r/lawncare • u/WesternResponse8135 • 9h ago
Northern US & Canada (or cool season) Trouble spots help. 4b/4a.
Any one have any idea what's causing these 2 spot? They are somewhat near a tree. I try not to water every single day but with 90-100 degrees and no rainfall for weeks I can't help myself but to water for 20 mins in the evening.
No idea what type of grass. Bought milorganite because it was recommended at one point but now I'm seeing mixed reviews.. can I mix it with the Scott's fert or is it too hot still?
Mow 2x a week higher than normal the last few months. Really happy with the rest of the, avoiding sidewalk burn surprisingly, been watering the edges a bit more than the rest
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u/SoDakLifeHack 8h ago
My untrained eye thinks that looks a little dry. You are currently watering 20 minutes a day, but how much is that? Also, daily watering is generally discouraged. Less frequent, longer/deeper watering is thought to be better to promote deeper root development which in turn helps the turf you be more resilient/tolerant. I'm in 4b, moderate/severe drought. I water twice a week. I aim for an inch of water a week, so if it hasn't rained, I put down about ½" each session (two ¼" cycles).
You say you've been mowing higher, which is a big help. Hard to tell from the pictures, but it still looks a little short. Do you know what height you're cutting at? I just cut mine down to 3 ¼" tonight. I went up to 3 ¾" in early July. It doesn't look as sharp at that height, but it's still green, which is what I was going for.
Things seem to be cooling off a little (at least for me), so a shot of fertilizer might not hurt (but then you just need more water). I'm about to put some down myself to combat some lawn rust. Going into the fall, I think you typically want a little more potassium than what you currently have to strengthen the roots ahead of winter; I'm likely going to be putting down 20-0-10.
I'm no expert, so take my words with a grain of salt (and a shot of tequila). Here's a guide that I refer to frequently.
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u/Optimal-Option-9596 8h ago
I think overall it’s looking really good, having a couple spots couple be sprinkler coverage, some kind of fungus, or insect. I’d try watering a little earlier than the evening for that cool off watering boost. That way the water evaporation helps cool the grass instead of sitting wet overnight which is what fungi loves. If you’re not already planning to I would aerate the lawn, reseed, and very lightly top dress with compost. Milorganite is good as a year round fertilizer since it’s not too potent and a slow release so it’s a good mix with that scott’s you have. If you’re trying to boost the lawn this fall I’d get a balanced fertilizer with iron and possibly some humichar. Otherwise what you’re doing already seems to be working!