Grass dies every fall

7 months ago

I live in Connecticut. For the past 5 years since moving into my home, a majority of my lawn dries up and dies completely in both my front and back yard. It’s dry like hay and it simply pulls up while barely tugging on the grass. During late spring/summer months, it grows back after raking the dead grass and basic fertilizing in the spring. It does look really good when it’s grow back. But only lasts until late Aug and then dies again. Only house on the street with yellow lawn during the fall and winter.

Usually use Scott’s weed and feed in the spring. Lawns gets plenty of water during the summer. Not sure if I’m doing something wrong Or simply not taking proper care.

I also included a pic of when it’s green during summer.

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Brandon LaBonte
Original Author

last month

Just wanted to update who replied and gave advise. New grass grew perfectly. Couldn’t be happier!!

Thanks everyone!

Comments (11)

morpheuspa (6B/7A, E. PA)
7 months ago
That's characteristic of a grass like Zoysia or the like during winters...unusual for CT, but I suppose you might just be getting lucky with it suriviving? Does this happen at first frost or so? I'm not familiar enough with CT weather to say if that's late August or not.

The pattern isn't obviously disease or grubs, which is why I'm leaning toward type of grass, and where it's happening (the front, sunniest, warmest areas during summer) also lead me toward grass type and away from diseases.
roysterfam
7 months ago
Hey I live in CT as well, and have the same kind of grass only on the left side of my home. I share that side with a neighbor but its the same issue. Right now, its beginning to turn back green again. But its this hard, brittle type of grass when its brown, but full and thick when its green.
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morpheuspa (6B/7A, E. PA)
7 months ago
Ding, ding, ding. Zoysia or another warm-season grass (Zoysia being practically the only type that would manage to survive in CT).

You can use RoundUp in July to wipe it out and reseed with a northern mix in August to get rid of it. It'll reinvade from the neighbor's side without a physical block, but a kill strip between the two will tend to keep it at bay. Mostly.
roysterfam
7 months ago
Great. Thanks. RoundUp weed and grass killer? Is that one that you have to soak the grass or just wet the top layer?
morpheuspa (6B/7A, E. PA)
7 months ago
Just damp, but it may take two shots to make sure you got all the grass. That's true for any grass type, though--grass is a pretty dense mat.

Or learn to embrace the Zoysia and enjoy it. It's a nice, low-maintenance grass from April through frost, it's simply unattractive during winter.
Brandon LaBonte
Original Author
4 months ago
Thank you for all the responses and recommendations. I will be using Glyphosate in a few weeks to kill the Zoysia. Just one more question...will the Glyphosate harm the Forsynthia and Hosta plants that I have in my front yard? Should I keep a safe distance from them with the Glyphosate?
morpheuspa (6B/7A, E. PA)
4 months ago
If it touches the leaves, it'll damage or kill the plants. Avoid doing that, so apply on a windstill day.

Overapplication and ground-soaking can lead to some root effects as well, so avoid this. Glyphosate binds to the soil quickly, but can impact the roots during the period the soil is damp with it.
Brandon LaBonte
Original Author
3 months ago
Hi again. Today, I mowed the dead grass down to the ground. Tomorrow, I will be dethatching the lawn before putting down new seed.

This might be a silly question but do I just simply seed over whats remaining of the old/dead grass? Do I need to add soil to the lawn before seeding??
morpheuspa (6B/7A, E. PA)
3 months ago
Just seed over the remainder. Since you're dethatching, you'll rip out enough of the old, dead lawn to open the mat and expose the soil. I have no worries about that.

You can drop up to a quarter inch of compost or peat moss (both will work in and rot away) atop the new seed if you want. If you use soil from a bag, limit that to no more than 1/8th of an inch (just a dusting) It won't decay off. But that's not strictly necessary.
morpheuspa (6B/7A, E. PA)
last month
Perfect! Now...let's see what happens in January...