[Ungreen Thumb]

Hi, I live in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. I have a problem with unruly grass... don't know how else to describe it. The unruly parts have coarser blades that the good areas. The unruly grass tends to flatten out / lie down and spread out from the centre where it appears to be a brownish color. The Lawn is about 5 years old (sods), I've noticed the problem for the past 3 years and it is spreading fairly quickly. Any ideas what this is and how to fix it?

[RickJ]

It sounds like a crabgrass. Are you treating your grass at all? If so, what is your schedule and treatments type for each one?

[Ungreen Thumb]

I don't do a lot with the lawn. Fertilize a couple times per year... 28, 3, 4 on the bag... and cut every 5 or 6 days with a ride on mower. I don't cut it short... probably 3". Last fertilizer was about a month ago. In the spring the grass really looks good for a short period... hardly see the unruly spots. It looks pretty good in the fall as well... say after mid September. If you look at it now, it is very green... just unruly. The brown spots (more like the centre where the grass spreads out) is not really visible now... more pronounced when we have a dry spell. I looked up crabgrass on the net, however, mine doesn't look like it. We have had a really wet May month and it's been raining now for over a week. I'll try and get a pic and post it. Thanks for your response.

[Ungreen Thumb]

Here is anattachment taken from the window... too wet to go outside. The dark green patches are normal grass.

[RickJ]

Ok, it's not crabgrass. This is a mix of grass where - by the sounds of the increasing lighter grass - one type is overtaking the other. Looks like you're at about 75-80% "other type" already.

I'll guess that in another few years, your yard will be all the lighter kind.

If you just hate it and want to do something about it immediately, I'm thinking your only option is to remove it all and replant with a quality seed of the type you want.

To be sure, though, get some local lawn care companies in for a "free estimate" to tell you what you need to do. From there you can decide if it's something you want to proceed with... or just wait it out.

[aqua@home]

You could just seed the yard. If you over seed then the grass will choke out whatever you don't want. Grass is actually very hardy and I have been told that by over seeding your lawn will become more lush. Just pick a seed that you want.

I too am having trouble with my yard and am trying to get my lawn to how I want it. Good luck.