August 25, 2005Pat Gard discovered that his sprinkler system was broken when he came home from vacation. Areas of dead, yellow grass marred his formerly lush Visalia lawn.
Keep your LAWN LIVELY
TRIPLE-DIGIT WEATHER MAY NOT BE BEHIND LAWN WOES
By Aldrich Tan/Staff writer
August 25, 2005
Pat Gard discovered that his sprinkler system was broken when he came home from
vacation. Areas of dead, yellow grass marred his formerly lush Visalia lawn.
He thought it was the heat.
"I added another watering cycle," said Gard, 39. "I water my lawn in the morning and in the evening."
But Gard's lawn hadn't dried out because of the triple-digit weather. The culprit: fungus infestation, a common Valley cause of yellowed grass.
Gard's additional watering actually fed the fungus, said Jeremy Gilliland, department manager of gardens at Orchard Supply and Hardware in Visalia.
Is it dry or is it fungi?
Gardener Jose Angulo of Brian's Lawn Maintenance in Visalia is trying to undo the damage in Gard's lawn. With his shoe, Angulo shoves yellow-and-brown grass aside and reveals a foundation of grayish-brown soil. Small, fuzzy particles are clinging to the yellow grass roots.
"People think that they need to add more water when they see a yellow lawn," Gilliland said.
Not only were Gard's extra waterings feeding the fungus, Gilliland said, but evening humidity was fostering additional growth. The solution: Water in the morning "so the sun can evaporate any extra water that the soil doesn't consume."
Most lawns in the Visalia area feature fescue grass, said Brian Angulo, owner of Brian's Lawn Maintenance. Fescue is a delicate grass that needs exactly the right amount of water to grow -
See Lawns/2D
Lawn-care tips:
Read all the instructions on any chemical pesticides you apply to the lawn.
Don't use chemical weed killers. Pull weeds by hand.
Read the fine print on lawn-maintenance products. Among other things, you'll learn the maximum outdoor temperature allowable when applying.
Water your lawn between 6-7 a.m. Make sure you're complying with city regulations
Apply a pre-emergent to your lawn during the cooler months so you won't have to deal with weeds during the summer.
Ask a licensed lawn inspector to look at your lawn, especially if it is turning yellow. Discuss treatment options when preparing for next summer.
-- Jeremy Gilliland, Orchard Supply and Hardware in Visalia