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Neighbour's Lawn

JensonJenson Posts: 26
in Problem solving
My neighbour is rather proud of his lawns but recently he has been having problems with his rear lawn. While he was cutting it the lawn mower started to drag lumps up. He adjusted the cut higher and it still did this, even on the highest cut. He cuts the lawns twice a week.

Upon inspection the lawn feels spongy underfoot but when you try lifting the grass it comes away easily with no resistance and there appears to be little or no roots underneath. Some of it is turning brown.

There is no sign of bugs, grubs or the like. The lawn doesn't flood. He has been using a seaweed based fertiliser occasionally this year.


What is wrong? Can anyone suggest a solution?


Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    might it be leatherjacket damage?
    Devon.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    edited August 2021
    It might be what we've got, a 'fairy circle' fungus underneath. Did the affected areas look a darker green and in a circular pattern before going brown?

    Another suggestion might be either dog or fox pee?
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
    edited August 2021
    Jenson said:
    Upon inspection the lawn feels spongy underfoot but when you try lifting the grass it comes away easily with no resistance and there appears to be little or no roots underneath. 
    I think it’s heavy thatch - the grass isn’t rooting in the soil. He’ll need a powered scarifier.

    Its nearly time for an autumn scarification, so I would recommend he do that and brace for the enourmous amount of material that could come out and some very sorry looking patchy lawn.

    But - after a repeat scarification in spring he should be on the road to recovery. 👍
  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
    I'm not saying that he shouldn't be proud of his lawn but there looks to be more weed in the grass than I would want in a good lawn.
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    Another possibility is bird damage. Seagulls, crows and magpies etc can make this sort of mess hunting for leatherjackets.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    A blunt blade can also cause that kind of damage, but it's certainly the time of year for leatherjackets in many areas. The lack of root suggests that. 
    A wider view might help determine  the reason too  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited September 2021
    Does the pic show the actual damage, or has it been raked it to show more?  

    It could be black ants' nests.  Look for the blighters.  Either ignore or rake out the soil pile a bit before mowing.

    It might be a badger.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited September 2021
    Everybody, except the experts, likes a spongy lawn.  But looking again at the pics, this one has just masses of "thatch".  Needs a good scarifying as someone mentioned.  Not a light job, either with a machine or hand lawn-raking.  Thatch might not be related to the reported problem.

    The immediate result of scarifying is a brown lawn.  I have found that Ferrous Sulphate (aka Iron Sulfate) watered on at 6 dessert spoonfulls to a 1.5 gallon wateing can, will accelerate the decompostion of the dead leaves and green up the live.  It will also kill any moss.  Applied as a solution, with or without rain, it should not scorch the lawn..
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
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