Ever since I was a child tending my parents lawn, I noticed that some sections of grass seemed to thrive while others struggled. As an adult, I noticed similar patterns of success and failure on my own lawn. These coincidences com-pelled me to learn what was going on! I was committed to figuring out why some sections of my lawn just seemed to do better than others.Ever since I was a child tending my parent’s St. Augustine Grass lawn, I noticed that some sections of grass seemed to thrive while others struggled.  As an adult, I noticed similar patterns of success and failure on my own lawn. These coincidences compelled me to learn what was going on!  I was committed to figuring out why some sections of my lawn just seemed to do better than others.

I've noticed that small changes in the maintenance of your lawn can produce big benefits for you and the environment.  Nature is constantly giving clues to assist us.  This book will help you know where to find them.  Since 1998, my lawn has served as a source of observation and experimentation.  During those years, I discovered how fortunate I was to have a yard with a wide array of conditions, some good and some bad.

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CHAPTER  1

Chapter 1

 

Areas that almost never needed watering.

 Areas that almost never needed watering.

Sections where grass would not grow and survive.

 Sections where grass would not grow and survive.

Areas infected with Gaeumannomyces graminis. A fungus that attacks the roots.

 Areas infected with a fungal disease that attacks the roots.

Grass by seawall whose condition depended on the soil height.

 Grass by seawall whose condition depended on the soil height.

Shady areas under citrus trees where grass never thrived.

 Shady areas under citrus trees where grass never thrived.

Swales, two had excellent grass, one was overtaken by weeds.

 Swales, two had excellent grass, one was overtaken by weeds.

Areas where grubs killed the lawn, yet others where they did no harm.

 Areas where grubs killed the lawn, yet others where they did no harm.

Sections that seemed to constantly attract chinch bugs.

 Sections that seemed to constantly attract chinch bugs.