"trax" wrote
All reasonable advice would be appreciated.
I have a big amount of lawn approximately 10,000 square feet. Location
Northern California. The lawn was established when I purchased the
house. It is a thin blade grass. I use the 'Scotts' fertilizer plan
and water regularly. The lawn was absolutely beautiful a few months
ago (April & May) but recently it has turned brown in spots and looks
dry and has lots of crabgrass. Please advice, what can I do to get my
beautiful lawn back. I also aerote twice a year.
Thanks,


Hmmm. If you had a beautful lawn then but not now, what are you
doing differently?

Crabgrass needs lost of sun and will quickly establish itself if there
is any bare gorund. Crabgrass produces seeds that will remain
dormant for 10 years or more, waiting for the right conditions. There
are some (new) products out there that will kill crabgrass in lawns or
you can pull the crabgrass out by hand. At the minimum, do not allow
it to go to seed. Make your lawn thick by overseeding and patching
the bare areas. Use a "Starter" fertilizer when you plant.
Since you have a crabgrass issue, apply a pre-emergent at the right
time of year for the next two years, and be careful to apply it more
than 3 months before overseeding.

No need to aerate unless you are sure your ground is compacted. I
have a beautiful lawn, and have never aerated. But I do have plenty
of earthworms to do the job. A mulching mower adds organic matter to
your lawn and will encourage worms. Mulching mowers do not cause
thatch (amazing how many folks believe otherwise).