On 02/03/2011 10:46, Roger Tonkin wrote:
I have a large brownish patch on the lawn, under the bird feeder. I
assumed that this was due to the seed husk and other detritus left by
the birds. However I found out today that swmbo washes the feeder with
dilute disinfectant every week (on a Sat morning whilst I'm in town
getting the paper).

Is this likely to damage the lawn, or will it recover when I move the
feeder and the grass starts to grow?



It may be the disinfectant solution, but I get brown lawn patches at
this time of year simply because I scatter seed on the lawn in harsh
weather. The frantic avian hoovering up of all the seed tends to leave
the lawn a bit bare. This makes me think that, perhaps, ground-feeding
birds are clearing up fallen seed from under your bird feeder and
leaving the turf somewhat thin. If so, it's not a serious problem. The
lawn will probably green up on its own, but will do it sooner if you
re-seed it.

Your wife may, or may not, be harming the birds with her disinfectant
solution (depending on its strength), but surely the resulting
disinfectant swill is better poured down the drain, where it will
perform another task for her. Do, please, pass on this information
tactfully ;~).

--
Spider
from high ground in SE London
gardening on clay