[mulligan]

Actually, they use cheap Tequila

[Parker]

We have St Augustine grass and have brown spots that our landscape company Massey treated for chinch bugs. One good sized patch is quite dead, some other spots a little peaked but hanging in there. So it isn't just zoysia. Anybody have Bermuda grass? Bermuda does very well in California, but how about here?

[jimmemac]

I have stellar also when I came down here about 4 weeks ago my lawn has similar problems but I have to say that Stellar had already treated the problems even though I wasn't here to see it or report it. Lawn really looks pretty good now thanks to them.

[FoPAA]

Massey said our brown spots were due to heat and dring and that cinch bugs would infest the spot area. They treated for cinch bugs and the rain brought some of it back. Spots seem to be back at same place now.

[courtyard]

The best lawn I've ever had was one that was Hydroseeded. (It is a planting process which utilizes a slurry of seed and mulch. The slurry is transported in a tank, either truck- or trailer-mounted and sprayed over prepared ground.)

Also, I've tried using Sod in our backyard, but got a lot of weeds and crabgrass throughout.

[shcisamax]

We just look like the lawn is like thinning hair. Some parts are really scarce. Massey said we just need to water it more but i am wondering why it isn't uniformly thin. Now I am wondering if it is fungus.

[justjim]

Originally Posted by Stellar

"Fungus is absolutely a problem this time of year ... Heat, humidity, and rain are all a recipe for fungus problems in lawns and the unfortunate thing about it is that you CANNOT prevent it.... But we absolutely can treat it... The two fungus problems we are seeing is called "large patch and dollar spot" most lawn problems right now are fungus related.. It is airborne and many times lays dormant in the soil until the right conditions appear. If ANY Stellar customers are having this problem, we are probably on top of it but please take advantage of your FREE/UNLIMITED service calls."

Thanks
Marty Rouse/Owner
Stellar Residential Services , LLC

Thanks for the information. Fungus I'm not so much worried about but if its chinch bugs I think they can completely destroy your yard. How can you tell the difference??

[CFrance]

This is great information. Thanks for the help. Also, I'm glad that you are keeping an eye out, especially for those of your customers who are out of town for the summer. Like us!

[rubicon]

A way to test for cinch bugs is to bury a can level with the ground next to the area of concern. Then fill it with water to 3/4 of the can. If you have cinch bugs activity you will see them floating in the can of water.

I suspect residents living in Sumter County and watering once a week as suggested by the water utility are depriving their lawns.

[justjim]

Looks like two different lawn treatment companies disagreeing about the proper treatment for the yard! Well, doctors often disagree----so do auto technicians and we could go on and on. I really appreciate all the thoughts and ideas. A second opinion will certainly be in order if improvement of my yard by my lawn treatment company is not soon. Thanks.

[gomoho]

Massey was buy today for regular fertilization scheduled - asked the tech what they thought was going on with all this brown and dead stuff in the lawns. He said definitely a water issue. So what really is the answer? Surely someone can give a definitive. Master Gardeners "where are you" on this?

[gomoho]

Originally Posted by Stellar

The cause of "brown spots" in lawns will be different for every lawn. To lump all "brown spots" under one umbrella and label it "drought" is foolish. One " brown spot" in one lawn could be billbugs, one lack of water etc, one fungus, one soil content, one grubs, one chinch bugs, one billbugs, one nematodes (lets not forget those guys) and yes they exist and yes we have found them in the villages, or one "brown spot" could be a mixture of two or three things. Common sense is telling us (or should be) its more than likely not just one thing causing ALL of the "brown spots" we are seeing. Not to mention.... am I the only company/ individual that has noticed a increase in rainfall of late? when questioning what is truth, do some research; keep us companies honest. There are many resources online (but be careful, make sure they are legit sources; not some "do it yourselfer" guessing.) books, suppliers, etc. Happy gardening out there. Have A "Stellar" weekend all.

MArty Rouse / Owner Stellar

And that is why I requested the Master Gardeners in The Villages weigh in on this. And yes we have had a good amount of rain, but isn't our soil mostly sand which simply allows the water to flow through not capture it like topsoil would do. I have noticed even after a really good rain, in this heat it only takes a few days and the lawns begin to show signs of stress. The rain fills the aquifers and ponds which gives us access to water our lawns twice a week now, but unless that rain could be turned on like a scheduled irrigation system it is still critical to water when needed.

[Donvito]

I have lived in TV for almost 5 years with Zoysia grass and have had no problems with it nor has any of the houses around me.
I don't recomment St Augustine grass because it's has thicker blades and doesn't look as good and is not as drought tolerant. I had it in South Florida for 11 years.

[justjim]

Originally Posted by Donvito

I have lived in TV for almost 5 years with Zoysia grass and have had no problems with it nor has any of the houses around me.
I don't recomment St Augustine grass because it's has thicker blades and doesn't look as good and is not as drought tolerant. I had it in South Florida for 11 years.

Donvito: It was about seven years ago that TV quit using St. Augustine and went to a strain of Zoysia. As OP I am happy to report that the fungus was treated twice and yard is looking much much better. Good news NO BUGS! On that I will.....