...And the Heat Goes On....Summer Lawn Disease

» Kitt - Tired of torturing fescue

Is there anything low and green that we can cover our 10,000 sq ft turf area in instead of fescue?
Fungus problems abound (even tho we mow high, leave clippings down, and don't use synthetic fertilizers).
Dead brown dry areas from the current heat and drought dominate some portions. Most all of the lawn area is in Zone 7 full sun. A really ugly picture out there right now.

Soil tests indicate nothing overtly wrong. We aerate and overseed with high quality fescue each fall, (last year we used Millenium) and we do have overhead irrigation which the fungus (plural fungi?) has kept me from using this year.
Besides, I hate to encourage the incoming crab grass and bermuda which apparently thrive in the lawn area that my fescue sulks in, and which I am constantly prying out. I'd complain about our heavy red ucky clay, except that there's only a few inches of it, and then you hit solid rock hard chirt.

I can't use Bermuda as one of the dogs is allergic to it, and also I'd hate to have to pull it's runners out of the 5,000 sq ft of perennial/conifer beds that are spaced within the turf area.
All advice, regardless of how radical is welcome. I'd love to take the fescue out of it's misery and let it die gracefully rather than keeping it on artificial life support.
Thanks in advance for any input.

-- posted by Kitt

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» anniel - Sickly Fescue

Are you certain your fescue turf is suffering from disease? Has someone come out and identified which disease is present? Have you considered a possible insect infestation? Fescue is typically a very hardy grass with great drought tolerance. If your lawn is strictly fescue, you might want to consider overseeding with a mixture of different grass species suited for your area. Also, if you only have a few inches of topsoil covering rock, then turf is probably unable to develop a deep root system which would help it survive drought and other stresses. Irrigation should not cause disease unless done improperly. Only water once a week and deeply. With so little topsoil though, you are fighting a tough battle. I know you've got a big lawn area, but you might want to consider renovating the entire lawn..perhaps a section at a time. Kill of the existing turf with a non-selective herbicide, wait a few days, then till the whole thing under. Additionally, incorporate some compost into these areas. The compost will add organic matter and beneficial microorganisms to the soil. Without a properly prepared seed bed, the turf will never develop the root system it needs and it will not thrive.

-- posted by anniel

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