If you push a screwdriver into the soil where the problem is a few days after you water is it hard to push the screwdriver? Then do this in other areas of the yard. Is it easier to push in where the grass is greener? Might be the tree roots are sucking all the water out of the ground

My bermuda turns yellow too when I spray to kill nutsedge. It will come back with a little time. You should get going on the leveling so you can mow lower because 2.5-3" is too high for bermuda. The big problem area could by poor soil. I've read somewhere on here that adding compost tea would help.

neilaz, I plan to water this afternoon and I will have to try that thanks.

dwrecktor, I do plan on leveling but it will prob be next month. I know it it too high but I have to in order to prevent sclaping. I dont plan on buying a reel until this winter. So I didnt figure it was any rush to level since I wont be able to mow low until next season anyway.

OK my two guesses are really more questions and comments.

The area circled in red where the Spruce tree was there is a tree line next to it. Which direction does that tree line run? N-S or E-W? Which side is your lawn on? My first suspicion is a shade issue.

My second and strongest suspicion is soil PH. Your area is known to have low PH acidic sandy soils where Centipede grass grows well. It is possible that area where the cypress tree was is very acidic as cycpress fawns falling in the fall and winter are known to lower soil PH. So it could be the rest of your lawn is border line like 6.0 PH, but where the Cypress tree was pushed it over the cliff lower into the 5's.

Lastly a general comment is your use of fertilizer. If you have a heavy clay soil using a 32-2-10 could be a problem. Not so much a problem in sandy soils.

I suggest two soil test for you. Yeah I know it doubles the expense, but there is a method to my madness. One test for the parts of the yard you are happy with. Take several scoops from all around the good areas. Then second one in your problem area right in the middle of it. When you get the results look hard at PH, phosphorus, and potassium levels. Ignore any nitrogen results as they will always be low.

Thanks for the reply. The tree line runs E-W, with the lawn on the south side of the tree line.

I do plan on getting two soil tests done in the near future. I know that lime takes a while to raise ph and hope the grass doesnt die before next season. What is the ideal ph for bermuda? Also the grass that turned yellow where I sprayed for nutsedge do I need to water it more often to get it back green or just keep my regular scheduled watering? Thanks...

I did the 6inch screwdriver test and it went in easily in the good areas but was very hard to push through in the bad spot. If this is the problem how should I combat this? If I water the entire lawn once a week should I water this bad area more often such as every other day?

To combat dry areas, I will use my hand, core aerator (pulls two cores at a time), spray with baby shampoo and then use a soaker hose overnight.

"Also the grass that turned yellow where I sprayed for nutsedge do I need to water it more often to get it back green or just keep my regular scheduled watering?"

Just keep on your regular watering of 1" once a week. The herbicide used to kill the nutsedge affects Bermuda, but not enough to kill it. It took about 4-6 weeks for mine to be green again.

Just a follow up to the screwdriver test. It seems like something is blocking it once I get past around 3 or 4 inches. It kind of seems like a lot of roots that are making it hard to push the screwdriver in. It is really weird bc it is only like this in the bad spot...

What is the ideal ph for bermuda?

6.5 to 6.8

Also the grass that turned yellow where I sprayed for nutsedge do I need to water it more often to get it back green or just keep my regular scheduled watering?

You just burned and stunned the Bermuda. It will come back with normal maintenance.

Just a follow up to the screwdriver test. It seems like something is blocking it once I get past around 3 or 4 inches.

Dig a test hole and find out what it is. My first guess in hard pan, or gravel.

I did dig an area up yesterday and it is just a lot of small roots from the trees. What is weird that there are four trees and it seems like only one of them is spreading roots out into the lawn. I still plan to get some soil tests done but if the roots are the problem what do you suggest I do? Thanks.

I did dig an area up yesterday and it is just a lot of small roots from the trees.

You found the problem. Tree roots are eating and drinking everything up starving the grass from below.

What do you suggest I do?

Well there is mid term solutions, and short term solutions. Mid term is dig up the offending roots, but they will be back in a few years unless the source is eliminated. That is not easy medicine to take.

Short term is you can add or build up the grade in that area by adding top soil. But within a year or two the tree roots will grow up from beneath and choke the grass.

That is the problem with trees and lawns, they are in conflict some times depending on the type of tree. Example if you have a fruitless Mulberry, you got a huge problem on your hands. Not only can your lawn be threatened but also your home even if the tree is 50 feet away. Eventually the roots will find your plumbing and foundation and bust them to pieces. Fruitless Mulberries love septic systems.

I woulda bet money on shade but not with an e/w tree line.

I would guess the problem is hard pan under the trees and lack of deep watering which caused them to root horizontally.

Is it an optical illusion or does the soil slope down from the grass to the trees?

Yes it is a small slope, do I need to just water this area more heavily?

Spruce trees are kown to have a flat root system. I would suggest that you try to baby the yellow area by giving it a little more water than the rest of the yard and see how well that works.

My suggestion for a last resort is that if you don't like the trees and they are on your property have them cut down. Depending on what direction your house faces the trees will eventually mature and could shade out your yard and not give it the adequate amount of sunlight for your bermuda to survive.