What’s the root of your problem?
- Always think site, design, installation and maintenance.
- Study residential landscapes for ideas, and read books on the subject.
- Plan on paper before breaking ground. At least do some rough sketches.
- Think of landscaping as an extension of the building and creating functional outdoor living spaces or rooms.
- Think of function first, then select the appropriate medium to serve the function. Landscaping is primarily moving the eye through the area, providing some pleasure along the way.
- Good bed lines are essential for a pleasing landscape.
- Using line, color and texture, repeat design elements and plant material to get continuity and comfort.
- Balance evergreens with deciduous plants, which typically have more seasonal appeal.
- Introduce variety for interest.
- Think maintenance.
- Make the landscape user-friendly.
- Provide night lighting.
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If you’ve noticed an unsightly, discolored area of your yard that’s slowly eating away at the green and wondered what to do about it, look no further.
In south Louisiana, there are two major grass problems, but Clegg’s Nursery Owner Scott Ricca says the solutions are simple.
Fungus
Ricca said brown patch is easily the worst fungal problem found in south Louisiana.
- What you’ll see: Circles of brown grass. “It’s usually in a circular pattern, because the spores become active in the center, and the spores fall outward basically in concentric rings and get bigger and bigger,” Ricca said.
- When you will see it: Brown patch is active between the fall and spring. Ricca said because brown patch thrives in moisture, it usually isn’t active in the summertime, unless a homeowner overwaters. Uneven grass also contributes to fungal problems because of the extra moisture in lower areas.
- What to do about it: Ricca said there are a variety of anti-fungal products on the market, including Terachlor (PCNB), Bayleton, Banner and Eagle.
If you think you have a fungal problem but aren’t sure, applying a fungicide won’t harm an otherwise healthy lawn, Ricca said.
Other types of fungal problems include fairy rings, take-all patch and smut. Fairy rings and take-all patch respond to fungicides, but smut is unusual in that it leaves a black coating on the grass, which is controlled by washing it off with a garden hose, Ricca said.
But sometimes even those measures aren’t enough.
“For most fungal problems, the chemicals you treat them with don’t entirely eradicate them. It suppresses them during the time they would be most active, so it is not uncommon to have it recur year after year,” Ricca said. “If you know you are prone to it, you might want to do a pretreatment so it never gets a head start.”
Insects
The main culprit in south Louisiana is the chinch bug, which feeds off of one of our most common grasses, St. Augustine.
- What you’ll see: Grass affected by chinch bugs will turn bright yellow before it dies. “There’s no real pattern,” Ricca said. “They just go, and they go fast in any direction.”
- When you will see it: During hot, dry periods.
- What to do about it: If you’re unsure if chinch bugs are the root of your problem, Ricca recommends a test: Cut out the top and bottom of a can, hammer it into the soil, put soapy water in it and wait.
The soapy water should drive the bugs up. Once they are identified, they can be treated with a yard insecticide.
Other critters to watch out for include mole crickets, beetle grubs and army worms.
A clue that you may have army worms is if a large flock of birds, which feed on the worms, suddenly begins picking at your yard.
All of these critters also can be controlled with insecticides.
However, “One of the best things you can do for your yard is to keep it healthy with proper fertilization, proper watering and weed control,” Ricca said. That way homeowners can get control of problems before they start.
