2/3 of my lawn plus the boulevard  died. What is it?

Question: The death of my lawn over the last two winters has been extensive. Please, if you can, tell me what the problem is and how I can treat it. To me it looks like it has cancer and has suffered the effects of Chemo.

There are better pictures, however, they are all above the 8mb limit.

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 20, 2023, 6:23 PM EDT
response: Thanks for the question. It is hard to determine a specific reason for the problems in your lawn from just these pictures. At least for the boulevard areas, the most likely cause is road salt that had been deposited over the winter. See the following for further information on this are related points: https://hennepinmastergardeners.org/reversing-salt-damage-on-your-lawn/ - :~:text=Sodium and Calcium Chloride are,thoroughly green up and thrive. https://turf.umn.edu/news/minimize-turf-damage-salt-winter-josh-friell-explains… https://extension.umn.edu/lawns-and-landscapes/effects-deicing-salts-landscapes If brown areas in your yard were close to sidewalks that had been shoveled during the winter, deicing damage might have also occurred. One thing that you did not mention was whether or not over the growing seasons these “dead” areas came back. Here is a good source of information on renovating these areas showing poor turf growth: https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/renovating-lawn-quality-and-sustainability If these areas did show growth later in the season, then I suspect that a fungal disease is the causative factor. Take a look at this site that describes the most common turf diseases in Minnesota and how to treat them: https://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant/turf/index.html Please look over these various sites and get back to us with any questions. Good Luck!!

responder: The Question Asker Replied May 21, 2023, 4:43 PM EDT
response: Thank you for your reply. I've resized the pictures to fit the 8MB limit. Please take a look and let me know if helps with the diagnosis.  On 05/20/2023 5:23 PM CDT Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 21, 2023, 5:46 PM EDT
response: Thanks for the new pics. Now have some questions for you: 1). Did you use any deicer on your sidewalks and/or driveways this past winter? 2). You indicated that you have been having problems for the past two winters. After the winter of 2021-2022, did your yard recover during the summer of 2022. Put it another way, is your 2023 yard better or worse than your 2022 yard? 3). In looking both of these two new pictures, I am of the mind that these dead/bare areas are the results of one or more types of white grubs. It also appears that there are holes in the yard, maybe about a half inch or so in diameter. Maybe even larger? This will sound like a strange question, but do you have crows in your area? 4). Go out and try to pull up the turf. If it comes easily, almost like a roll of carpeting, then for sure grubs are the culprit. If the turf comes up, examine the exposed soil. Take a look at the following for the types of grubs you may find: https://extension.umn.edu/corn-pest-management/white-grubs - :~:text=The larvae of many scarab,soil, decaying wood and manure. https://fertilawnmn.com/grub-damage-in-the-minneapolis-area/ https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-271/E-271.html Your latest pictures incline me to think more towards grubs than fungi. But I am still curious as to what your yard looked like in 2022. If grubs are the culprits, then there may be a timing issue. I’m sure that you would like to do some restoration work on your yard ASAP. If so the window for good grass germination will close towards the second or third week of June. Just too hot after that. But it will make no sense for you to reseed if grubs will later just come along to feast upon the new grass roots. The effective window for dealing (i.e., killing) the grubs will be during the latter part of July and the first part of August. So, and this is only true if grubs are present, the strategy would be to immediately prep these area for grass seeding and do that. Since there is some shade, I would suggest reseeding with some varieties of fescue rather than bluegrass and/or rye. By the time July rolls around, hopefully the new grass will have established itself. Then begin your grub eradication attack. You will want to kill the grubs before they start feeding on your new grass. See: https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/japanese-beetles - using-pesticides-1591112 Lots of balls in the air. Get back with any questions and I will look forward for your responses to my questions. Good Luck

responder: The Question Asker Replied May 21, 2023, 7:20 PM EDT
response: Yes I did use deicer. I use Calcium Chloride.  The yard looks much worse this year.  Yes I do have Crows. They are in the yard on a daily basis.  The turf comes up very easily.     The lack of growth on the boulevard strangely stops where my property line is. It (the boulevard) has been completely dead for two years.     Unfortunately I am unable to do any work in the yard this year due to shoulder surgery. I will be able to due some work in the fall. Is there anything I could do then to help with this issue?  On 05/21/2023 4:46 PM CDT Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 21, 2023, 8:59 PM EDT
response: Thanks for getting back to me. Sorry to hear about your shoulder surgery. It is something to which I can rather relate. I had a total hip joint replacement about 18 months ago. I am still in a recovery mode. We will need to readjust things to reflect the limitations that you now face. OK. I think you have two things going on. The damage along your sidewalk and your boulevard is most likely due to the use of deicer. The damage to your yard (pic 142930) is due to grub action, mostly Japanese Beetle. I believe the latter is true as your turf pulls up easily and crows are feasting upon the grubs in your yard. Change in strategy: 1). Immediately start to water on a very regular basis any dead areas along your sidewalk (pic 142954). You want to dilute the salt content that still might be there. For the 2023-24 winter season use grit or something similar on your sidewalk. See: https://turf.umn.edu/news/damaged-lawns-steps-bringing-some-life-back https://hennepinmastergardeners.org/reversing-salt-damage-on-your-lawn/ 2). To the extent that you are able, rake the dead areas along your sidewalk and put down some fescue grass seed. It looks as if this area is shady. Fescue is rather shade tolerant. Although late summer is a better time to put down grass seed, in your situation spring will still work. Since water is needed for the germination of grass seed, you are accomplishing two things simultaneously along your sidewalk. See: https://extension.umn.edu/lawns-and-landscapes/planting-and-maintaining-fine-fescue-lawn https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/seeding-and-sodding-home-lawns 3). It will be hard to eliminate salt damage to your boulevard, at least for the time being. Just water your boulevard heavily to minimize the damage already there. Let’s revisit what to do with your boulevard in another couple of months. 4). As for the grubs, right now you really can’t do much as the grubs are probably still in the soil and are more or less resistant to any pesticide. 5). Keep an eye open for the appearance of adult Japanese Beetles in your yard. Once they appear, it will be time to start a grub elimination program. These adults will mate, the females will burrow into the ground to lay eggs, and within a short period of time grubs will be present. Even if you don’t see adults in your yard, you need to do this anyways. Adult beetles can fly into your yard from elsewhere to reproduce and produce grubs. Adult beetles in your yard can be picked off the vegetation and put into a pail of dishwater detergent to kill. If you apply granules to your yard, fine a product containing Chlorantraniliprole as the active ingredient. Follow application instructions on the label. You will want to make three different applications to the affected areas in your yard. First application around the beginning of July, second application towards third week or so of July, and the third application no later than mid-August. There are other things you can apply to deal with the grubs. They are discussed in the following: http://cues.cfans.umn.edu/old/extpubs/7664japanese/DG7664.html  https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/japanese-beetles 6.) Fall is a good time for reseeding the areas affected by grubs. However we need to get rid of the grubs before reseeding. Take a look at the following procedure known as “dormant grass seeding”. It is not too labor intensive. Grass seed sown in the fall will not germinate until spring 2024. See: https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/dormant-seeding https://turf.umn.edu/news/consider-dormant-seeding-your-lawn-fall Please keep us apprised as to how things are going. Certainly questions are welcomed at any time. Good Luck

responder: The Question Asker Replied September 13, 2023, 12:57 PM EDT
response: Hello again,     As shown in the pictures, I first treated the entire lawn (dead areas) with a strong mixture of Dawn via sprayer, and then tilled and evened it out. Couldn't get to it any sooner due to the previously mentioned surgery. The front yard has filled in nicely.  My Question is: is it to late to germinate new seed in the back yard?  On 05/21/2023 7:59 PM CDT Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied September 15, 2023, 9:44 PM EDT
response: Thanks for your response.  If you can get to the reseeding within the next week or so, and hoping that the weather remains pleasant, you could still do your seeding now.  Otherwise you'll have to wait to do this in spring 2024.  Thanks for consulting with us.