Light green spots in Bermuda

11 years ago

Sorry, I have not had a chance to get pictures, but I am having issues with random light green spots in Bermuda yard (seeded). I have not had a chance to examine closely (most likely not weeds), but I did notice it in other yards in the neighborhood as well. One of them was just recently sodded (1 yr ago) and he uses a reel mower to cut the yard, so I doubt he is having issues with weeds already. We have had a very rainy April in DFW area of Texas. Fertilizer that I have used is alfalfa last month and scotts green max earlier this month. Most of the Bermuda is a dark green color, but have spots of light green mixed in. This is mainly in areas where my septic system is and the sprinkler heads of the septic system.

I will post pics as soon as I can, but any offhand ideas as to the cause?

Featured Answer

dchall_san_antonio

11 years ago

Offhand, since you live in Dallas and since you've recently gotten a lot of rain and it's too early for insect damage and bermuda is only rarely affected by disease, since all those things, I'm going to say your yard is suffering from chlorosis caused by a shortage of available iron due to the heavy rain washing through the soil and changing the soil pH toward 8.0. The rain rinsed away the acids in the soil which were keeping the pH at the root zone just low enough to make iron available. In high calcium soil with a high pH, the iron will bind with other elements and become unavailable to plants. If that is the problem and you do nothing it will return to normal next April. Normal iron treatments like Ironite will not do anything except further bind with the calcium. One product that seems to help is greensand. Apply at 40 pounds per 1,000 square feet and in 3 weeks it should return to normal without the yellow areas. IF that is the problem. I would not confirm this without a picture, though. I have it going on in my yard in San Antonio.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

t_d_harvey
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks dchall. That is what I figured is going on, especially since it is not just my lawn that I have noticed with the problem. I have heard of the greensand treatment and will probably go that route. It is not horrible and is really only affecting my backyard and side yard mostly. I understand that the ironite will not help the problem, but will Bonide, since it is liquid, still bind with the calcium? Only reason I ask is that I just bought a few bottles to go along with my alfalfa fertilizing schedule.

I will try to get a picture tonight and post tomorrow as well.
Related Professionals
Gainesville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Springfield Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Bartlesville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Georgetown Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Murrieta Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Logan Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Sebring Landscape Contractors · Hattiesburg Landscape Contractors · Wheeling Landscape Contractors · Tallahassee Home Builders · Oklahoma City Home Builders · Saint Cloud Home Builders · Sterling Home Builders · Helena Home Builders · Anchorage Home Builders
Eric E
11 years ago
This is exactly what was happening in our area (Tip of Texas). Tons of rain and almost no consistent sun for almost 1 month. My bermuda that is still filling out, went from a dark green spring up to lime green. There was no greensand in my area so I left as is and didn't worry about it. Well, we had almost a full week of hot sun (now there are clouds), and I noticed dark green spots coming up. I had a liquid nitrogen fert 20-0-0 that I used. 1 week later, deep green coming back in. I'm assuming it helped :) That was my last of my chemical fert. I'm going organic from here on.
t_d_harvey
Original Author
11 years ago
Sorry that the pictures aren't the greatest, but this is what I am dealing with.
t_d_harvey
Original Author
11 years ago
Few more...
dchall_san_antonio
11 years ago
Is this a shady area of the lawn?
When were the last two times you fertilized and what did you use?
t_d_harvey
Original Author
11 years ago
Whole lawn is in full sun. Just a cloudy day as it has been most of our spring here. Used alfalfa pellets late March I believe and used Scott's max green 26-0-2 with iron a few weeks ago.

Going to go straight alfalfa since I have recently found bondide to get the deep green color.
t_d_harvey
Original Author
11 years ago
any suggestions on how to improve? it has been a long rough road the past 2 years, but I think I am getting there. I understand that it is still thin because of seeding, but I would like to get to a nice thick lawn which I know will take some time, especially using alfalfa. I plan on getting the soil tested, but just have not had a chance to do so.

This also is the backyard and most of my attention has been on the front and is in much better shape, but still thin in spots.
Erin Maggio
4 years ago
how does your yard look this year?