NJ Lawns Community

Alright, I gotta vent here because I'm really frustrated. Last year I hired TruGreen for my KBG lawn in Hackensack and they treated it 4 times throughout the season. Cost me around $500 total. And guess what? I've got dead patches ALL OVER the place. I mean it's embarrassing when neighbors ask why my lawn looks like a patchwork quilt. I followed their recommendations, watered regularly, didn't cut it too short. Nothing worked. Now I'm thinking of switching to the DIY Scotts program this year since it's way cheaper. But honestly I'm lost - am I just bad at this or was TruGreen not worth it? Anyone else in Bergen County dealing with this? Is it even possible to get a decent lawn without hiring pros?

Hey NewbieNate, I feel your pain. But here's the thing - TruGreen programs are pretty generic and they don't always address what's ACTUALLY going on with your soil. Have you ever done a soil test? I'm willing to bet money that your soil pH is off or you've got compaction issues causing those bare spots. In Hackensack and surrounding areas, a lot of lawns were built on subpar fill dirt during construction. That's usually the culprit. KBG needs loose, well-draining soil to thrive. My recommendation: grab a soil test kit from the Rutgers cooperative extension in Englewood ($15 or free if you bring a sample). Then you'll know exactly what you're dealing with before dropping more money on products.

@NewbieNate 500 bucks for 4 visits?? Dude, that's highway robbery. I'm a lawn care pro and honestly TruGreen is basically selling you a cookie cutter program. They're not analyzing YOUR specific conditions. Those bare patches - could be a million things. Grubs, fungus, dog urine, too much shade, compacted soil like Steve said. But what really gets me is nobody asked HOW you were watering. Water deeply once a week MAX, not every day. Everyday shallow watering = weak roots =死 patches. Also, did TruGreen ever aerate? Aeration breaks up compaction and lets nutrients penetrate. If they just sprayed junk without addressing the root cause, you got ripped off.

Yo thanks for the reality check lol. Honestly I don't think they ever soil tested or aerated. Just showed up, sprayed something, left. Looking back it's kinda shady. @SoilScientist I didn't even know Rutgers did soil testing. That's actually really helpful - I'll check that out. Do they give you specific recommendations or just data? @GrassGuru I was watering every day after work for about 15 mins. Maybe that's part of the problem? My dad told me grass needs water every day but clearly he was wrong lol.

@NewbieNate OMFG 15 mins EVERY DAY. Yeah that's definitely part of your problem. You're basically creating a shallow-rooted lawn that can't handle stress. You want deep watering 2-3x per week MAX, enough that soil is moist 4-6 inches down. Set your sprinkler for 30-45 mins per zone but only do it 2-3 times weekly. Your grassroots will grow DOWN looking for water and become way more drought tolerant. Also timing matters - water early morning (6-9am) to reduce evaporation and fungus risk. Evening watering = fungal problems = brown spots. I know it sounds counterintuitive but LESS water more seldom is the secret. Yourdad's heart was in the right place but he gave you bad advice lol.

@NewbieNate Yeah Rutgers gives you actual data AND recommendations tailored to your lawn. They'll tell you exactly what fertilizer ratios to use, if you need lime or sulfur to adjust pH, everything. For Hackensack specifically, most Clay soils need aeration + gypsum before anything else. The clay holds water TOO well causing root rot, then grass dies in patches. When you do the Scotts program - use their starter fertilizer with tenacity herbicide for weeds PREVENTIVELY. Don't wait for weeds then spray. pre-emergent in early March (when forsythia blooms = calendar marker for northern NJ). And mow high! KBG should be at least 3.5-4 inches tall. Short cutting = stressed grass = bare patches welcome mat for weeds.