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Index : Lawns
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- 3. Patching-Up Summer Lawn Problems - Top
- atching-Up Summer Lawn Problems
This is the time of year when lawns tend to suffer the most. Hot, dry weather combine to suck the moisture out of grass plants and underlying soil. Patches of dead and dying grass are common. In most cases these dead patches result from gaps in watering, where sprinklers do not reach. The patches can be repaired, but first the sprinklers need to be adjusted.
To determine whether the dead patches are a result of a lack of water, set a straight sided can inthe middle of the patch. You can use a tuna can, bean can, soup can or any other of similar size with straight sides. The can will be used to measure water when the sprinklers are turned on. Now set additional cans randomly over the rest of the lawn. For a typical-sized lawn, say 1000square feet, set out six or eight cans. Now turn on the sprinkler system.
After the sprinklers have run their usual length of time, turn them off and measure the water in the cans. You can use a wooden yard stick. If the can set in the dead patch has significantly less water than the other cans, the problem is not enough water. The most likely reason is that sprinklers are not covering this area.
You may need to add a sprinkler to the dead area, or change the surrounding nozzles on the sprinkler heads to ones that have a longer throw radius. Check with your local garden center, home supply store, or irrigation supply store for suggestions and materials. When the watering problem is corrected, your ready to repair the dead patch of grass.
The easiest, and quickest way to repair dead patches of grass is with turfgrass sod. You can purchase pieces of burmudagrass sod at your local nursery or garden store. Since sod comes in straight-sided pieces, to make it fit cut out the dead patch using straight sides. Outline the patch with boards or string to encompass the dead area. Next remove the dead grass, roots and all, by cutting under it with a shovel. Prepare the underlying soil by tilling and loosening it up with your shovel. Mix in a tablespoon of ammonium phosphate fertilizer to each square foot of area to be patched. The fertilizer will help grow the new sod. Finally, remove any stones and smooth the soil to provide a level surface for laying the sod.
Purchase enough sod to completely fill the cut out patch. Place the sod in the cut out and fit the sod pieces tightly against the edges of the cut out. Immediately after installing the sod, water it thoroughly until the soil underneath is wet. In the heat of summer it may be necessary to hand water the new sod twice daily to keep it moist as new roots are developing. Every few days try gently pulling the sod up off the soil. You'll know it is established when the sod holds tight to the soil surface. At that time, you may discontinue hand watering.
To keep your lawn healthy, make sure it is watered properly. Burmudagrass requires watering every third day during the heat of summer. When you water make sure to wet the soil to a depth of eight inches. This will encourage deeper rooting of your lawn and make it more tolerant to the heat. Use the catch can method mentioned above to measure the amount of water being applied. Water long enough to fill the catch cans with about three-quarter inch of water.
When monsoon rains occur, adjust your irrigation to water less frequently. A rain gauge is anecessity to make watering adjustments. If it rains one-half inch or more, then skip the next scheduled watering. Better yet, set your irrigation controller on manual and water only as-needed. You'll know when to water by looking at the lawn. When you notice sizable wilting patches of dull, blue-green grass, that does not spring back after being walked on, then it's time to water!
Written by John Begeman, College of Agriculture, the University of Arizona, 520-626-5161.
Material originally appeared in Arizona Daily Star gardening column, on June 18, 2000
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- Updated: June 18, 2000
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