Sod
Hi, I have recently laid new sod in the early spring and it has been doing really good, it also has been raining alot. I cut it when I should rack up all the cut grass. I spread grub stuff down because I saw grubs. I have been noticing some spots where the grass looks slimmy does anyone know what this is and what to do for it. Also how to get rid of skunks digging in my grass. Thanks Julie
Print this page
Email this MessageNavigation
Recent Discussions
Replanting Bulbs 5 replies
red growth on knockout roses 3 replies
Orchids 6 replies
Welcome to my garden 4 replies
What is this plant? 3 replies
Unsure of this plant 1 reply
Cinderella plants 1 reply
Cumulative Index 1 reply
Daylilies Anyone ? 10 replies
would like any seeds 2 replies
Morning Glory seeds 2 replies
Who Wants Foxglove Seed? 22 replies
Backyard from Scratch 2 replies
Repairing botched lacquer spot 1 reply
String algae 78 replies
groundcover between stones 33 replies
(post #11772, reply #1 of 9)
Julie -
the skunks will stop when they don't have a food source there. They are digging for those grubs you mentioned. The slimy stuff may be a result of so much rain together with clippings that haven't broken down quickly enough; it might be a side effect of grub damage too. I'd need to see it to be sure.
Marty
"The plants have been good to us." Lester Hawkins
Marty
"The plants have been good to us." Lester Hawkins
(post #11772, reply #2 of 9)
Thanks I was thinking that it was from the cuttings and the rain. Is there anything I am suppose to do or use on it? So it won't rot?
(post #11772, reply #3 of 9)
As long as things are staying rainy I would catch the clippings. Raking might not be sufficient, especially if the lawn is recently fertilized and growing rapidly. Once things dry out a bit it would be fine to let them mulch again.
Marty
"The plants have been good to us." Lester Hawkins
Marty
"The plants have been good to us." Lester Hawkins
(post #11772, reply #4 of 9)
Skunks, and other critters, will dig into lawns for any grubs, or other lawn insects, there might be. There is not much you can do to stop that unless you kill off all the grubs and earthworms in your soil.
In a good, healthy turf there is no reaon to rake up the grass clippings, and to aid in maintaining that good, healthy turf you should be mulch mowing. Those grass clippings will help provide some organic matter for the soil bacteria and can help supply up to 1/2 the annual nutrient requirments of your lawn.
West central Michigan along the lake shore
A sign of a good gardener is not a green thumb, rather it is brown knees.
West central Michigan along the lake shore
A sign of a good gardener is not a green thumb, rather it is brown knees.
(post #11772, reply #5 of 9)
Is mulch mowing mean leaving the cut grass on the grass instead of racking it up? Thanks for your help!
(post #11772, reply #6 of 9)
Yes it does. And I would beg to differ with Kimm in this situation. Mulch mowing is something a lot more of us should be doing, but when the grass is tall and wet, as you describe, leaving the clippings can result in the "slimy" situation you also describe. As this can lead to other turf disease issues, I recommend removing the clippings until things dry out a bit. Another best practice is to try to only cut a third of the height of the grass at each mowing
Marty
"The plants have been good to us." Lester Hawkins
Edited 6/21/2009 12:37 pm by the country gardener
Marty
"The plants have been good to us." Lester Hawkins
(post #11772, reply #7 of 9)
Mulch mowing is recycling the grass clippings in place and you should be mowing high and often so the grass clippings would not accumulate on top of the grass and become slimy. Some people think mulch mowing wil create thatch but it will not, that is not what thatch is made of.
West central Michigan along the lake shore
A sign of a good gardener is not a green thumb, rather it is brown knees.
West central Michigan along the lake shore
A sign of a good gardener is not a green thumb, rather it is brown knees.
(post #11772, reply #8 of 9)
Also, there is a mulch type of lawn mower which is best for this. It just sprays the clippings back onto the grass directly below the mower. If the lawnmower is the more common type that sprays the cuttings to the side, they create bigger piles of cuttings, and that can kill the grass underneath unless you come along with a rake and even them out. We used to have a "mulch mower" and it worked great for leaving the clippings in place.
(post #11772, reply #9 of 9)
Thanks for your help..