Soggy Roots

Spring is the time of year when turfgrass produces the majority of new roots. This year, we had a lot of rain, which hampered root growth. To properly produce roots, there must be oxygen in the soil. When our soils are saturated with water, the amount of oxygen is reduced. This, in turn, reduces the number of new roots that a plant produces.

Because of this root problem, we may start to see signs of wet wilt this summer. Wet wilt occurs during hot and humid periods when soils are waterlogged, or when the roots cannot absorb water quick enough to meet transpiration needs of the plant.

Affected grass initially appears brownish and water-soaked. Turf soon thins out in irregular shapes. Eventually, leaves and sheaths collapse and turn white. A week or two later, dead areas develop a blackish appearance. This condition is difficult to diagnose and can be confused with summer lawn diseases.

For more information, visit: http://www.usga.org/turf/green_section_record/2006/mar_apr/understanding.html

Yellow Leaves on Pin Oaks

Chlorotic Oak Tree

If you have a pin oak with pale green or yellow leaves, it is most likely suffering from a condition called Iron Chlorosis. Basically, this is an iron deficiency caused from a lack of usable iron in the soil. Iron Chlorosis causes the leaves of affected trees to turn yellow and prematurely drop from the tree. If left untreated, over time the condition can lead to branch die back, and, eventually, death of the tree. The condition is treatable, however.

The Utah State University Extension Office has a handy treatment table here: http://extension.usu.edu/forestry/HomeTown/care_irontable1a.htm

Beware of Brown Patch

Photo from www.oznet.ksu.edu

Brown Patch is a nasty fungal disease that attacks Fescue lawns. This is a huge problem in areas that are humid in the summer.

Initially the disease appears as roughly circular, as in the picture above. Eventually, the patches may come together and take over large sections of the yard.

There are some plant protection products available at your local garden store that will control the disease for a short period of time. These are worth the effort if you have a particularly brutal case of disease or if you seeded your lawn in the last year.

Small cases will run their course and leave dead leaf tissue that is easily removed through mowing. Because it is a foliar disease, treatment is not always necessary, depending on your expectations for your lawn.

To avoid disease, water in the mornings to give the lawn time to dry out before nightfall.

Welcome!

This blog will cover all aspects of lawn and tree care. I live in the Midwest, so most entries will focus on growing lawns in this area, although I will try to post about general lawn and tree care frequently for readers outside Zones 5 & 6. E-mail me any lawn care questions you have, and I will do my best to answer them.