Lawn experts

[HuskerPAC]

I killed my yard fall of 2020 and reseeded with a blended seed (88% fescue, 7% bluegrass, and 5% perennial rye). It came up that fall and I had a great yard last summer. I have 2 large maples in the backyard. This spring, the backyard is essentially dead around the maples (maybe a 20 foot diameter around the trees, not just right by the trunks). I know this winter we had zero moisture and I had cut probably a bit too low for my last mow of the season last fall.

I plan to reseed again this fall because it is an eyesore out back. My question is why would last year the yard have done well and in year 2 its dead? Do I just need to be sure to water as late into the season and as early as I can in the spring? Cut higher for my last mow of the season? Reseed those areas each fall? I know around the trunk especially, it likely won't ever grow well, but I'm talking a large area that is gone. Three trees are also well trimmed.

 

[God is a Husker]

Growing grass under trees is hard, especially trees line maples that run shallow roots that often come out of the ground.



Dry winter has caused depletion in lots of soil, especially close to something that either doesn’t go dormant or doesn’t go dormant as quickly as cool season grasses.

For example: I had to water my ponderosa pines and I even watered by cedar windbreak a few times this winter. (Would have made my grandpa puke to see me keeping cedars alive)


I’m wary of the seed blends because they have been shown to contain higher % of rye than the bag claims. Rye grass comes in quick and can last a few years but it ain’t gonna last as long as fescue31 or bluegrass.

 

[HuskerPAC]

Growing grass under trees is hard, especially trees line maples that run shallow roots that often come out of the ground.



Dry winter has caused depletion in lots of soil, especially close to something that either doesn’t go dormant or doesn’t go dormant as quickly as cool season grasses.

For example: I had to water my ponderosa pines and I even watered by cedar windbreak a few times this winter. (Would have made my grandpa puke to see me keeping cedars alive)


I’m wary of the seed blends because they have been shown to contain higher % of rye than the bag claims. Rye grass comes in quick and can last a few years but it ain’t gonna last as long as fescue31 or bluegrass.

I’ll reseed this fall again. Sounds like I just need to drown the area around the trees.

 

[#HBD]

I killed my yard fall of 2020 and reseeded with a blended seed (88% fescue, 7% bluegrass, and 5% perennial rye). It came up that fall and I had a great yard last summer. I have 2 large maples in the backyard. This spring, the backyard is essentially dead around the maples (maybe a 20 foot diameter around the trees, not just right by the trunks). I know this winter we had zero moisture and I had cut probably a bit too low for my last mow of the season last fall.

I plan to reseed again this fall because it is an eyesore out back. My question is why would last year the yard have done well and in year 2 its dead? Do I just need to be sure to water as late into the season and as early as I can in the spring? Cut higher for my last mow of the season? Reseed those areas each fall? I know around the trunk especially, it likely won't ever grow well, but I'm talking a large area that is gone. Three trees are also well trimmed.

First… are you in Idaho, Maine, Texas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Florida? A location may be of assistance to us tPBers looking to help, amigo.. 🙂

 

[HuskerPAC]

First… are you in Idaho, Maine, Texas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Florida? A location may be of assistance to us tPBers looking to help, amigo.. 🙂

Central Nebraska.

 

[#HBD]

Central Nebraska.

If in Phelps County specifically, I can help…otherwise no dice.

 

[God is a Husker]

I’ll reseed this fall again. Sounds like I just need to drown the area around the trees.

I’d just mulch around the trees and not try to grow grass.


If you water too frequently you can choke the tree out cuz the roots can’t get oxygen.

 

[HuskerPAC]

If in Phelps County specifically, I can help…otherwise no dice.

Howard.

 

[Toe]

There's two possibilities in a case like this. One is that the trees are casting too much shade for grass to grow. More likely though is that the tree roots are out-competing the grass for nutrients - maples have shallow root systems. Think about how sunlight hits your yard at various times of day. If it seems to be a more or less circular area around the trees, it's probably nutrient stealing. If that's the case, you've got two options. One is just to put a THIN layer of mulch around the tree (and don't pile it up around the trunk, that's something you see a lot of people do, but it can cause a lot of problems for trees). The other is to plant something around the trees that can handle the soil conditions. Just Google 'what to plant under maples' and see what sounds good.

 

[Faux Sean Callahan]

I’ll reseed this fall again. Sounds like I just need to drown the area around the trees.

Or wave the white flag and landscape it.

It will be tough with the amount of shade it is likely getting for the grass to be overly thick there and would be tougher to maintain.

 

[Faux Sean Callahan]

Central Nebraska.

So like 72nd and dodge?

 

[Jim14510]

Or wave the white flag and landscape it.

It will be tough with the amount of shade it is likely getting for the grass to be overly thick there and would be tougher to maintain.

And plant cheap shit because its going to have the same problems as the grass other than being better equipped for growing in the shade.

 

[Faux Sean Callahan]

And plant cheap shit because its going to have the same problems as the grass other than being better equipped for growing in the shade.

 

[Jim14510]

View attachment 9709

Cheap hostas fine but they like water too. Maple trees are fucking death to everything with their shallow roots.

 

[God is a Husker]

And plant cheap shit because its going to have the same problems as the grass other than being better equipped for growing in the shade.

View attachment 9709

I’d actually say don’t plant anything under the trees right now cuz this Drought ain’t going away soon.

I want every drop of water that hits inside the drip line to go to my trees.

 

[Jim14510]

Personally I would just put mulch down and plant annuals in big pots. Maybe a rock or two.

 

[HuskerPAC]

Personally I would just put mulch down and plant annuals in big pots. Maybe a rock or two.

Less mowing so that’s a win.

 

[HuskerPAC]

Front to back comparison. Just fucked in the whole back. At least the front looks good so I can still show face in the neighborhood.

 

[Jim14510]

View attachment 9721
View attachment 9722
Front to back comparison. Just fucked in the whole back. At least the front looks good so I can still show face in the neighborhood.

The red lines is a dry creek bed. With a bridge over it.



Mulch all the way between with flagstone walking path (purple) that goes to the shed and the firepit (blue). The blue green are ornamental shade trees. Japanese maples, tricolor beech, dogwoods, etc. I'd put some sort of evergreens in the back corner too to block the neighbors. Maybe some arbovitaes.

 

[HuskerPAC]

View attachment 9725

The red lines is a dry creek bed. With a bridge over it.

View attachment 9726

Mulch all the way between with flagstone walking path (purple) that goes to the shed and the firepit (blue). The blue green are ornamental shade trees. Japanese maples, tricolor beech, dogwoods, etc. I'd put some sort of evergreens in the back corner too to block the neighbors. Maybe some arbovitaes.

Your mock up really brings it to life. Thank you.