New grass in shady area is thin and limp?

Question

i reseeded my yard about two months ago with Rebel Ultimate Tall Fescue and it is doing great, aside from some weeds which i just zapped and are starting to wither. in my back yard i've got lots of shade, and i planted the Rebel Shady blend in the backyard hoping it would have a better chance at survival. There is a section of the yard that the grass blades are very thin and haven't filled out yet. and they are also very weak and basically don't stand up, they're just limp. I also noticed that you can't run your fingers through it. they are kinda tangled from flopping around.

could they just not be getting enough sun? it's not the whole shady area, it's just a little part so i'm stumped. they've been watered, probably even more than the rest of the yard. i've uploaded some photos, it's tought to really tell but take a look.

any suggestions or ideas?

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/1679/pa120016jk0.jpg
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/605/pa120017wp2.jpg

Answer 1

The extra water (or standing water) may actually be the problem. If the water is not draining well, for example the soil there is dense with clay or such, the standing water (on top or just under the surface), is probably weakening the root structure of the grass. The solution, ironically, is the same as the guy above posted. You may need to top dress with top soil to give the grass a better draining medium.

The other possibility is that this grass is planted where there was once a tree, shrub or other plant that actually "poisoned" the soil. Many plants will do that to cut down on competition and the chemicals they place in the soil often will stick around LONG after they are gone. Any roots from trees, etc. around there?

Anyway, hope this helps and good luck!

Answer 2

you're probable going to have problem organising a backyard good decrease than the timber. It probable would not get sufficient mild, the timber block rain from attending to that section decrease than the timber except it rains lots, which even interior the soggy northwest would not ensue lots in summer season, and a heavy fall of tree needles isn't that super for grass. yet once you want to attempt, good now could be an exceptionally good time to seed. Seed is low-fee, so which you haven't any longer have been given lots to lose via utilising it. i might only pass to the backyard centre and purchase some seed that asserts this is for coloration. Rake away the needles, placed down an inch or so of topsoil, fling the seed out, rake it over, shop it moist for 2 weeks and spot what takes place. do no longer anticipate it to do super this one year yet while it takes, you would be attentive to next spring. I also have a touch bit backyard from coloration seed that's doing o.k., with filtered image voltaic approximately 0.5 the day yet little genuine sunlight.

Answer 3

Most fescues prefer dry, well-drained soil, so my guess is there's either too much clay in your soil and/or you're watering it too much. About 1 inch per week is all it really needs. Being as you've picked a "shady" blend, it's probably not due as much to lack of sun as it is to lack of drainage. You could add a half inch of sand topped off with some decent topsoil and reseed.

Answer 4

i looked at your pictures, and being a shady grass; it may not require as much water as the sunny grass. reason being the soil is not drying out as quick. if the water continues to run on this area, you will see an algea layer begin to appear on the top of the soil. this will bring competition for your grass roots, and it may start to deteriorate the crown of the grass plant. cut back on the water, do a little aeration and topdress and see how he grass responds. you may also want to throw down a little of starter fertilizer recommended for that particular grass if you haven't done so already!! happy gardening

Answer 5

Chalk will condition your soil for the grass to grow better, not much sun doesn't help, especially since it is Fall and getting to winter fast.

Answer 6

My guess is that the soil is too hard, so the roots haven't been able to anchor themselves adequately, preventing the uptake of water to the plant. I had to top-dress my bare patches with topsoil first, then planted; it rooted fine.