shrinking front lawn - Ask Extension
Watching my front yard grass die off in the last five (5) years; fertilized regularly couple times a year which seem to make the death of the grass w...
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shrinking front lawn #873915
Asked June 20, 2024, 12:19 PM EDT
Watching my front yard grass die off in the last five (5) years; fertilized regularly couple times a year which seem to make the death of the grass worse but I don't know; the Maple tree about 12 yrs old, planted the seedless cottonwood 2 years ago; the tarped area I'm trying to kill of all the bindweed in that area...but its made its way else; can you tell about a yard just by looking at it; oh also the soil has turned to sand; under clay. Thanks.
Anita C
Adams County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Anita,
Thank you for your question. It can be very frustrating when your landscape doesn't do what you want it to! How are you watering? do you have a sprinkler system or a hose/sprinkler? Most lawns in Colorado need 1 1/2- 2 1/2" of moisture each week to keep growing well (more in the heat of summer, less in shoulder seasons). You can check how much water you're putting down by placing containers of the same size throughout the yard and running your system as you normally would. If you want to know how much you're putting down you can use a straight-sided container and measure the depth.
See this fact sheet for more details:
https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/garden/07199.pdf
Also our lawn care fact sheet:
https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/garden/07202.pdf
You didn't specifically ask, but here is some information on controlling bindweed: https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/weeds-cultural-problems/2104-controlling-bindweed/. Tarping, especially with a black tarp is unlikely to get long-term control.
If you want more lawn advice I would be happy to chat on the phone (office:<personal data hidden>, cell:<personal data hidden>). We also offer a lawn check service for $50 where we will come out and take a look in person.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
Thank you for your question. It can be very frustrating when your landscape doesn't do what you want it to! How are you watering? do you have a sprinkler system or a hose/sprinkler? Most lawns in Colorado need 1 1/2- 2 1/2" of moisture each week to keep growing well (more in the heat of summer, less in shoulder seasons). You can check how much water you're putting down by placing containers of the same size throughout the yard and running your system as you normally would. If you want to know how much you're putting down you can use a straight-sided container and measure the depth.
See this fact sheet for more details:
https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/garden/07199.pdf
Also our lawn care fact sheet:
https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/garden/07202.pdf
You didn't specifically ask, but here is some information on controlling bindweed: https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/weeds-cultural-problems/2104-controlling-bindweed/. Tarping, especially with a black tarp is unlikely to get long-term control.
If you want more lawn advice I would be happy to chat on the phone (office:<personal data hidden>, cell:<personal data hidden>). We also offer a lawn check service for $50 where we will come out and take a look in person.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
Thank you for your information which I do know about; however I feel there is something else going on in the spoil! Don't have the $$ to have someone to come diagnose or dig it up and do something else!
Yeah the bindweed crazy...covering with heavy duty garden plastic works!
Thanks again and God bless.
Anita C
