I live in Upstate New York. It's spring time and my lawn is starting to
wake up. In general my lawn looks like it always does in spring... a
scruffy mix of green and brown. But I just noticed that a 4" band
along the edge of my asphalt driveway looks so much better than the
rest of the lawn. The grass is darker and has much less brown. This
is on both sides of the driveway, for the entire length.

I'm assuming that since it looks good it IS good. Maybe I can get the
rest of my lawn to be like this. So how is this grass different from
the rest. I have never used different seed... always a particular
blend of kentucky bluegrass. And it looks like the same grass, just
greener. So I guess that being adjacent to the driveway makes this
grass grow different.

Does anyone know why this would be?
- asphalt acidity?
- asphalt gets warmer quicker in spring?
- driveway gives edges extra water
(doubt it... lots of spring rain everywhere, plus snow melt
everywhere BUT driveway)
- winter salt?
(doubt it... I only used about 5 handfuls twice the whole winter)
- something else?

Thanks for any insight
Buzz

"Buzz" wrote in message
oups.com...
I live in Upstate New York. It's spring time and my lawn is starting to
wake up. In general my lawn looks like it always does in spring... a
scruffy mix of green and brown. But I just noticed that a 4" band
along the edge of my asphalt driveway looks so much better than the
rest of the lawn. The grass is darker and has much less brown. This
is on both sides of the driveway, for the entire length.

I'm assuming that since it looks good it IS good. Maybe I can get the
rest of my lawn to be like this. So how is this grass different from
the rest. I have never used different seed... always a particular
blend of kentucky bluegrass. And it looks like the same grass, just
greener. So I guess that being adjacent to the driveway makes this
grass grow different.

I see similar phenomenon and assume it is asphalt getting hotter. In my
case, crabgrass germinates sooner next to driveway and is not suppressed as
much by premerg. Because of this, I put it on earlier this year.
Frank

The only reasonable hypthesis seems to be that asphalt is darker and kept
clear of snow, so it absorbs the sunlight and warms the soil near the
asphalt, that gives the grass near it a chance to break dormancy a little
bit earlier.


-S

"Buzz" wrote in message
oups.com...
I live in Upstate New York. It's spring time and my lawn is starting to
wake up. In general my lawn looks like it always does in spring... a
scruffy mix of green and brown. But I just noticed that a 4" band
along the edge of my asphalt driveway looks so much better than the
rest of the lawn. The grass is darker and has much less brown. This
is on both sides of the driveway, for the entire length.

I'm assuming that since it looks good it IS good. Maybe I can get the
rest of my lawn to be like this. So how is this grass different from
the rest. I have never used different seed... always a particular
blend of kentucky bluegrass. And it looks like the same grass, just
greener. So I guess that being adjacent to the driveway makes this
grass grow different.

Does anyone know why this would be?
- asphalt acidity?
- asphalt gets warmer quicker in spring?
- driveway gives edges extra water
(doubt it... lots of spring rain everywhere, plus snow melt
everywhere BUT driveway)
- winter salt?
(doubt it... I only used about 5 handfuls twice the whole winter)
- something else?

Thanks for any insight
Buzz

Frank, Snooze...
Thanks for the comments. The heat hypothesis makes sense. Especially
if you've also noticed an earlier crabgrass emergence. I've always
noticed more weeds on the edges of the driveway and road, but always
thought this was because there is less soil there and a lot more rocks.
I was (am still a little) hoping there is an acidity issue. I could
adjust my soils acidity... but I can really adjust it's temperature.
Can't hurt to do a few tests. If I find anything, I'll post back.

Thanks
Buzz

"Buzz" wrote:

I'm assuming that since it looks good it IS good. Maybe I can get the
rest of my lawn to be like this. So how is this grass different from
the rest. I have never used different seed... always a particular
blend of kentucky bluegrass. And it looks like the same grass, just
greener. So I guess that being adjacent to the driveway makes this
grass grow different.

Does anyone know why this would be?

You guessed it:

1) asphalt gets warmer quicker in spring
2) winter salt (some winter salts are fertilizer and magnesium salts.
These will do it. NaCl would tend to set the lawn back.)

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