[alwann]

Among the scores of landscaping and lawn maintenance companies operating in The Villages, do any have agronomists on staff?

Part of my lawn is dying. The maintenance company (Dean's) sent some nice young people who put down more fertilizer and weed deterrent after my first complaint, adjusted the sprinkler pattern after the second complaint, and increased the sprinkler running time after the third complaint. No improvement. It seems like a guessing game with them. What I'd like is to have the soil analyzed for disease and nasty bugs. Who offers this service, but also does mowing and upkeep for a monthly fee?

[Opmoochler]

From my daily perusal of TOTV, try Central FL Turf.

[twotogo]

I am a customer of Deans also. Intermixed through out my lawn is dark brown grass. Some of my neighbors also have the dead dark brown grass. Other people have a light tan colored grass.
The dark brown grass readily pulls out. Like it is vertically cut at the bottom

Deans found some grubs, larve pale green with green stripe in neighbors lawn. I live in Charlotte.

Deans thought I was not watering enough. They also recommended dethatching at the correct time of the year

The lawn mowing company I have keeps the lawn cut at 4 inches.
Deans recommends 2 inches.

Can you better describe what your lawn looks like?
Last year my lawn looked great looked great.

[alwann]

twotogo-- What can I say? The section of my lawn in question is about 3x5 where the turf is a mixture of bare spots, dark brown grass, light brown grass, and obviously dead grass, but with a few green strands here and there. Some isolated other parts of my lawn show signs of heat distress, but not like the above.

As far as I know, Dean's tech never pulled up any turf looking for pests. Nor did they ever suggest thatching. In fact, when I asked about it, they said my strain of grass didn't require it. Perhaps yours is a different kind.

[twotogo]

I have empire zoisa

[big guy]

Originally Posted by alwann

Among the scores of landscaping and lawn maintenance companies operating in The Villages, do any have agronomists on staff?

Part of my lawn is dying. The maintenance company (Dean's) sent some nice young people who put down more fertilizer and weed deterrent after my first complaint, adjusted the sprinkler pattern after the second complaint, and increased the sprinkler running time after the third complaint. No improvement. It seems like a guessing game with them. What I'd like is to have the soil analyzed for disease and nasty bugs. Who offers this service, but also does mowing and upkeep for a monthly fee?

Bring a square sample of your lawn, about 8" X 8", soil, turf from bad into good area, to the Master Gardener plant clinic on Mondays between 9 and 3 pm at the government annex. You can have your soil analyzed too (have to send that awayand there is a charge for that). If you are closer to Powell Rd, go to the library on Fridays 9-3 to Master Gardener plant clinic.

[autumnspring]

Originally Posted by big guy

Bring a square sample of your lawn, about 8" X 8", soil, turf from bad into good area, to the Master Gardener plant clinic on Mondays between 9 and 3 pm at the government annex. You can have your soil analyzed too (have to send that awayand there is a charge for that). If you are closer to Powell Rd, go to the library on Fridays 9-3 to Master Gardener plant clinic.

I totally agree with suggestion to use the plant clinic. Realize most of the other sources of information are trying to sell you something.
If, it is as someone suggested a bug problem an old simple idea. You cut two ends out of a coffee can-of course after you have used the coffee. You take that cylinder push it into the soil and fill it with water. If, you have cinch bugs mole crickets they will float to the top.

[RickeyD]

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