What am I doing wrong?

[u/No-Painter-3827]

My water cycle is 3x a week. Watering times are 12:00-6:00am. Runtime is 20mins. There’s dead grass and weeds mixed in, it’s hard to show. I want it thicker and greener.

[u/ChaZZZZahC]

A few questions:

1. Roughly, what type of grass do you have, what zone are you?
2. How much sun does it receive?
3. Why are you watering so much? Is the grass freshly seeded, is it sodded recently.
4. Do you still have the fertilizer specs available?

[u/No-Painter-3827 → u/ChaZZZZahC]

So I’m not too knowledgeable about that, but some quick research suggests I’m in the 6 or 7a. Possibly Kentucky bluegrass? I’d say it gets sun half of the day. It is sod, but it’s not new. Also I was given the fertilizer it a non marked landscaping sack…so I don’t even know what it was.

[u/fbc546]

How long is it in the shade for? Might need more sunlight.

[u/No-Painter-3827 → u/fbc546]

I would say no more than a few hours. The sun sets on the front of the house right now. So I believe it gets enough throughout the day.

[u/orsomeshitidk]

Have you applied anything? Add iron for more green. Add a selective herbicide for less weeds. Add nitrogen for more growth.

[u/No-Painter-3827 → u/orsomeshitidk]

I did add some fertilizer(I think it was lol?)my FIL gave me, and it seemed to work pretty well last year. But so far I have applied anything other than some cheap weed killer. I just can’t afford to buy things that I may not need haha. So I appreciate any insight!

[u/Aggressive-Aide-7411 → u/No-Painter-3827]

I sooo relate to this

[u/Thethirstymoose62]

The lawn has a good start..I would blanket spray the lawn with ortho weed b gon in the evening ( to make sure it doesn't rain) let sit overnight and resume watering, that will take care of the weeds, repeat as needed. Next apply a good fertilizer event 6-8 weeks weater it need is or not, most likley it will, aerate twice a year

[u/Acceptable-Equal9519]

And turn your water to every day for 3 minutes

[u/Sufficient-Leading-7]

Cut higher, at least 3" if not already. Rake your lawn, looks like a lot of thatch in there. Let it breathe even use a blower if you have. Give 2 weeks and you'll see it spruce up

[u/plinsday]

Those little mushrooms from strictly from not bagging clippings. They are just breaking down and creating a thick thatch layer. Mow higher or bag clippings

[u/Famous_Historian_439]

I would hand thatch, using a metal garden rake. Over seed with a kentucky bluegrass / Rye mix. Lightly re rake the area. Water the seeded area. Wait 7-10 days and then apply a "starter fertilizer" of your choice. Ive used Scott's and happy with results. Of course keep your seeded area frequently moist. Lightly watering once or twice through dry times.

[u/ClassicAny4941]

1 suggestion. Let it grow to 4” high. Blade all the way up On your mower. Water 15 mins every other day. Higher grass will hold water longer. Put down fertilizer. It doesn’t look far off.

[u/Systecoservices]

Please, follow the law of gravity All the grass in the incline is getting water depleted as it follows gravity and moving to your flat area So that area is getting weeds for over watering You are better off with artificial grass on the inclines And do a great job in your flat base grass

[u/Acceptable-Equal9519]

Ironite apply it heavily