Which thread are you referring to?

I need pics!

Is it just slowing down and looking a little weaker, a little off color? It might just be reacting normally to summer heat when it tries to go into dormancy.

If it is looking really sick, then it might be getting too much fertilizer and water, too compacted of soil and be getting some kind of disease or fungus.

Or, is it just getting darker and grey looking? Might just need more water because of the first year and shallower roots and summer heat. But, whatever the issue, I don't think soybean meal, per se, is the problem. Too much of any kind of fertilizer in the summer on cool season grasses can be counter-productive.

Lots of possible causes, but, SBM by itself isn't at all likely to be the problem.

Okay, found that thred.
First, I wouldn't recommend fertilizing with Milorganite that often. Sod farms always over fertilize. They have to to keep the grass/roots growing after cutting it away and so it CAN (because it's still growing) root into new soil. But, no one maintains that regimen after their sod is laid, so this isn't the first time and they don't all die back as a result. So, they can't be the answer but was very well thought out.

Need some background, Ron
When did you apply the soybean meal?

Is there any possibility you applied too much and smothered the grass?

Can you be sure it was SBM that you purchased and not someone's mistake? Have you seen any pictures to compare it to?

How often do you irrigate since I expect you've been experiencing drought as we have in Michigan and as Philes says?

In addition to any suggestions you decide to implement, keep treating the grass as if nothing is happening first and foremost. Keep mowing as usual and continue irrigating.

From his reported amounts, he was well within normal application range at around 15 lbs/K ft. Also, he posted the photo and that was definitely soybean meal (or at least that's what the tag said!)

Maybe the lack of irrigation (or low levels, anyway) is just sending it dormant. Maybe not.

I'm sorry folks, I've been very busy finishing the shelving in my son's room since yesterday. It's just now that I was able to open up my machine.

I think, morpheuspa is correct. I might not be providing enough water to my lawn. I applied SBM June 16. According to the tag, it says it's SBM with 47.5% protein. Yes, I remember okcdan's SBM. It was 47% protein.

Maybe, something is wrong with the way I understood watering or something that I missed during my learning. And I also might have a high expectation from weather.com's rain forecast. From what I've learned, we should irrigate infrequently but deep once every 2 weeks. I always waited 2 weeks and hoping that weather.com's forecast would really rain. They always missed. Here is what always happens: they change their rain forecast date to the next day or 2, then I'll extend my patience another day or 2 hoping it would really rain. But lately, it never rained. It would but only drizzle.

I just noticed lately that I now have dead blades. Could this be due to my lack of watering? Before, even at the edges of my lawn, the blades are very healthy and green, 98%no dead blades. But now, wherever I go, when I separate the blades left and right, I see dead blades. You can see it from the picture below.

Also, I noticed that most of my blades aren't flat anymore. They're circling or folding. See those pointed by red arrows. They're also thinner now as if there is no water. When I step on them, it takes a long time before it goes back.

I've also noticed that my mower blade isn't sharp. I knew about it when I saw the edges of all grass blades weren't cut nicely. Does this add stress to the grass?

{{gwi:104687}}

So folks, let me know if the watering I'm doing isn't appropriate for this weather now. Should I do it once every week or twice a week? The sewer monthly cost is what is killing me because it is calculated against the water usage.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Also, I noticed that most of my blades aren't flat anymore. They're circling or folding. See those pointed by red arrows. They're also thinner now as if there is no water. When I step on them, it takes a long time before it goes back.

I've also noticed that my mower blade isn't sharp. I knew about it when I saw the edges of all grass blades weren't cut nicely. Does this add stress to the grass?

That's classical estavating grass, and the symptoms are classic of water stress, as well.

Once every two weeks isn't enough to keep it green and growing, but if you don't mind it going to sleep for the summer it's just fine. You only need to apply around a quarter inch each time to keep the roots alive (it won't do anything to the blades). It'll come back when the rains resume and the temperatures cool.

Once a week in normal weather or twice a week in hot weather (a total of an inch) is recommended for a healthy, green lawn. You can skimp as much as you need to, but the grass' green decreases.

Really, dormancy is harmless--yes, there might be some losses. Not severe if you doss it with a bit of water every two weeks or so.

I've also noticed that my mower blade isn't sharp. I knew about it when I saw the edges of all grass blades weren't cut nicely. Does this add stress to the grass?

I totally forgot this one. The tooth's still bothering me a bit. :-)

Yes, it does harm--ripping the grass blades leaves them open to disease (which requires water and energy to fight). Also, torn blades "bleed" longer, losing more water to the air.

The value of sharp, clean mower blades is high. You can do it yourself with an inexpensive sharpener from the Home Despot (Lowe's, whatever), or take them in to a lawnmower place and have them done for a few dollars. I use a GardenSharp for my steel blades (on an electric mower) and love it--I can touch them up whenever I want.

Which is about every fourth mow.

Need an update.
Have you watered the grass?

Yes Mallory! I watered July 1. And last night, thank nature, it rained for an hour or two. It was a real good rain. WOOHOO!!! :D

Front lawn is looking nice again, however, I noticed slow growth. Is this normal for this time of year? I will post a picture later so you can see the standing dead blades. However, when you are like 10 to 15 feet away, you won't see the dead blades.

Thanks!

I noticed slow growth. Is this normal for this time of year?

Yep, if it's stressed which it currently is. As long as it's growing at all, you're fine.

We also got a ton of rain last night (nearly two inches) with more coming today and tonight. Here I put in a new irrigation system and I haven't even used it (except to apply humates to the lawn).

Lawn kill starts July 15...

However, when you are like 10 to 15 feet away, you won't see the dead blades.

Awesome! Then it sounds like it's doing much better!