Streaks of Shame
December 14th, 2006 
by Susan Harris
The other day I noticed what looked like streaks across my front lawn, the cute little oval I’ve written about before. My first, nonsensical thought was: Could it be the light? But you’ve probably already ID’d the problem - sloppy fertilizer application, specifically by hand, not spreader. Why, when I’ve read dozens of times that we’re supposed to use spreaders - any spreader, even the hand-held kind - did I use the gloved-hand-in-bag technique that produced this result? Because I’m special; I can shrug off advice I consider overly fussy and mechanical. Real organic gardeners use their hands right?
See, after years of completely neglecting my lawn I discovered, while researching an article on organic lawn care, that lawns really DO need supplemental nitrogen; without it they get patchy, just like mine. So like the dubie gardener I like to think I am, I applied a slow-release fertilizer in September and the results are in. Turns out it really works - where it’s actually applied. Human error strikes again.
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December 15th, 2006 at 9:06 am
“I applied a slow-release fertilizer.” What, exactly, did you use? Now that you and/or the Garden Ranters have got me obsessing about composting (the result of a posting months ago) I’m looking forward to the day, next spring I guess, when I’ll have lovely compost to spread around my garden. Can I use it for my lawn? I envisioned spreading it around the Luddite way, just as you did. Which, now that I think about it, leads me to this comment: what’s wrong with your lawn having a multi-tone effect?
December 18th, 2006 at 3:03 pm
Interesting. Thanks for posting this, because I was going to do the same thing, just sprinkle by hand.
I never did get to it this year, but thank you for saving me from a mistake next year!
(If you got a soluble nitrogen fertilizer and watered it in to the not-so-green spots with a watering can for a specific spot application, would the grass there catch up soon?)
December 19th, 2006 at 11:22 pm
You can spin this a better way.
You’re a gardener. The lawn is always going to be an after-thought. You can hardly be bothered. Your attentions lie elsewhere. Turf is beneath you.
December 21st, 2006 at 9:06 pm
I like learning from other people’s mistakes without having to make those same mistakes myself. And I think newbie gardeners especially need to hear that we are all making mistakes and living to tell about it.
January 15th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Those aren’t streaks of shame, they are streaks of life! Perfection is boring. You’ll just know where NOT to put the fertalizer next time.
July 4th, 2007 at 6:51 am
I didn’t know about the nitrogen too and my lawn was looking like hell.But once I applied it my lawn started looking better.Now I am determined to take care of it much better because my kids love ot play outside and it would be better if the place they play on looks beautifully.
July 13th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Mr. “B”
Lawn problem/dog: Our dog/s are turning the lawn brown with yes their, urine.Without getting into a lot of explination about the dogs health,
I would rather treat the lawn rather than the dog/s. ( one male one female) I have been asking around our area, Bainbridge island, WA and
there are several products on the market, at great expense, that may work. “Re green”, “Lawn be Green” are just two. Semms that the idea is to
reduce the salts in the urine, increase nitrogen, etc. etc. etc. …
Q: Is there anything I can mix up from under the kitchen sink to help
reduce this problem ? Or am I stuck with forget the lawns looks or pay big bucks for products that may work for a few weeks.
PS: We spend about six months at this house (April-October) Then (November-March)in Arizona. ( no lawn there )
August 8th, 2007 at 10:38 am
At least you have the ability to see what you did wrong, and own up to the error of your ways. Making “mistakes” in the lawn or in the garden are one thing. Making horrendous mistakes in life are another. But in both instances, a person needs to look in the mirror, be honest, and own up to one’s shortcomings. It’s amazing, but such integrity and honestly does make a person (as well as their lawn and garden) stronger and better!