Dead fescue? Irrigation not working? HOA on your back? PAINT IT (yes, seriously, with PICS) (Raleigh: how much, Home Depot)

[RDUBiker]

After installing our pool and digging up our irrigation system, and forgetting somewhere along the line to make sure to reconnect it, our fescue is, well, kinda dying. The guys at Home Depot laughed when I asked if they carried lawn paint. I've seen businesses use it - for example the shopping center where Winston's Grille is will do this in spring time.

So after some online research I found "Always Green Lawn Paint" and bought a quart. Should have gotten a gallon, but hindsight is 20/20, right? You can see where I started, I mixed too much at once and it's overly green. When I realized I was not going to make it at this dilution rate, I began adding less paint to more water and was able to barely finish. Given a stronger ratio I could have gotten it VERY green, but painting bare dirt and literally dead thatch is difficult.

I wanted to take before/after shots, but was eager to finish because it was hot out and I had weekend plans and guests coming.

The "before" shot would simply show a very large, crunchy brown lawn. Not lightly brown, BROWN. The only trace of green was a small patch of Bermuda grass.

I realize to you these photos look like any fescue lawn in any neighborhood in Raleigh right about now, but believe me when I tell you this looks FANTASTIC compared to the immense brown spot that was my lawn the night before.

So, by request, here are the photos.

[Loves Fuquay 48]

Fescue ONLY likes cool weather. This time of year my fescue goes dormant and my bermuda takes over. I don't think you will find a fescue lawn thriving right now with no rain and this heat.

[stantheman78]

Which image is the painted lawn? I don't see any difference.

[RDUBiker]

Originally Posted by Loves Fuquay 48

Fescue ONLY likes cool weather. This time of year my fescue goes dormant and my bermuda takes over. I don't think you will find a fescue lawn thriving right now with no rain and this heat.

I'm aware, but mine is much worse than normal dormancy. The neighbors who irrigate have nice green lawns with minor browning going on. Mine looked dead by comparison.

Originally Posted by stantheman78

Which image is the painted lawn? I don't see any difference.

If you read my description you'll see that they are all the "after" shots - I never got "before" shots.

[frankpc]

Blends in sorta well in my opinion. I thought it would look artificially "good" but it doesn't. Was this done via a hose end sprayer or a pump type?
I've seen the green paint used before on warm season grasses to keep a green color over the winter but never on fescue in the summer. Good idea.

Just think, you could go red, white and blue for the 4th of July creating consternation among HOAs across the land

Frank

[librarySue]

You left out the very important info of: How much was the paint? We had centipede grass in Fayetteville that went dormant in the winter and was a very even shade of tan. It never occurred to us to worry about it.

If the paint were cheap, okay, give it a shot and see if it is worth it to you.

If the paint is expensive, that makes you a fool.

PS...cute house!

[hammester]

Looks like the product is about $25 per quart according to Amazon.

[Sant]

I'd be concerned about contamination of ground water that this paint would cause. Then again, maybe it would keep people from using too much fertilizer.

[RDUBiker]

Originally Posted by frankpc

Blends in sorta well in my opinion. I thought it would look artificially "good" but it doesn't. Was this done via a hose end sprayer or a pump type?
I've seen the green paint used before on warm season grasses to keep a green color over the winter but never on fescue in the summer. Good idea.

Just think, you could go red, white and blue for the 4th of July creating consternation among HOAs across the land

Frank

I used a $9 pump sprayer bought at Home Depot. It was a LOT of work. But I don't spend on sprayers any more - they are all junk and never last more than a season, so I bought the cheapest available.

Originally Posted by librarySue

You left out the very important info of: How much was the paint? We had centipede grass in Fayetteville that went dormant in the winter and was a very even shade of tan. It never occurred to us to worry about it.

If the paint were cheap, okay, give it a shot and see if it is worth it to you.

If the paint is expensive, that makes you a fool.

PS...cute house!

Perhaps foolish, but I did it more as an experiment to see fi it was possible and if it would buy me more time to decide what to do about my awful lawn before HOA got mad or neighbors began to wonder about my competency in homeownership. I like doing new and different things and seeing how they go. One man's foolish endeavor is another's interesting experiment. I'm sure everyone does things that others would consider foolish.

I paid $34.36 shipped. Even if the plan was to keep spraying it with paint forevermore, I'm still spending WAY less than those who water, fertilize, aerate, seed, weed prevent, mow, edge, etc. I'm not going to do it but this once, but it's still a lot cheaper and easier than maintaining actual grass
I paid

[RDUBiker]

Originally Posted by Sant

I'd be concerned about contamination of ground water that this paint would cause. Then again, maybe it would keep people from using too much fertilizer.

The info provided claims it's 100% safe for animals and the environment and won't cause any such issues. I don't think fertilizer is any safer for groundwater than this is.