Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Dec 04, 2012 9:31 pm Hi all, long time reader but first time poster here! My wife and I finished building our home in Perth in January and I poured myself into research as to the best lawn available for our front and back yards. After many searches on this forum and elsewhere, I decided that the Empress Zoysia was the way to go - particularly because of the rich green look! The front lawn went down in February and the back in May. Our budget was very tight so the soil prep consisted of leveling, mixing through a lawn mix sand into the existing soil (I know that is frowned upon but we were broke) and several bags of organic fertilizer raked throughout. The turf was laid onto this and compacted down, then thoroughly watered in with our reticulation 3 times a day for 6 weeks (and consistently on watering days since - other than winter rains) I expected it to go dormant throughout winter and understand that with the EZ it will take a good 12 months to settle, however it seems to have gone down hill. I did prepare some concrete out the back when I built the deck so perhaps that got in the soil? Likewise out the front where I cleaned out some paintbrushes pre-lawn. Also, the block is old and had a house demolished on it before we purchased the land so the soil is probably not the best. The backyard looks like it almost has a fungus of some type? It is very patchy and completely dried out and yellow in big areas: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The front yard is slightly better, however there is one strip of lawn that never grew and is completely dead? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ To combat this over the last few months we have put a Richgro "Weed'n'Feed" (at the advice of Bunnings), Baileys 311 and Urea at different times all over both lawns. To date they haven't done much in the way of help. Now to save being lazy and just asking what should I do next, I did a good bit of research through Fu's and others posts and I think this might be the course of action: - Aerate the lawn (not sure if this would be the issue due to the young age of the lawn) - Give it a good dose of Zeolite - Give it a good dose of Molasses - Finish it off with a covering of Seasol or Seamungus (not sure the difference if any) Could one of you wise and knowledgeable green thumbs let me know if i'm on the right track or if I am way off... Sorry for the extremely long post, I just figured I would load you up with information first up to save you asking ! Thank you so much in advance and congratulations on a fantastic forum that helps out so many (even if they are just readers!) Too Long Didnt Read: EZ Lawn looks like its dying and need advice on how to make it healthy and green again (see pics above) Re: Empress Zoysia Help - How to revive? 2Dec 05, 2012 7:43 pm You sure thats not that dollar cent mould thing? A severe case of it? http://www.heyne.com.au/gardencentre/fa ... seases.htm Pics: http://www.google.com.au/search?q=dolla ... 66&bih=608 I only suggest this as you said you watered it 3 times a day for six weeks. (I did mine once a day...in the morning for maybe two weeks) Re: Empress Zoysia Help - How to revive? 3Dec 06, 2012 3:22 pm Thanks for responding Jzell! You are right, it looks like it could be Dollar spot or potentially even brown patch? I was hoping it wasn't a fungus but the more I think about it the more I think it could be. I guess I will have to look into a good fungicide to clear it up ASAP. I really appreciate your help! Ron Re: Empress Zoysia Help - How to revive? 4Dec 23, 2012 11:08 pm Did you find out what was wrong with ur zoysia lawn? I have the same looking lawn, I will upload tomorrow. I did spray the lawn with Mancozeb Plus last week, now the lawn looks dead. How do you know when to stop spraying? Re: Empress Zoysia Help - How to revive? 5Dec 24, 2012 12:27 pm Re: Empress Zoysia Help - How to revive? 7Jan 02, 2013 4:02 pm Hi Big Nath, Apologies for the delay in my reply mate! Unfortunately, other than the dollar spot suggestion, I haven't come any closer to figuring it out! I bought myself some Mancozeb Plus also but the heatwave here has prevented me from getting out there and applying it (not because I'm lazy, the packet suggests applying under 27...) How did you go with your fungicide application? Have you seen it come back at all?? Not sure when to stop spraying either... Ron Re: Empress Zoysia Help - How to revive? 8Jan 02, 2013 7:01 pm In WA ( southwest) here. we've certainly coped it with the heat and humidity. We did do a massive amount of soil prep b4 ours was laid in 2010. Ours has a few of these patches since coming out of winter where it didn't cope too well this year. Though nothing near as bad as yours is looking. Plus ours has been taking a bit of a hammering in places where we've been throwing the ball for the dog etc. The lawn area is in the front only so not his usual habitat so its not dog wee causing the problem. Last week and the week before I did a serious weed removal slog on the lawn and then I gave ours a dose of seasol and powerfeed. Today I've cleaned up the bare patches a bit, added organic soil to level up the patches, some more zeolite and some wettasoil type granules ( would have preferred saturaid but wasn't able to source it here) hubby commented last week that the rest of the lawn looked a bit happier within a day or so after the seasol and powerfeed application. I did notice there might have been a few new green bits/runners trying to creep into some of the dead sections. I do need to do a molasses feed as well. so if I get a chance I'll do that later this week as I wont be able to do anything garden wise for about 3 months after next week. Re: Empress Zoysia Help - How to revive? 9Feb 03, 2013 9:25 am This is our front lawn now. The dirt below the lawn holds water quite well, so can't be a water issue. The backyard looks even worse. Does anyone know of a turf expert that will diagnose diseases/pests in the perth metro area?? Failing this ill just rip this turf out. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Empress Zoysia Help - How to revive? 11Feb 03, 2013 12:21 pm Krilnik You sure it's getting enough water? Look at the grass across the street, yellow aswell!! I'd water it heavily every morning and see how you go. Looking after your lawn this Summer... ...Did you know that about 90% of lawn problems at this time of the year are water related? ...This means that what you may think is a disease or pest, may just be your lawn letting you know it is stressed from lack of water or nutrients. This is especially the case if your lawn is between 1 and 12 months old. Generally speaking, newly established lawn (i.e. lawn that is younger than 12 months old) should not get diseased. Therefore, if your lawn is looking the 'worse for wear', it is more than likely water related. Deposit on land 20/03/12 Deposit with Builder 01/07/12 Tender signing 12/10/12 Into Council 20/01/2013 Site work started 30/04/2013 Keys 15/11/2013 What can i do tomorrow better then today Re: Empress Zoysia Help - How to revive? 12Feb 03, 2013 12:24 pm You need to work on giving your lawn about 12mm of water per day. If your lawn is suffering from any type of water stress, we recommend following a 4-week program. Week 1 - Water your lawn 4 times per day, at a rate of 3mm each time you water. Week 2 - Water your lawn 3 times per day, at a rate of 4mm each time you water. Week 3 - Water your lawn 2 times per day, at a rate of 6mm each time you water. Week 4 - Water your lawn daily at a rate of 12mm each time you water. The best way to measure this, is to either place catch cups or icecream containers over different areas of your lawn to make sure each area is getting about 12mm. If the amounts are varying, you may need to adjust your sprinklers. Once the 4-week program is complete, work on a watering of a daily rate of 10mm, at least 3 times per week. Wetting Agents Greenacres Turf Farm recommends the use of a wetting agent to ensure maximum water retention - especially during the warmer and drier conditions. If you have an established lawn (i.e. more than 12 months old), you should apply a wetting agent approximately 3-4 times per year. If your lawn is still establishing (i.e. less than 12 months old), you should apply wetting agent approximately 6 times per year at 1/2 rates. Deposit on land 20/03/12 Deposit with Builder 01/07/12 Tender signing 12/10/12 Into Council 20/01/2013 Site work started 30/04/2013 Keys 15/11/2013 What can i do tomorrow better then today Re: Empress Zoysia Help - How to revive? 13Feb 03, 2013 12:58 pm I know I said 'water it heavily' but who has the time to water it 4 times a day?! With kids and work I struggle to find the time... I'd water it heavily once a morning with a sprinkler for a week and see if it greens up. If it starts to green up and you start seeing new green blades then you know you're on the right track. Dunno about Perth but its rained twice since November where I am in Melbourne! Re: Empress Zoysia Help - How to revive? 14Feb 06, 2013 8:21 pm 1. Soil prep prior to laying. Bentonite clay is absolutely essential, especially with Zoysia. No soils contain it. It has to be added separately. Unfortunately I'm not aware of any turf farms offering advice like that. 2. Zeolite needs to be used through the sand its growing in. Done as part of soil prep preferably. 3. Organic material should have been blended through the top 200mm of sand along with the zeolite and clay. 4. Make sure no fertilisers are used in the summer. Its too hot. The fert isn't used well and wastes your money. What is taken up leaves the lawn prone to burning and high water needs with shallow roots. The overall problem comes back to the type of soil prep done which has, unfortunately, set you up for much of this. it creates an unfavourable environment for healthy microbes to flourish. They are what make plants grow (its not fertiliser) Adding clay and zeolite is of far greater benefit than adding lawn mixes. I am not a fan of lawn mixes and would never use them myself. I wish they were not sold. So how to sort your issue. Well the first is to apply a wetting agent. Not just any either. Many popular brands are not as good as we are led to believe. I'd use Saturaid, Yates Soil Saturator or Baileys Grosorb. Add some clay. A 10kg bag of clay cat litter from my local Coles costs $6. It's not expensive. Trufeed Bentonite will cost you $15-$20 from a stockfeed place or SandRemedy or "Sand to Soil" are the RollsRoyce of Bentonites at higher prices. A bag of zeolite across each area. $20 a bag. Apply molasses (see the thread on it here at Homeone) Every two weeks for a while. Seasol or a seaweed product will be of a benefit. A fish product like Charlie Carp or Powerfeed will also be of great benefit. Under no circumstances apply a fertiliser. Clearly, enough water is being applied. However the lawn has no capacity to obtain the moisture which would point the finger at a nasty fungus preventing the feeder and hair roots from having a drink when needed. Make sure the retic is working with even coverage. Preferably, MP rotators should be used rather than junk popups which cost you more tp run than MP's cost to buy. Top dressing with an actual organic compost. (Not lawn mix, lawn top dress or landscape mix, but an actual compost.) Nick Bell would be one of the best to consult on this further. Alternatively, speak with The Garden Whisperers. PM me for more Re: Empress Zoysia Help - How to revive? 15Feb 06, 2013 8:24 pm Please don't water you lawn heavily. All that happens is you waste water. 10mm applied twice a week is more than enough to sustain any lawn. More than that flushes nutrient and beneficial microbes from the soil which contribute to the enormous problem we have around much of Australia of nutrient leaching in reef systems, estuaries and rivers. Be waterwise and fertiliser wise Re: Empress Zoysia Help - How to revive? 17Feb 06, 2013 9:12 pm Thanks for getting on the Fu Phone. It's like the bat phone but it's more Fu'ed up Re: Empress Zoysia Help - How to revive? 18Feb 06, 2013 9:19 pm A HUGE thank you to all who have replied! Fu - I think you hit the nail on the head regarding the soil prep! Looks like we have the poster lawn for cutting corners in the beginning! I will definitely get started on your proposed revival method - I didnt realise that adding clay would help either! Cheers Fu! Once things get back up and looking good I will report back with pics! You are all champions - much appreciated!! Re: Empress Zoysia Help - How to revive? 19Feb 07, 2013 10:44 am Recently I laid Sapphire Buffalo in Melbourne with Fu's soil prep, much to my landscaper's bemusement. Combined with mowing it high over summer, my turf doesn't seem to be getting stressed at all with more than 7 days between drinks. Re: Empress Zoysia Help - How to revive? 20Feb 08, 2013 9:30 pm Geeze! Just re read the first post and missed this part. Quote: To combat this over the last few months we have put a Richgro "Weed'n'Feed" (at the advice of Bunnings), Baileys 311 and Urea at different times all over both lawns. To date they haven't done much in the way of help. That will be half your problem and will have created further problems. That is just insane advice. For a start, a new lawn. No way will weed and feed be of a benefit to any new lawn no matter what type. That is mad. The stuff isn't real flash for an old lawn either because of how they contribute to nutrient leaching and the killing of soil microbes vital for a lawns health. The fertiliser mentioned delivers a massive amount of nutrient in an unregulated way. People still see results in healthy lawns but are unaware of how little it took to give those results. The cells in the leaves of the lawn will be thin and weak. Lawns then require more water and will go from boom to bust in appearance. If using a fertiliser, they should only ever be used a supplement every now and then as part of a good lawn care programme. Choose only a fully granulated fertiliser (that means all the minerals are found in each granule. Ferts with different coloured granules should be avoided. Make sure that the fertiliser is a controlled release. Scotts Lawn Builder, Yates Lawn Master. Best ones are "Eco Prime" from Gardeners Direct and "Shades of Green" Munns Golf Course Green is a fertilise wise fertiliser on the organic side. Remember though, fertilisers are not what plants grow. They should only be used as a supplement. Many can be used 4-10 times lighter than the bag suggests. Its your money that goes down the drain if you don't. I never use fertiliser on my lawns and get great lawns all year round, even when they aren't supposed to be green. You can get lawns jumping through hoops with organic care or at least tending more on the organic side. http://gardenrant.com/ministry_of_contr ... awn-reform If using an organic fertiliser make sure it is either BFA certified or NASAA certified. Many fertilisers on the market have far greater application rates than the lawn requires. In one survey done by a very respected horticultural personality, some application rates on fertiliser bags were 10 times higher than the lawn needs. The lowest was 4 times what a lawn needs. Urea on turf is a stroke of craziness. This type of advice is at the bottom of the rung for a healthy lawn. It is said to have uptake rates of around 2% of the nitrogen applied that is taken up by the lawn. Of which the cells further become bloated, thin and weak which leads to heat stress and far greater water requirements. Use of urea on lawns belongs in 1975. (yes the lawn will be green, its a very superficial result) From all that muck being dumped into your poor soil, its hardly a wonder the lawn is alive at all. When getting advice from a garden centre, look for first; Someone qualified in Horticulture. Like doctors there are different levels of study. Hopefully you don't talk to someone who slept through most of their lectures. Second; Seek the advice of someone who is qualified and waterwise trained. Part of that training will mean the above information I have mentioned will have been taught to them. They must pass a test to get the waterwise training certificate. Here are the listed Garden Centres: http://www.watercorporation.com.au/_fil ... stings.pdf Now there are Waterwise Specialists in other Garden Centres so ask for a waterwise accredited Professional Horticulturist. More info to explore: http://www.watercorporation.com.au/W/wa ... aining.cfm Third; Make sure they have continued to up skill their Horticultural skills. Many Horts have done their study in 1988 and never done anything since. They just get stuck in a time warp with their advice and we see problems like above. Hi there, long-time lurker but first time posting. I've bought a house 2 and a bit years ago and last year we had some major water damage on a converted pergola area… 0 7976 Yes, unless you are in a low intensity rainfall area or the area is protected from rain. Do you have access to NCC Part 2 or can you download it? I can email you a copy… 10 12594 Thankyou so much 😀 I've decided on White on white for doors and trims, White on white 50% on ceiling and Mt buller for walls. Fingers crossed it will look OK 😀 2 7301 |