Roselle, IL on Apr 21, 2012

Trail of dead grass mystery?

Trail of dead grass appeared two weeks ago that starts in neighbor's yard and goes to the sidewalk, then continues past the sidewalk in a line into the grass into my yard all the way to street. I noticed the neighbors across the street have the same tail of dead grass. Never happened in 12 years I've lived here. Anyone have ideas on what is causing this?

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Joan K Roselle, IL

Gas company came out and determined no gas leak. I will treat for bugs at this point.

on Apr 21, 2012 · Like 0
Eve T San Diego, CA

check for rabbits...........

on Apr 21, 2012 · Like 0
Kelly S Bremerton, WA

Smebody new in the neighbor hood walking their female dog?

on Apr 21, 2012 · Like 0
Nyomi R Hillsboro, NH

I would recommend calling Dig Safe. There could be OTHER pipes besides gas that run under that area. Dig Safe will come out (free of charge) are map out EXACTLY where all your pipes are. It could be a water pipe or a sewerage pipe that is leaking in miniscule amounts, but still enough to cause damage. Even buried electricity lines can cause damage if there is damage to the "pipes" that they are contained in. The voltage and currents that run through them can cause burning of the ...»
grass. The fact that it goes from your neighbors yard through yours, plus it is also across the street, sounds like it would rule out any sort of pest. If it was a pest (a bug or a mammal), they would have other areas besides just this one REALLY LONG path. I highly doubt that someone dragged a leaking bag through your neighbors yard, your yard, and all the way across the street. It just doesn't make any sense. Neither does a dog urinating. A dogs marks would leave patches, not a mostly solid path. I think that the best thing to do, before you spend money on anything, before you put any poisons down, is to call Dig Safe and have them evaluate your yar and your neighbors. Like I said, they are free of charge, and you will at least have peace of mind that it is not from any other pipes or lines that are running through the yards. Good luck and please let us know what Dig Safe found!

on Apr 22, 2012 · Like 1
Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

It's not a good idea to apply an insecticide to your lawn because of a suspicion. It doesn't sound like you have grubs because the grass didn't pull up easily, but to be sure, cut a flap of sod about 1' by 1 ' by 6" deep. Pull the sod back and poke through the soil to find the white grubs. Count them: if you count between three and five, you need to treat the lawn. For chinch bugs, use the flotation method: cut the ends out of a metal coffee can and insert the can into the soil at the edge ...»
of the discolored grass. Use a knife or shovel to dig the edges of the can down 3 inches into the soil. Fill the can with water continuously for five minutes. The chinch bugs trapped in the can will float to the top of the water. Repeat this method at least four times throughout the discolored area, concentrating on the perimeter of the injured spots, to ensure proper diagnosis. To test for mole crickets, add 2 tablespoons of a liquid detergent to 1 gallon of water, then pour the resulting mixture over a 1 - 2 square foot area, again just on the edge of the damage. If there are mole crickets present in the location, they will surface in only a few minutes. It's best to do a flush test like this in the early morning or late afternoon.

on Apr 22, 2012 · Like 1
Sharon C Virginia Beach, VA

My neighbor had an area that appeared like this. She kept thinking it was dogs. Turns out it was a fungus. Fungicide took care of the problem & the grass grew back.

on Apr 22, 2012 · Like 0
Kitty W Fairburn, GA

I remember at my brothers house a dead trail of grass caused when the trash can leaked something as it was being carried to and from the garbage truck, in a V shape where it was carried to and from the truck. Twice a day watering cleared out whatever it was and the grass came back rather quickly. As a personal preference, I'd try water first before using a fungicide or pesticide.

on Apr 22, 2012 · Like 0
PAULINE S New Market, AL

I have had the same thing happen, found out it was the dogs using the grass as a toilet. Dug mine up, put two pieces of sod down and a notice up to say that area was not a doggy stop.

on Apr 22, 2012 · Like 0
Christina H Manteno, IL

Grubs?

on Apr 22, 2012 · Like 0
Connie Nikiforoff Designs Mandan, ND

It really looks like some chemical cause to me too. We used to get that on a small area under the boat where we had it parked for the winter. Something apparently slowly leaked out from the motor. Unless you are set on finding out the reason, I would just rake away the dead grass, put down some new dirt, and reseed it. If it comes back again next year..or even if it continues more this year, you can delve into it further.

on Apr 22, 2012 · Like 0
Clay B Chesapeake, VA

If someone laid a tarp/plastic/drop cloth etc., in the sun, it will also kill grass quickly, doesn't take long. It will look fine right after this, but will die in a week or so.

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 0
Mitzie B Louisville, KY

Could it have beed a garbage bag or can drug across the lawn with maybe some chemicals draining or some other stuff spilling out.

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 0
Diane Poughkeepsie, NY

It could also be an underground water line if you have town water or waste line - especially since this is happening at your neighbor's house ...

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 0
Clay B Chesapeake, VA

Other possibilities, very leaky sewer line? Or Moles burrowing? Does water run-off from the driveway through here, could be contaminated oils from vehicles, or soapy water from washing car, normally this will not harm grass as long as you rinse it with clean water a bit after washing car.

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 0
HomeProHub San Jose, CA

Joan.....I used to work for an artificial turf company and we were constantly replacing melted grass that was caused by a reflection of the sun on large patches of grass. Artificial turf melts when burned by the sun by way of a refection off a glass window nearby but real grass burns just like in your photo. Believe it or not reflections can be that intense and can appear because of new windows in close proximity. Don't look for just new windows though, also look for any other source of ...»
reflection in the area. The angle of the sun changes all the time so you may only see it at certain times of the year. Worth a look.

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 0
Joan K Roselle, IL

Thanks all for the many suggestions. I will investigate them all.

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 0
Yvonne Louisa, VA

I live in Virginia and it looks like the work of a MOLE! They will tear your lawn up with their trails dug underground creating brown patches/trails like that. Don't be surprised if that trail turns to bare spots. I tried dropping juicy fruit gum into the holes they create. It clogs their digestive system and kills them...if they eat it. Use gloves on hands so they don't p/u human scent.

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 0
Nichter's Home Services C... Islesboro, ME

Here, that would be where a trench was dug for a septic line replacement and the soils put back in with no topsoil to replant, leaving the sod weak in that space so it dies back in times of stress

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 2
Laura J Monroe, NC

where does it say this is Artificial turf??? she calls it DEAD grass.

on Apr 29, 2012 · Like 0
Christina H Manteno, IL

what did you find out it was

on Apr 29, 2012 · Like 0
Joan K Roselle, IL

@Christina - not grubs or bugs. I dug a little and didn't find anything. Gas company checked and no leaks. My best guess is chemical or gasoline burn. Just don't know how it happened. Thanks for asking.

on Apr 29, 2012 · Like 0
Sharon C Virginia Beach, VA

Did you try a fungicide?

on Apr 30, 2012 · Like 0
Diane Poughkeepsie, NY

If your neighbor has the same thing from his house to the street its def an underground pipe or storm/wastewater line. Lack of rain causes soil around the pvc pipes to heat up and suck the moisture out of the grass directly above it. The grass dries out and results in long dry lines on the lawn directly over the pipes. We have them now since we have had so little rain. We also get them every summer in the same place ever since we installed pvc piping to direct the ground and storm water away from our pool. I live in NY and have clay soil....

on Apr 30, 2012 · Like 0
HomeProHub San Jose, CA

Good point Laura J......I should have added that the effect is the same for artificial turf and real grass. In fact, reflections from windows have burned down houses. The heat can be intense and if it happens to concentrate all of it's heat into one flammable area it can burn intensely. Real grass is no match for it. I would bet that is exactly what is going on here.

on May 03, 2012 · Like 0
Nichter's Home Services C... Islesboro, ME

Right. Newer windows with low-E coatings reflect more of the sun's light and heat. Hundreds of people are finding their vinyl siding melting right off the house in spots where the reflected sunlight hits it intensely.

on May 03, 2012 · Like 0

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