Home Repair forum - black spots in "grass"/ clay

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black spots in "grass"/ clay

jIM

2006-07-31, 9:25 am

A few of us on our street have "black clay spots" where grass doesn't
grow or grows quite thin.

Someone recomended a lime based product which would cure this.

What is the black "stuff" and anyone ever heard of the lime treatment
being suggested?

These are new construction houses/ new lawns. Would you do the lime
treatment before or after planting grass (too late, grass is already
planted, but feel free to answer), before or after starter fertilzer
and is this going to be a recurring problem?

Joseph Meehan

2006-07-31, 9:25 am

jIM wrote:
> A few of us on our street have "black clay spots" where grass doesn't
> grow or grows quite thin.
>
> Someone recomended a lime based product which would cure this.
>
> What is the black "stuff" and anyone ever heard of the lime treatment
> being suggested?
>
> These are new construction houses/ new lawns. Would you do the lime
> treatment before or after planting grass (too late, grass is already
> planted, but feel free to answer), before or after starter fertilzer
> and is this going to be a recurring problem?

That sounds like mold. I suggest contacting your local county extension
service, a government agency in the US, although other countries often have
like services. They know the local area and are not motivated by profit.
They may recommend a soil test, which would be a good idea before apply lime
or any soil agent.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit

m Ransley

2006-07-31, 9:25 am

Is it being watered alot, very hot, everyone is using fertiliser, its
stressed and diseased, mold fungus or whatever it is. Mine went away
when I just stopped fertilising and frequent watering. But im no lawn
expert. If its real hot now where you are everything is over stressed

Hell Toupee

2006-07-31, 1:25 pm

jIM wrote:
>
> A few of us on our street have "black clay spots" where grass doesn't
> grow or grows quite thin.
>
> Someone recomended a lime based product which would cure this.

The only thing lime does is raise the soil's pH. If the problem isn't
pH-related (most likely not, since most of the lawn is doing fine,
right?) applying lime won't help, and might hurt, if you apply enough
to adversely change the pH.

> What is the black "stuff"

There's all kinds of possibilities, including slime molds or some
other type of fungus caused by patches of organic material in the soil
decaying (not uncommon in new developments where some construction
debris can end up buried). Your best bet is to contact your county's
extension agent and present a fresh sample, or take it to your local
Master Gardeners, or university, or a reputable local lawn/garden
store, if there is one in your area. At the very least, post as good a
photo as you can get of it online, then post the link here.

> and anyone ever heard of the lime treatment
> being suggested?

Lime is an old-fashioned 'treatment' for a variety of lawn problems,
including mushrooms. It doesn't accomplish anything except change the
soil pH, which is almost certainly not your problem.

> These are new construction houses/ new lawns. Would you do the lime
> treatment before or after planting grass

I wouldn't do it before consulting with a local who can give you a
better evaluation of what your problem is, and whether you need to do
anything about it.

> (too late, grass is already
> planted, but feel free to answer), before or after starter fertilzer
> and is this going to be a recurring problem?

Again, without knowing what the problem is (or if it's even a problem,
not just a temporary anomaly), it's impossible to give useful advice
besides 'consult a knowledgable local'.

HellT

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