Yellow "Patches" on Lawn - Pics Included - Help!?

Question

Hey,

I recently moved to a house in which the lawn (purchased and installed as sheets of turf) is St. Augustine. It was perfect and green for a few weeks, but suddenly, it has developed yellow patches.

I live in Houston, and it has been one of the wettest summers on record. I've treated my lawn with Bug-B-Gone Max and Scotts Turf Fertilizer (Southern Lawns). We mow the lawn every 1-2 weeks to about 2 inches (it grows very quickly).

I suspect that fungus has something to do with this...

Pictures:
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/9376/spot3ks0.jpg
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/5832/spot5qo2.jpg
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/4602/spot6up0.jpg
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9076/spot1vc8.jpg
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/6129/spot2yj4.jpg

Can anyone please help me? If not, can you tell me someplace I can go to have the problem determined?

We have a cat, but she's always uses the litter box.

Also, these spots are not dry spots. It rains basically every other day here, and when it doesn't we turn on the sprinklers.

Also, the front of our property doesn't have any kind of spots on it, and we cut it the same (same day, same height, same fertilizer/pesticide).

Lastly, there are similar spots on the properties of neighbors...

Answer 1

It could be chinch bugs but most likely it is fungus as you say. This is about the time of year that fungus shows in St. Augustine. Apply a fungicide to stop the spread but the existing yellow spots will probably remain through the fall. Spring growth will give you a nice lawn again, but by late spring you should treat for fungus to prevent it from happening again.

Answer 2

It prob' is a result of Fungus.
Scotts and Bayer make a prevative funguscide- 10 to 12 bucks for a bag that covers 4000 SQ feet. It can be used before the problem starts or after it has begun to take hold. If you fertilize the pathches, I have learned, the fungus thrives on the fertilizer making the problem worse.
ALSO - with all that rain, cutting every two weeks might be too long. Cut it high as possible- and cut more often. If grass is let to grow high then cut down- it's sort of like cutting your fingernails to the quick. If your personal time allows it- cut it at 3 inches - not 2, and cut it weekly if needed.

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Yellow "Patches" on Lawn - Pics Included - Help!?
Hey,

I recently moved to a house in which the lawn (purchased and installed as sheets of turf) is St. Augustine. It was perfect and green for a few weeks, but suddenly, it has developed yellow patches.

I live in Houston, and it has been one of the wettest summers on record. I've treated...

Answer 4

That happen to our lawn to. This is what we did and it worked. Where the yellow spots are I , with my fingers,(you can wear gloves if you want) ranked it , kinda pulling some of the dead grass out, just enough for it to breathe, then with the water hose on full blast I drenched the areas. We also put some chicken poop on it, most home deports sale it, or small feed business. Then water like crazy, if you can.

Answer 5

It really sounds like chinch bugs or their larvae. The remedy for that is to get nematodes which is a live type of organism that will destroy these reprehensible creatures. This absolutely works. Google nematodes and you will get a basic overview of the way they work. At least you will be doing your lawn a favour with this organic cure.

Answer 6

Hi,
Check out the site below. The picture of the lawn looks just like your lawn. They say when the turf is wet or high humidity a fungal mycelium causes the problem.
http://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=6&tabid=4&Content=822&ExtID=HTM

Answer 7

FIrst, anyone who has answered this and said that your "before" looked chubby or fat is crazy. 125 lbs on a person of your heigth does not constitute fat. You simply needed to tone up. You look great. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. And I'm very sorry to hear about your mum.

Answer 8

I believe that you have grubs or chinch bugs in your soil; St. Augustine grass is notorious for them! Check with a local lawn and garden shop, and get something specifically for grubs. It will take time, but they CAN be defeated. Good luck!

Answer 9

i live here too and ive noticed our neighbors have dry patches too but out grass is very green. my dad says its because he cuts the grass "high" or at least that's how he sets the lawn mower blade. if you cut the grass too low, the sun tends to burn and dry the grass especially where there is no shade. he has to cut the grass more frequently but its worth it and plus he likes doing that stuff. it might work =)


PS. we have 3 dogs and both front and backyard dont have this problem.

Answer 10

Looks like very small "crop circles." Hee hee.. No, I would add some dish soap, just a bit, to your hand held sprayer and go over grass. It may be some insect (I've had bugs attack my lawns before) and this will kill them and the eggs.

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