My lawn is a mess?

Question

i use a well known lawn treatment company, they came and applied there treatment 3 weeks ago and the apperance is worse than ever. waiting for the company to come and have a look at the lawn but i have no faith in them. the lawn looks worn,patchy and different shades of brown and green. there sems to be alot of thatch to. what can you good people on here suggest?

i can then compare what they say to the answers i get of here to see if there trying to just take my money and run

Answer 1

May I suggest "many tacky lawn ornaments" to highlight the flaws of your lawn company!!!!!!!!Good luck-I recommend COW p**p for a lovely lawn! I am sure your neighbors will really appreciate it too!

Answer 2

Jerry Baker garden info galore.

Answer 3

If you have a dog or a cat that urinates in the yard then your just wasting your money, pet urine destroys yards.  Depending on the type and size of yard you have, I would rip out all of the old grass and reseed it.  Go to your local nursery or hardware store with a nursery in it and they should be able to give you some free advice as well.

Answer 4

I would suggest you start rakng the thatch then by aeriating the whole lawn IE stick your fork in and gently lift it slightly to let the air get in let it settle at this stage I would reseed where necessary with fescues then in he autumn a low nitrogen fertiliser with your lawn do not try for the easy fix high doses of nitrogen plan your activity for autumn the start planning for the growing season a good lawn unless you returf will take 2/3 years to get it as you will want it

Answer 5

even if you treated the lawn your self if you have left it to get in to a bad state it will get worst before it gets better you will have rake out the dead weeds and moss and look after it their is no short cuts

Answer 6

it could be the moss dyeing or they could of put to much granular treatment in places if you have no faith in them don't use them again good luck

Answer 7

I have starred this question in hopes that one of my contacts, who knows lawns better than me can answer.   I also have a company treating my lawn.  I am not completely happy either.  But there are spots that I need to water extra.  If you have kentucky bluegrass, it's a water hog and needs to be watered more.  Just water more all at one time, like for a longer period three times a week.  You may have the type of lawn that goes dormant in hot weather.  My bluegrass will do that, but plenty of water and it stays green.  I would also suspect billbugs, web worms and other larvae under your lawn that is eating it.   I do spot watering of some spots because they get dry.  I'll set a hose end sprinkler out and water it for a few hours and then all do another spot and the lawn will come back.  I also have a trouble spot on a slope that is in direct hot sun all day.  I hand water it when I come home from work and it helps.  I don't have thatching, so I put some compost on the lawn in that area to help keep the moisture in.  The thatch should be taken care of this fall and remember to put a winterizer fertilzer on in the fall if you get snow.  Your lawn will love you in the spring.

My opinion is that if your lawn people say they put stuff on the lawn and nothing is being done despite your CORRECT watering methods, change companies.  I have had to spot fertilize and put bug killer down in certain spots myself and it's helped, but I am SUPER picky about my lawn.  It's actually quite nice and I get compliments.  Maybe that's why I am so picky!  Plus, the last lawn I had was comprised of watered, fertilized and mown weeds mostly.  1/4 acre of kentucky bluegrass can be really pretty!  Good luck!

Answer 8

Sounds like they applied a granular fertiliser.It has to rain within 2 days otherwises it doesn't work and can sorch the lawn.

Never use a granular type,instead use miracle gro lawn feed,it dilutes into the watering can and you walk up and down with the can.No need to water in after.So liquid feed not granular.Do not apply fertilisers in dry weather,but after rain and then dry

Answer 9

Did your lawn have a lot of moss in it? If it did then it can look awful when the treatment starts to work, as it will look much as you describe and the moss will turn black when it dies.  If that was the problem then the company you got to treat it should come back to scarify it and remove the dead moss.  they should also aereate the lawn.  Then you will see dramatic results as the treatment then starts to green up your lawn.  But the three week timescale seems a bit long.  

If moss is not the problem and you get no satisfaction.  Take photos of your lawn and get them online with links to your area (not your name and address).  Saying this is what happens when this company "cures" you lawn problems.

Answer 10

Jerry Baker [see his books] advises to treat lawns with fertilizer, Epsom salts, and other additives. You've got to read his stuff. Epsom salts is a sulfur compound that gives the bugs a hot foot. Although he likes to minimize chemicals, sometimes you have to kill the sod web-worms and j*p beetles with tried and true controls.

The lawn companies stress regular watering to make their stuff work. De-thatch in the fall and spread some grass seed. I also aerate in the spring.