Location: Round Rock, TX
Grass: Bermudagrass (Tifway 419)
Read Bermuda Bible: yes
Irrigation: 1 inch/week, 1 day/week, 4 times during that one day
Mower: Honda rotary
Mowing height: 1.5"
Mowing frequency: 3-4 days
Soil: clay
Mulch/bag: mulch
Fertilizer: 29-0-0 high quality brand (don't remember what brand, but not LESCO)
Last time fertilized: 6 weeks ago
Insecticide: Talstar granules, applied several months ago

I have been taking care of both my front and back lawns rigorously all year, applying a good urea-based fertilizer frequently, watering deeply and infrequently, weeding by hand and everything else one would expect from a high-maintenance lawn care program. Although I've had some trouble with weeds, notably crab grass and spotted spurge, the lawn was looking somewhat decent until a few weeks ago.

I had a problem with spotted spurge several weeks ago, so I applied some 2-4D to the lawn using my garden hose. Although I was careful not to over-apply, it's tricky to figure out just how much is being applied through those bottles that attach to a hose. The spotted spurge has all but disappeared, but now I am faced with a new issue: the lawn just doesn't seem healthy, and in some spots it seems either dormant or dead. After mowing this morning, I went outside and used my Japanese sickle weeder to dig up some of the soil under the worst spots. The soil was bone-dry and powdery, even though I watered deeply less than a week ago. In the lower spots of my yard, as well as along the fence line, the soil was much softer and spongier. Here are several pictures of the good spots and bad spots of my back lawn:

http://s613.photobucket.com/albums/tt211/VisualCSharp/Grass trouble/

The sod was new last September, but back then I was pretty ignorant of proper lawn care. That, combined with the drought and severe watering restrictions, meant the soil dried out pretty good in spots. However, as you can see from the pictures, much of the lawn looks spotty anyway. This is in stark contrast to my front lawn, which is consistently green and very healthy throughout.

Any help would be much appreciated.

I used the 2-4D when it was cooler; it only recently started getting over 90 here in Round Rock.

I think the situation may be that I'm not watering enough. I realized I had my irrigation system on 70%, back from when the weather was wetter and cooler. I've since turned it back up to 100% and now have watering scheduled twice a week (still 1 inch total). I am thinking that it's no coincidence the grass is healthy and green in the low spots where water collects and along fencelines and the side of the house (less evaporation, more shade).

OK I know what the problem is, and I know where Round Rock TX is just north of Austin. I have relatives just to the West of you in Marble Falls. I also know a thing or two about the Bible and Bermuda grass.

It has been a early and hot spring in TX, especially from Dallas and points south. In your area it has also been dry and hot right?

What is going on is your Bermuda Grass is stunned from 2,4-D application in too warm of weather. It also sounds like you might of applied too much using a hose end sprayer which compounded your problem. Post-emergence herbicides like 2,4-D should not be used when daytime temps hit 85+ degrees or else it will burn the grass and/or even make it go dormant. If extreme temps above 90 and over application you can do some real damage to it.

Fear not my friend. Ease up on the fertilizer for a while and keep it watered. It will come back.

Is it Tan or straw colored? Or is it dark like gray or charcoal colored? Tan/Straw colored is stunned dormant grass. Dark and crunchy is dead.

Even if it is dead the surrounding grass will fill it back in with proper care.

Good Luck

TW

There are a couple of patches that appear grayish, but most of the spots appear dormant (yellowish). I will avoid fertilizer and keep it watered. Hopefully the healthy grass can start to take over the bad spots.

Thanks for the advice. :)