    Is it a newly laid lawn? Again if you lift the turf it might reveal poor soil quality in those areas such as stoney conditions which the dry Spring / first half of Summer may have highlighted. As a last suggestion is there any sign of a pink tinge to the grass in these spots? If so it could be red thread.

  • justinpgreenawayjustinpgreenaway Posts: 21

    Hi

    The turf has been there a few years.

    Is it easy to lift a section? I imagine I would cut 3 slits with a shovel and prise up but I don't know how deep I need to go?? I'm guessing a couple of inches?

    I was regularly sprinkling the lawn during July and we've had a lot of rain in the last couple of weeks and it wasn't like this last year.

    I have spot applied a lawn specific weedkiller here and there but assume it wouldn't cause the extent of damage seen?

    There are a couple of small trees (maple and cherry blossom) and their roots are quite extensive under the lawn but then during the hottest weather in early July it was fine.

    There has been a load of small mushrooms sprouting in the last week and a half so could this be a clue to red thread as the cause?

    justin

    Last edited: 06 August 2017 20:28:24

  • Dave HumbyDave Humby Posts: 1,145

    Leatherjackets and Chafer grubs sit in the top couple of inches of the soil so yes just lift as you noted and you'll see them straightaway if they are the cause. Red thread often shows itself at this time of the year with the humid nights. Watering the lawn in the evening can also contribute to this as will the recent rain we've been having.

    More info here

    http://www.lawnsmith.co.uk/topic/pests-diseases/red-thread-pink-patch

  • justinpgreenawayjustinpgreenaway Posts: 21

    Thanks I'll check a piece of turf for crubs but the picture on lawnsmiths looks very much like my lawn when you look closely.

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