Dead patches in lawn - any advice?

[Jaguar steve]

Most of the lawn at JS Towers has responded well to a good feed with lawn sand and all the recent rain. Lots of straw coloured dead patches remain though - almost as if the sand and rain never happened.

Not the first time I've seen this and it's always in the same places. I've tried re seeding with a mixture of compost and grass seed two or three years running but without success

Any suggestions?

[Piersman2]

Jaguar steve said:

Most of the lawn at JS Towers has responded well to a good feed with lawn sand and all the recent rain. Lots of straw coloured dead patches remain though - almost as if the sand and rain never happened.

Not the first time I've seen this and it's always in the same places. I've tried re seeding with a mixture of compost and grass seed two or three years running but without success

Any suggestions?

It's where the zombies are buried too close to the surface, dig them out and re-seed. Sorted.

[Laurel Green]

Do you have a dog?

[NDA]

Could be a dog or fox weeing on your lawn, could be a grub of some sort (yellowjackets for example, although it's the wrong time of year, the damage could have been done earlier).

Depending how big the patch is, or how many patches, I might be tempted to put a new piece of turf down - an instant fix!

[Simpo Two]

If it was before, dog (sometimes cat); if it was afterwards, overdose.

[Jaguar steve]

Nope, no dogs or cats - and if a neighbours cat was big enough to scorch several square metres of lawn every time it had a leak I'd be very scared indeed.

Don't think it's Yellowjackets either - have watched for evidence of mass hatchings of Daddylonglegs and not seen any, but did dig a couple of holes and dispite all the recent rain the soil in the dead areas is bone dry.

Might be time for some serious areation and watering.

[98elise]

Probably foxes. I get the same, then one night I saw a fox pissing on the patch, then a few nights later a different fox doing the same.

[chancha]

I've got a lawncare business and see this sort of thing all the time. Without seeing a picture of it I would say it is possible that you might have dry or hydrophobic soil that causes the patchiness. Get a spade and compare the soil where patchiness is with an area where the grass is lush. If it is dry at all then that is your issue.

[Y282]

i had the same thing. turned out i hadn't resealed the carb on my xr400 properly.

hope this helps.

[Simpo Two]

Hydrophobic soil. Well that's a new one on me I confess. A dash of Fairy Liquid perhaps?

[TimJMS]

Actually I know where he's coming from. Mine has these dead patches. Go out and take a piss on them and even though its bone dry, it will 'pond' without being absorbed readily. HTH

[russ_a]

My dog has devestated my lawn. Have tried most things except a bullet!!

[chancha]

Simpo Two said:

Hydrophobic soil. Well that's a new one on me I confess. A dash of Fairy Liquid perhaps?

Yes, fairy liquid can be used but only once. Failing that you can buy a wetting agent to help keep the soil hydrated

[CY88]

Overwatering a lawn at this time of year can produce "red thread", a fungal growth. Wil show as pinkish yellow patches. Google for treatment options.

If you haven't got a dog and youve been watering, then i'd say this in the culprit.

Edited by CY88 on Wednesday 6th July 12:14