Q: What can I do with all the leaves in my yard? I don’t want to bag them up, I would like to just run the lawn mower over them and mulch them on the lawn but my husband thinks that it may cause a thatch problem and the lawn may suffer if I do that. What do you recommend?
A: According to a recent study at Michigan State University, you no longer have to bag your leaves. Run over them with a mulching lawn mower until the pieces are about dime size. About 1/2 inch of the grass should show through. Over the winter the leaves will decompose and add nutrients to your soil. Adding a little nitrogen fertilizer will help the leaves decompose more quickly. Most leaves break down very easily with the exception of live oak and magnolia leaves. If you do choose to bag the leaves, find a friend or Master Gardener who will compost them. Most Master Gardeners consider leaves as free fertilizer.
Getting Rid of Grub Worms
Q: When we were dethatching our lawn and pulling weeds from the beds we found lots of grub worms, what can we do to get rid of them and when?
A: The best time to kill grubs in Texas is from March to August. Look for a product containing IMIDACLOPRID, an insecticide that should not harm beneficial insects in the soil. Read the label carefully. The insecticide attaches to the roots of the grass and shuts down the grubs ability to feed. The ability to kill the grubs depends on how deep they are in the soil, how much it is watered in and the amount of clay in the soil. As with the any product it will not wipe out every single grub. In the average lawn there will be grubs at any time of the year, if you find 3 or more in a 12 inch by 12 inch area that it is considered an infestation and a serious threat to the lawn. Most lawn insecticides should not be used within 3 to 4 feet of vegetable crops.
Well watered lawn, but still brown
Q: I have been watering my lawn regularly, we are not on water restrictions in my area. Other than having a very large water bill, I still have areas that have turned brown and I have treated for bugs and fungus and I have had a certified nurseryman look at the grass and he did not find any chinch bugs what else can be wrong and what can I do?
A: The most likely problem is still water. Either the water is not going on evenly or the soil is thinner in the areas where the grass is brown and needs more water. You did not say if you water by hose sprinkler or have a system. If you are watering by hose or by automated system, the water spray needs to overlap and not by just mist. If you have a automated system it may need a check up and some minor repairs or adjustments.
Water Restrictions and a Brown Lawn
Q: My lawn is brown from the heat and lack of water, where I live we are on water restrictions and I am unable to water more is there any thing else that I can do for my lawn to save it?
A: The only answer I can give is, No. All that I can recommend is that if you are able to water any at all do what you can, if you are not permitted to water at all there is nothing else to do but pray for rain.
My lawn has thin and dead areas where the grass that is alive pulls up easily and the roots are stubby or black looking
Q. My lawn has thin and dead areas where the grass that is alive pulls up easily and the roots are stubby or black looking and the grass around the area is yellow. Is this grubs and what do I use to get rid of them?
A. What you describe is more a symptom of a fungus than grubs. Grubs eat the roots off and the grass will pull up, but generally just looks bad with a mixture of yellow/green and brown color to the areas. Dig carefully in the area and if you find more than 3 or 4 grubs in a 12 inch by 12 inch square area then you have a problem, one or two is not a serious problem I would treat the areas and if possible the whole lawn around the areas with a systemic fungicide. Treat heavy and do not try to be stingy or do a light treatment to save money you will be wasting your money. Follow all directions on the product label.
Chinch Bug Problem
Q. Last year large areas of my lawn turned brown and died, I was told that I may have had a chinch bug problem. This year the grass is not growing in well and seems to be a bit off color and thin, what can I do to improve it and get it to grow?
A. First I would treat for chinch bugs again with either a general purpose control or a season long product that also controls grubs. I have been seeing chinch bugs already this year and it is not even summer yet, so they are very active at this time. Then I would fertilize with a good slow acting lawn food that contains a large percentage of water insoluble nitrogen or one of the other slow acting nitrogen’s. You do not want one that has a high percentage of an Ammonia form of nitrogen, this for is used up fast, will not last and can aggravate fungus problems.