Part of my lawn is really green

I'm posting this here because I just can't seem to find the right place for it. My trees have this same issue for the past 2 years, almost to the exact date, where they are yellowing and one side of the smaller tree (which will be on the right in the picture) doesn't grow well. We still have no idea what is wrong with it except that what we thought were Shumard Red Oaks are possibly a cross between Red Oaks and Pin Oaks that hate alkaline soil. I guess that half is a Pin Oak.

We've been putting iron out around both trees drip line hoping to help correct the problem. I'm not sure that it has since they've started turning yellow again but the grass around the trees is really green now. Does that mean the bermuda is liking the iron or does that just have something to do with the tree and roots in that area? Last year the lawn was much greener and thicker everywhere at this time but he had also put down some Scott's fertilizer. He did not winter fertilize and this spring put out an organic fertilizer instead.

My husband is wanting to put a little of the iron in other places but I said let's ask first.

I bet it's the iron. When I was looking for something to green up our lawn quickly a few years back when putting our house on the market, Ironite was one of the things suggested. I think it's just a temporary fix though, like carbs for the lawn.

Or, you could broadcast Epsom Salts.

What flowers do you have in the bed in the background? They look good together. I see the purple coneflowers, but what are the yellow and orange ones?

Stephanie

We've had our soil tested and all I can remember is it was very low in nitrogen and high alkaline. Maybe I'll try a section with the Epsom salt and one with the iron and see what works. I guess temporary isn't too bad if it at least lasts for a season.

Thanks Stephanie! I've got an assortment of stuff. It originally started out with a plan but it just does it's own thing now. There are purple and white coneflowers, two different phloxes, coreopsis, Gloriosa daisies (yellow), Black-eyed Susan's (don't think they are blooming yet), and orange cosmos everywhere. The front portion of the bed used to have more but the cosmos just smothered it so I'm working on thinning them out.

That deserves to be in a magazine. Just beautiful.

My goodness Girl, I see how you keep that figure! What a awesome site!

Gorgeous! I know about those cosmos!! I have them coming up all over my front flower bed from plants I planted 3 years ago. I am vigilant when it comes to pulling them up and deadheading them now.

Check that soil test and see if you had a magnesium deficiency. If you did, epsom salts would help. But if it was OK, you will waste money using it. There are cheaper ways to lower your pH. What was your pH, by the way? You said your soil was alkaline. How alkaline?

Yes, iron would green up your lawn like that, and is often used for that very reason. Be careful around sidewalks, etc. It will stain.

In the past, you said you used Scott's on the lawn. Scott's what? Was it a weed 'n feed product?

Bottom line for the tree: Did you get a soil test done where the tree roots are? And who did the soil test?

Lots of questions, I know, but that'[s the only way to get an accurate answer.

Re the cosmos: Ditto here! LOL!!

The other thing you can do about the tree is to make sure it's not planted too deeply and has a proper root flare. Then, treat it with Howard Garrett's Sick Tree Treatment.

Proper root flare pics: http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=1609

Sick Tree Treatment: http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=130

Oh, thank you for the compliments! They are beautiful on their own but I am the one that has to maintain them. Control is what I need to get over the cosmos! lol I do try to deadhead them but there are just SO many. I'm usually so weak when they start to bloom too and just can't make myself pull them up! I have the next 3 days tho to tackle my beds, and that's my plan.

Ceejay, we did the test about 4 years ago thru A&M, I believe. I'll have to dig it out and see what it said. Since then I've bought little soil test kits and everything comes back with above the 7 range, which is in the high level. I'll do another one with soil from around the trees this weekend too.

We listen to Howard Garrett too and he's always ranted about Ironite so we've never used any iron on the entire lawn. We did however cheat and use Scott's but never a weed-n-feed! We love pulling weeds the natural way.

Last year, or before, I got out there and pulled all the grass back and really exposed the root flares and we keep the grass back. I've done the sick tree treatment too. I heard Howard talking last week about red oaks crossing with pin oaks and he said that one characteristic is the limbs grow down and we don't seem to have that. Many red oaks in our area are yellow most of the season like ours too but don't have this problem. Look at this picture taken in early Oct. '07. These limbs are on the same tree!

wow! what a difference!

Sorry, I'm not a Howard Garrett fan.
The test you did four years ago at A&M would be worthless now. I asked because I took advantage of a free test given by a local garden center, but it was sponsored by a manufacturer of gardening products. Everything came back needing their products, and I just didn't see the evidence in my yard. So I sent the tests off to A&M and I was right, they were just selling their products.
I still think that $10 is the best spent money one can do for their yard. Saves a lot of guesswork and buying unnecessary products.

Paige, one way you can get iron to your lawn (without Ironite) is to spread Texas greensand. I toss a few handfuls on my acid-lovers (gardenias, sweetgum, azaleas) whenever they look like they need it. Any chlorosis disappears almost overnight.

Be sure you get the TEXAS greensand, though. I had trouble finding it this year and tried the "regular" greensand (from NJ). It's a great soil amendment, but I didn't see much green-up. Apparently it's not as high in iron.

We purchased Texas greensand and lava sand from Lowes. Will never be without it again.

Christi

CeeJay I am not Howard Garrett fan either, I dont know whats all the fuss is about.

I went organic right around the same time Howard did. Back in those days, there weren't too many of us around and not very many products. He was very helpful then.

Since then, I've tried a lot of his suggestions. Some just don't work. But many others do. He's just like anyone else--you take what works for you, and discard what doesn't.

That's exactly how I think of Howard. Unfortunately we learned the hard way about 6 years ago when we got our first house and yard and followed his instructions to plant perennial rye grass. aaahhhh!!! He's not the end all of knowledge but I like listening because I do learn things. Now, I do love Paul James!! He's not such a nazi about stuff and will not claim to be an expert. But hey, who is?

Great tip on the greensand! I had forgotten all about it. Just called my dh who is going to Lowe's for mulch to get some.

ceejay, I hear ya but don't remember there being any suggestion of products on our soil test. You are right tho that our soil is probably a lot different now since we've added so much stuff to it. (molasses, corn gluten meal, alfalfa etc) I don't think the soil ph has probably changed but it's worth doing another test.

The soil test lists all of your major and some minor nutrients. It tells you what you are deficient in - for what you are growing. And then it tells you what to use to correct the problem. It doesn't get into things like tilth, organic matter, composition - just nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, etc.. It also gives you an accurate pH. If you have trouble understanding it, call your county extension office. They will help you decipher it.