Lawn plague....

borat123

Anyone had weird black stripes appear randomly on their lawn, closely followed by death of the affected areas within a couple of days?

It's been hot (very hot) here, but the high temps are not a recent change. Plenty of water, several times a day.

I'm wondering if it was caused by fertilizer applied (spread by hand) which has burnt the grass? It has gone from golf course green, to a poxey looking patchwork, almost immediately after the last cut.

Please grass surgeons, tell me the antidote to my rapidly spreading lawn plague...

Koffee_Kosmo

Sounds like black smut disease KK

Lacehim

Maybe you cut it too low, or them bloody lawn grubs.  I hate em.

derrilex

on 1340086815:

Sounds like black smut disease KK

Sounds interesting KK - how does one catch that  :-* :P x 2 Lacehim. They are my nightmare grub

Brett H

on 1340088178:

Sounds interesting KK - how does one catch that  :-* :P

on 1340086562:

A good picture tells more than 1001 words

My wife who spent years of the family turf farm before I rescued her reckons it's grubs.

Lacehim

Supposedly you can test if its grubs by saturating a small area and they float to the top.  That's what the experts told me anyway.  Never worked for my free draining sandy soil though.

borat123

on 1340086562:

A good picture tells more than 1001 words

Thanks guys. Ok AM, here's some pics. Sorry for the quality, just ran outside with the phone..  btw, the type of turf is American Bermuda. It starts off like this and within a few days looks like this

derrilex

Looks like lawn grub AKA army worm. Get down on yer hands and knees where the grass is healthy and pull it apart. If you're lucky ( unlucky) you might see the grubs. Or you can get a damp towel and place it on the lawn at night and the grubs will come up to the surface at night - check underside in the morning

Lacehim

Check out your local hardware store for some grub killer, give that a go.  Can't hurt really.  Grubs usually eat your lawn from the inner bits to the outer edges. Either that or just concrete it and paint it green!  I've been tempted in the past!!!!

Lacehim

on 1340094530:

Or you can get a damp towel and place it on the lawn at night and the grubs will come up to the surface at night - check underside in the morning

Good tip, I remember that one from when we had it now.  :thumb:

borat123

ok thanks, I'll get some insecticide from the nursery and give it a go...

Koffee_Kosmo

Yep looks like lawn grub to me To be certain place a wet hessian bag or similar overnight and check under it in the morning and you will notice caterpillar like grubs underneath it KK

greenman

In Perth lawn beetle larvae chew on the roots and when hot weather arrives the lawn turns up its toes instantly, I usually spray  lawn with Yates Baythroid and then run retic to wash it into the soil. :thumb:

Koffee_Kosmo

on 1340100180:

In Perth lawn beetle larvae chew on the roots and when hot weather arrives the lawn turns up its toes instantly, I usually spray  lawn with Yates Baythroid and then run retic to wash it into the soil. :thumb:

Can he get Yates in Bahrain ?? Look for lawn grub killer and it is mixed in a watering can and applied in a soak to the roots That's the way I used to do it KK

Lacehim

on 1340101446:

Can he get Yates in Bahrain ??

I'm sure they will have a Bunnings!  Right?  :rofl:  :laugh:

borat123

Back from the garden centre.  Nope, no bunnings anywhere around here! I went organic and bought a 1ltr bottle of Neem oil.  Applied with a sprayer to soak into the soil, they reckon it kills off grubs and all manner of the little bastards.  Apparent spray at night. We'll see...

borat123

Ha ha, pretty big vomit / pee burns... I drenched the lawn last night with neem oil from the sprayer. It's a strong, odd smell and gets into your clothes, but at least it's non toxic to humans and the veg garden. Hopefully it will kill off the little buggars.