AboutJames L. Crowder Expertise I can answer questions about soils, soil amendments, drainage and proper planting. I have extensive background in homeowner labeled pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.) and their proper use. I can also answer questions about the growing requirements of specific plants
Experience I have 37 years experience in the lawn and garden business split fairly evenly between the retail nursery business and wholesale distribution of consumer lawn and garden products. From 1990 to 2000 I co-hosted a weekly call-in talk radio program in Memphis, TN.
Organizations Garden Writers Association
Horticultural Board of the Mid South Fair
Publications Green Thumb Magazine - out of print
Education/Credentials 37 years of learning everday.
Awards and Honors Past president of the Memphis Horticultural Society.
Past president of the Memphis Bonsai Society.
Memphis Horticultural Society 2008 Horticultural Excellence Award
Question QUESTION: I keep my st. aug (raleigh) cut at the highest level my mower will cut. I have been fighting gray leaf spot for several weeks. Firstly, is there a problem with the height of my grass in dealing with diseases. Secondly, is there a good way of getting rid of and preventing gray leaf spot. Lastly and somewhat off topic, my newly sodded back yard is not near as thick as my from. I understand that it is new and will take time. My question is how much time before my back yard is thick like the front??
Thanks for your time
ANSWER: Hi Dusty, I'm not that concerned about the height, although taller grass dries slower than short grass. Bag your clippings to prevent spreading the disease. Use either Bayleton or Propiconazole to cure the problem. It may take a couple of applications and summer heat helps slow the spread. Always irrigate in the morning so the grass dries quickly.
Make sure your subsoil pH is 6.5. Mow it lower and more frequently to encourage it to grow sideways instead of up. Fertilize very lightly twice a month. I'd use fertilizer at 1/4 the label rate.
If your subsoil was properly prepared when the sod was laid, you should have a decent stand by year end. Jim
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QUESTION: Thanks Jim
YOu say to mow it lower...wont that encourage weeds and/or burn the grass with the heat in Louisiana?
Answer Worry about weeds later. You can always get them out. You want to encourage tillering, the side production of shoots. That's done by mowing lower and more often. You should be watering infrequently but thoroughly to encourage deep root growth, so you should not see any stress unless you are improperly watering. I am curious about why new sod isn't thick and lush. Usually it looks great when it's laid.
Instant lawn. If it's gone backward, then I'm concerned about the subsoil prep and your watering. If it wasn't thick and green when laid, then I'm concerned about the quality of the sod. If it was sprigged, then you should be mowing low and frequent. You should never remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade when you mow, so base your frequency on that. Jim
