Bare patches (large) in newly seeded area.

Joined
Sep 6, 2017
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Country
France
Starting in April we began the repair of our leaking swimming pool. The job was even worse than we feared and in essence we had to strip the pool back to the original concrete basin removing everything else. In consequence there were diggers and bobcats working all around the pool for several weeks. That thoroughly destroyed the grass surrounding the pool and to a greater area than I had hoped.

Our original plan was to turf the damaged area but that eventually proved to be too expensive. With an irrigation system, the estimate amounted to €9K for an area of 700 square meters. We were also unhappy with other elements of the contractor's proposal.

Owing to delays in finishing the work of repairing the pool, it was not until July that we were able to start to repair the grass and by that time we were into a long period of very high temperatures but also significant rain storms. Because we had a series of guests due to arrive (end July) we decided that although the weather was inimical to the growth of grass we would seed the area and install temporary irrigation, hoping at least to turn what was a sea of compacted mud into something that looked better. The plan, if the seeding failed, was to turf the area in the autumn. We restricted the seeding to an area of about 500 square meters.

In the main, the grass seeding has succeeded well beyond our expectations. About 80% of the area is growing extremely well and does not need to be turfed. Three relatively large patches are not growing any grass at all.

The entire area was prepared in exactly the same way and I used the same seed and fertilizer. In the failed areas, one patch is growing an abundant crop of one type of weed, another a different type and the third is not growing anything. There are also small patches where the grass is not growing. I have a 30HP tractor and I rotovated the whole area, with a tractor mounted tool, to a depth of about 20cms. The entire area is well covered with irrigation. Where the grass is growing it is abundant and dense.

Can you suggest what may be the cause of the problems and how I should go about overcoming them?

I have attached photos of the preparation, healthy growth and the 4 different problems.
 

Attachments

  • 2 Prep.JPG
    2 Prep.JPG
    246.2 KB · Views: 285
  • 4 Healthy A.JPG
    4 Healthy A.JPG
    55.9 KB · Views: 287
  • 6 Weed type A1.JPG
    6 Weed type A1.JPG
    98.9 KB · Views: 283
  • 4 Healthy A.JPG
    4 Healthy A.JPG
    55.9 KB · Views: 289
  • 6 Weed type A1.JPG
    6 Weed type A1.JPG
    98.9 KB · Views: 307
  • 10 Bare patch Context.JPG
    10 Bare patch Context.JPG
    80.7 KB · Views: 294
  • 11 Weed type B1.JPG
    11 Weed type B1.JPG
    103.7 KB · Views: 302
  • 13 Isolated Patch 1.JPG
    13 Isolated Patch 1.JPG
    99.2 KB · Views: 276
Joined
Feb 2, 2014
Messages
11,588
Reaction score
5,668
Location
La Porte Texas
Hardiness Zone
8b
Country
United States
It looks to me as if some of the equipment used had a fuel leak or spill. Either that or lime or some other chemical/product was allowed to soak into the ground. What I would do is apply 2 oz of molasses per gallon of water over 1 inch of good compost and re-seed when the temperature allows. If grass grew there before then the contractors did something to change the soil and the above recipe will replenish the micro organisms that were killed, thus allowing plant growth.
 
Joined
Aug 12, 2017
Messages
274
Reaction score
182
Hardiness Zone
Zone 8 B 15-20 F -9.4 -6.7c
Country
United Kingdom
Yes I agree either there's been a fuel spillage or chlorine spillage from the pool, good advice above on re medial procedure.
 
Joined
Sep 6, 2017
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Country
France
It looks to me as if some of the equipment used had a fuel leak or spill. Either that or lime or some other chemical/product was allowed to soak into the ground. What I would do is apply 2 oz of molasses per gallon of water over 1 inch of good compost and re-seed when the temperature allows. If grass grew there before then the contractors did something to change the soil and the above recipe will replenish the micro organisms that were killed, thus allowing plant growth.
Thank you for your advice, that is most helpful.
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
27,893
Messages
264,796
Members
14,622
Latest member
chrismalexander

Latest Threads

Top