Terrible looking lawn - Ask Extension
To Whom it May Concern, Please help!! My yard looks terrible...seen enclosed photos. I don't know if I have creatures eating the grass roots or wha...
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Terrible looking lawn #877967
Asked July 19, 2024, 5:30 PM EDT
To Whom it May Concern, Please help!! My yard looks terrible...seen enclosed photos. I don't know if I have creatures eating the grass roots or what?? I think I might have moles or something because it is like walking on a very uneven yard and my riding lawn mower shakes me almost off the mower as I attempt to mow the grass. Also the quality of soil is terrible...I do believe my ground is quite a bit of clay. Any help and guidance would be much appreciated. Thank you, Dennis Dayhuff
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Thank you for writing.
That is a mess (no offense).
A couple questions
What height is your mower set at? Do you bag or let clippings lie?
Do you have an automatic sprinkler, what is it set at?
How much and how often are you fertilizing? Do you know what kind?
Are you using weed killers on your lawn?
You should check for grubs (a good possibility for this presentation). https://extension.umn.edu/news/white-grub-control-lawns
There are two ways to do this.
You can take a shovel or hand trowel and peel off a square foot of turf and you will see grubs in a layer where the sod comes off.
Or you can do the soapy water test. https://lawnpride.com.au/blogs/lawn-care-guide/lawn-grubs-soapy-water-test
Write back with the answers to the questions and the results of a grub test.
That is a mess (no offense).
A couple questions
What height is your mower set at? Do you bag or let clippings lie?
Do you have an automatic sprinkler, what is it set at?
How much and how often are you fertilizing? Do you know what kind?
Are you using weed killers on your lawn?
You should check for grubs (a good possibility for this presentation). https://extension.umn.edu/news/white-grub-control-lawns
There are two ways to do this.
You can take a shovel or hand trowel and peel off a square foot of turf and you will see grubs in a layer where the sod comes off.
Or you can do the soapy water test. https://lawnpride.com.au/blogs/lawn-care-guide/lawn-grubs-soapy-water-test
Write back with the answers to the questions and the results of a grub test.
Steve Miles,
No offense taken. I do know my yard looks like ....!! The quality of my soil is terrible so do I need to bring in truck loads of black soil??
Question #1; My mower is set pretty high so I do not scalp my lawn and I have mulch blades so I just leave the clippings.
Question #2; I do not have an auto sprinkler system.
Question #3; I use a lawn service for weed control and fertilizer...See attached. It will tell you the info for today's service and I do believe there are about 3-4 more appointments through the rest of the summer months. I do know that the first treatment which is back at the end of April is a weed control spray.
I am going to use your recommendation for grubs over the next couple of days and I will keep you posted on the results.
So what is next??
Thank you,
Dennis M. Dayhuff
Denny Dayhuff's Specialty Cleaning
Phone:<personal data hidden>
Thank you for writing back.
1. Switch to standard blades. https://usamowerblades.com/standard-blades-vs-mulching-blades/
Blades should be set 4 inches high.
3. You are over fertilizing. The nitrogen load can burn the lawn in mid summer. No lawn treatments until soil test tests come and indicate need. https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/testing-services/lawn-garden
4. Herbicides should be applied for a known weed problem.
1. Switch to standard blades. https://usamowerblades.com/standard-blades-vs-mulching-blades/
Blades should be set 4 inches high.
3. You are over fertilizing. The nitrogen load can burn the lawn in mid summer. No lawn treatments until soil test tests come and indicate need. https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/testing-services/lawn-garden
4. Herbicides should be applied for a known weed problem.
