Hi everyone......I've noticed that some of the plugs that I have dug on my lawn are now dead grass. This being my 1st. year MDing I have mainly stuck to my own lawn & a couple of my families lawns plus 2 different parks. I would guess that about 30% of the holes that I've dug on my own lawn consist of dead grass. I use the Leashe digger & cut straight down on 3 sides then pry the plug out as a flap so I can easly set it back when done. I'm trying to be careful not to disturb the root system any more then need be but obviously I'm doing something wrong. Does everyone who digs on manicured lawns have this problem to a certain degree? Any suggestions? I'm going over to my sisters house this Saturday to detect on her lawn & I don't want any dead plugs & until I get this resolved I'm hesitant to to dig on anyone else's pretty lawns. Thanks....Al
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My grass plugs are dying
- Thread starter fdl
- Start date
The safest way to avoid it is to take water with you to water the plugs back in. It's a pain, but it works.
Ground conditions when you dig have a lot to do with whether or not dead spots will appear. Right after and just before a rain are the safest times.
Ground conditions when you dig have a lot to do with whether or not dead spots will appear. Right after and just before a rain are the safest times.
Ugh! The dreaded brown bulls-eye! 
Old Longhair's suggestion of watering is a good one. But when it gets as hot and dry as it has been around here the past 60 days, watering them once may not be enough. I've come to the conclusion that this is one of those years where detecting manicured lawns is "off limits" for me until it cools down and the soil gets some moisture. Until that happens, I stick to vacant lots, sidewalk construction and pastures. Depending on your climate, you may want to wait for shorter days and less heat. JMHO HH Randy
Old Longhair's suggestion of watering is a good one. But when it gets as hot and dry as it has been around here the past 60 days, watering them once may not be enough. I've come to the conclusion that this is one of those years where detecting manicured lawns is "off limits" for me until it cools down and the soil gets some moisture. Until that happens, I stick to vacant lots, sidewalk construction and pastures. Depending on your climate, you may want to wait for shorter days and less heat. JMHO HH Randy
It was getting pretty dusty beneath the sod here, and I was about to head back into the water, but we got a good soaking and cooler temps for a few days.
Another thing that helps, is only chasing deep targets. You mess with the root mass less, and tend to cut a larger diameter. Grass is a rhizome rooted plant, which means that it grows underground and sends up shoots along a root from a parent plant. The roots from each shoot all contribute to the common cause. So leaving a longer section un-cut keeps more of the umbilicals intact, and less damage occurs.
Another thing that helps, is only chasing deep targets. You mess with the root mass less, and tend to cut a larger diameter. Grass is a rhizome rooted plant, which means that it grows underground and sends up shoots along a root from a parent plant. The roots from each shoot all contribute to the common cause. So leaving a longer section un-cut keeps more of the umbilicals intact, and less damage occurs.
Steve in Idaho
New member
I never have liked to cut plugs. I cut a slit about 6" to 8" and open the slit from side to side. After retrieving the target. you close the slit and this will not kill the grass with a brown spot. You have to pinpoint better before cutting the slit.
If you have plugged Centipede grass like that in my yard you will sometimes get some ie-back. Centipede grows along the surface in runners and no matter how careful you are you will cut the actual runners causing them to die. But don't worry, Centipede will be back before you know it!! I'm in Eastern NC and that is what we have here. Really nice lawns.
diggindowndeep
New member
Thanks for bringing up this topic Fond Du Lac. I agree that the dreaded brown spots don't look good in areas that we detect in & I'm glad to see that there's some very good, pertinent information being discussed here. From what I've experienced with my Northern WI sandy soil, if the conditions are hot & dry. The odds are already stacked against me for any favorable results, no matter what I do. I always use a horse shoe cut while leaving a flap/hinge on it & I dig a couple of inches below the root system for a deep target or just a slit in the ground for a shallow one. I then aerate the replaced plug & surrounding area. I used to use my Lesche tip for this, but that seemed to be a bit excessive. I now use a "T" handle pick that I made from a worn out torx driver & I've had good results with this method. I worked for a landscaper years ago & he told me that a plug or damaged grass root system will rebound much better if it's heated up or stirred up a bit with aeration. I've also read about people sprinkling a little fertilizer in the hole & then splashing the plug with some water. I don't know how well this method works though. Through some trail & error, along with using a little restraint if conditions are not conducive, hopefully we'll come up with some ideas or solutions that will have a lasting effect that's positive for this hobby that we're all hooked on.
With this being said, no matter what, there will always be detractors that don't like what we do, regardless. Case in point... I was detecting a park the other evening & an older woman was there with her daughter. With my one ear peeled, I over heard the daughter talk about how conscientious I was & what an excellent job I was doing with covering my holes. The older woman loudly replied, I don't care how good of a job it is, I don't like what he's doing & that I had no business digging holes in the park. After this, she proceeded to take another huge drag from her cigarette & then blew it into my direction. I just smiled & kept going about my business until they left. HH!
John
With this being said, no matter what, there will always be detractors that don't like what we do, regardless. Case in point... I was detecting a park the other evening & an older woman was there with her daughter. With my one ear peeled, I over heard the daughter talk about how conscientious I was & what an excellent job I was doing with covering my holes. The older woman loudly replied, I don't care how good of a job it is, I don't like what he's doing & that I had no business digging holes in the park. After this, she proceeded to take another huge drag from her cigarette & then blew it into my direction. I just smiled & kept going about my business until they left. HH!
John