[Arid_gardener] lawn care

[Dick]

I haven't much experience with St. Augustine, Evelyn, but grew it years ago.

Is the dying widespread or is it spotty in circles growing in size?  If spotty and growing, cut and remove a four inch square on a border with a live side opposite  a dead one. Put it on a piece of cardboard and pick it apart. If sod web worms, mold or mildew are the culprit, it should be quite obxious. If you find either, take a sample to your local plant nursery and purchase a cure.

No soil based plant can survive a prolonged submergence of its roots in wet soil where there is no air. Even acquatic plants have an air source. If your soil is dense or the root mass impervious to water, aerating the lawn might help.

St. Augustine can, as it ages, develop a thick, dense sod that can become very difficult to penetrate to reach deep feeder roots. If the soil has dense spots or high pedestrian areas, these would be the first to show signs of struggle. 

All lawns need perodic feeding.  A good application with Ammonium Sulfate, 21-0-0, perhaps first in a small 2'x2' trial area, might reveal the need. 

I am strictly am amateur lawn person, Evelyn, but the population of experts is high in the Salt River Basin. You should get a hundred responses from your inquiry. If my own triggers questions, don't hesitate to respond.

Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer
U of A Maricopa County Cooperative Extension



----- Original Message ----- 
  From: evelyn rolfe 
  To: arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu 
  Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2007 4:12 PM
  Subject: [Arid_gardener] lawn care


  I have St. Augustine lawn. It is dyeing, what can I do. Maybe I am watering it too much



  Can you help me.



  Thanks

  Evelyn

  Arizona

















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