Lawn Question Deux

[2LaneCruzer]

Sharn Jean and I have lived in this house for 46 years and my lawn has always been kept nice. Up until this year, the only problem I had with trees was the two huge Maples on the East property line. Grass around those trees was thin, with some bare ground showing, but I could keep it at a minimum with lots of water. Sometimes I let it run all night.

This year all of my trees on the North and East side of the house have huge bare spots under them...including a large Magnolia bush. I don't know what's happening that is different. In fact, some soil has eroded and it looks like I will need to bring in some topsoil. Any comments any one?

 

[oldballs]

Sharn Jean and I have lived in this house for 46 years and my lawn has always been kept nice. Up until this year, the only problem I had with trees was the two huge Maples on the East property line. Grass around those trees was thin, with some bare ground showing, but I could keep it at a minimum with lots of water. Sometimes I let it run all night.

This year all of my trees on the North and East side of the house have huge bare spots under them...including a large Magnolia bush. I don't know what's happening that is different. In fact, some soil has eroded and it looks like I will need to bring in some topsoil. Any comments any one?

2Lane......My place is identical to yours in years and trees and the bare ground....46 years of Soft Maple, huge Sycamores, and Black Walnuts trees. And, yesterday my water main broke .... had to replace 85 feet of line and now have a huge pile of dirt and messed up lawn. I ain't gonna sweat it and will deal with it in the spring.

Cheers, Mike

 

[2LaneCruzer]

2Lane......My place is identical to yours in years and trees and the bare ground....46 years of Soft Maple, huge Sycamores, and Black Walnuts trees. And, yesterday my water main broke .... had to replace 85 feet of line and now have a huge pile of dirt and messed up lawn. I ain't gonna sweat it and will deal with it in the spring.

Cheers, MikeView attachment 581936

I'm with you Mike. If you figure it out, let me know.

Dennis

 

[plowhog]

Sharn Jean and I have lived in this house for 46 years and my lawn has always been kept nice. Up until this year, the only problem I had with trees was the two huge Maples on the East property line. Grass around those trees was thin, with some bare ground showing, but I could keep it at a minimum with lots of water. Sometimes I let it run all night.

This year all of my trees on the North and East side of the house have huge bare spots under them...including a large Magnolia bush. I don't know what's happening that is different. In fact, some soil has eroded and it looks like I will need to bring in some topsoil. Any comments any one?

I'm not qualified to diagnose what might cause the lawn to disappear, but you might consider putting a layer of mulch below the trees instead of lawn. Depending on what you put there, it can add to the beauty of the yard while also helping hold in moisture and protect any surface roots. I've done this for a few trees and planters and was satisfied with the results. Just another option to consider ...

 

[MossRoad]

Sharn Jean and I have lived in this house for 46 years and my lawn has always been kept nice. Up until this year, the only problem I had with trees was the two huge Maples on the East property line. Grass around those trees was thin, with some bare ground showing, but I could keep it at a minimum with lots of water. Sometimes I let it run all night.

This year all of my trees on the North and East side of the house have huge bare spots under them...including a large Magnolia bush. I don't know what's happening that is different. In fact, some soil has eroded and it looks like I will need to bring in some topsoil. Any comments any one?

Our neighbor has a huge maple and I notice that in times of little rain, the grass in his and our yards dies first under the dripline of that maple tree. It sucks out HUGE amounts of water from the ground. So, it could be the groundwater is receding under those trees. Insects in the soil. PH is off. Lawn diseases. Heck, I've once seen a broken gas line that killed the grass.

Dryer vents (although usually a small area). Hot water leaks. Chemical plumes from industrial sites.... yikes!

Let's hope it's just water. :laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

Once you notice grass dying from lack of water, it's hard to bring it back with sprinklers for that year. That's why it's best to start watering early in the year and keep it up all year if you want to maintain a lawn.

 

[Diggin It]

I'm more concerned with finding something with a more vigorous root system that will hold better with 2,500 pounds of tractor, attachments and operator running over it.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Maple trees have a very shallow root system, and as a result grass is hard to grow underneath them. Be careful with more topsoil over the roots, as the same shallow roots don't want to be covered; trees breathe through their roots. Also, how long did leaves lay under the trees this fall?, that could be why more grass died out. Someone mentioned mulch under the trees, that is fine as long as it isn't too thick. You can also try limbing up the trees some, to allow more sun to hit the ground, and this will help the grass. FYI... Bachelor of Science in Horticulture...

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Maple trees have a very shallow root system, and as a result grass is hard to grow underneath them. Be careful with more topsoil over the roots, as the same shallow roots don't want to be covered; trees breathe through their roots. Also, how long did leaves lay under the trees this fall?, that could be why more grass died out. Someone mentioned mulch under the trees, that is fine as long as it isn't too thick. You can also try limbing up the trees some, to allow more sun to hit the ground, and this will help the grass. FYI... Bachelor of Science in Horticulture...

Good info. I mulched the leaves once this year, first nice day I'll do it again. The leaf fall is very heavy in that area; my neighbors trees contribute a bunch also.

 

[Stancoll]

I agree with the mulch idea. You've got to consider that with a tree sucking up the available water it's also sucking up all the availalble nutrients in the soil also. One way to feed your trees . Consider a auger drill bit for a cordless drill. Drill holes (3-4 each) down and around the drip line and add 5-10-15 or 10-10-10 fertilizer and cover the hole up, usually once a year. You can use the fertlizer sticks but they can get pricey. My dad told me (I'm taking it for the truth), that certain trees drip a type of acid in their sap ( where I'm from it's oaks and pecan trees). It prevents other trees from competeing with them and cuts down any competition. Evidence is cars left under the trees usualy the paint job gets eaten up and rust starts in if left for extended periods of time so it applies the sap much have something in it to kill off grasses. Pines around here not so much but they have a lot of surface roots just on top of the ground. Grass around oaks here in GA is almost a nono. When I was a small lad folks kept a swept manicured sand yard, no grass whatsoever.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I agree with the mulch idea. You've got to consider that with a tree sucking up the available water it's also sucking up all the availalble nutrients in the soil also. One way to feed your trees . Consider a auger drill bit for a cordless drill. Drill holes (3-4 each) down and around the drip line and add 5-10-15 or 10-10-10 fertilizer and cover the hole up, usually once a year. You can use the fertlizer sticks but they can get pricey. My dad told me (I'm taking it for the truth), that certain trees drip a type of acid in their sap ( where I'm from it's oaks and pecan trees). It prevents other trees from competeing with them and cuts down any competition. Evidence is cars left under the trees usualy the paint job gets eaten up and rust starts in if left for extended periods of time so it applies the sap much have something in it to kill off grasses. Pines around here not so much but they have a lot of surface roots just on top of the ground. Grass around oaks here in GA is almost a nono. When I was a small lad folks kept a swept manicured sand yard, no grass whatsoever.

Thanks. I'll keep that in mind; I never thought about the trees taking the nutrients from the grass. I usually fertilize at least once, sometimes twice during the year, so it never even occurred to me.

 

[Stancoll]

Thanks. I'll keep that in mind; I never thought about the trees taking the nutrients from the grass. I usually fertilize at least once, sometimes twice during the year, so it never even occurred to me.

What type soil do you have in OK? never been there , That's why I ask. Do you fertilize on top or do you bury it. Its does make a difference!

 

[2LaneCruzer]

What type soil do you have in OK? never been there , That's why I ask. Do you fertilize on top or do you bury it. Its does make a difference!

We have all types in the state, but my soil is either sandstone or clay underneath with a layer of really sandy loam on top...I suppose being near a creek may have something to do with that. I have never buried fertilizer, except for a couple Cherry and a Magnolia tree. I usually put on about 500 pounds of ammonium sulfate in the Spring and about the same of 10-20-10 in the Fall. Skipped this year though.

 

[Stancoll]

We have all types in the state, but my soil is either sandstone or clay underneath with a layer of really sandy loam on top...I suppose being near a creek may have something to do with that. I have never buried fertilizer, except for a couple Cherry and a Magnolia tree. I usually put on about 500 pounds of ammonium sulfate in the Spring and about the same of 10-20-10 in the Fall. Skipped this year though.

Try burying it, you'll see a differnce. The roots once they find it really greens up the tree. On top, most of it runs off during rain. About the only kind on top that melts into the soil is the scotts brand for grasses. We had some minature azaleas that the boss said she wantd pulled up since they were not growing very well. I told her lets try the auger bit and fertilizer, now she doesn't want them up. They really greened up and have beautiful blooms. I guess it kind of like gardening, you bury the fertilizer along with the seed in most instances.

 

[oosik]

The other option - Dennis - there are special blends of grass made specifically for shaded and "tough to grow areas". You might look into this and seed those areas with this specific type of seed. However - who am I to talk - - I've never seeded or fertilized out here. All my acre and a half of "lawn" is just tough old field grass and I mow what grows. After 37+ years it looks pretty good.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

The other option - Dennis - there are special blends of grass made specifically for shaded and "tough to grow areas". You might look into this and seed those areas with this specific type of seed. However - who am I to talk - - I've never seeded or fertilized out here. All my acre and a half of "lawn" is just tough old field grass and I mow what grows. After 37+ years it looks pretty good.

Yeah, I have planted shade grasses, but pretty much at random. Next time I'll seek some advice as to the particular variety for that particular use.

 

[Streetcar]

No grass likes shade, I prefer one type of grass for uniform appearance. Bluegrass does not look like fescue. Thin fescue still looks like fescue. Check what type of grass grows best in your location

 

[Stancoll]

I do not know about your parts of the country but bahai (oldtimers: bahair) here in the south is a nusiance. It could be dry for 6 months and one drop of sweat would make a 100 acre field grow. It toussels and spreads its seeds everywhere plus critters carry the seeds also.