Brown spots after cutting a plug

[ObMiT]

Originally Posted by sarge1stone

Would a little fertilizer help? I know they come in those small sticks for potted plants, or would it burn the grass?

I would be afraid that there would be dark green patches of grass that would show up just as much as the brown ones. I know that the grass is a whole lot greener over my septic tank!

[The TINMAN]

I use the Trap door cut where Ya can fold it back and if it was a real nice lawn I carried some water with me and some grass seed/fertilizer so it would be sure to grow back nice. But like every one else said like last year it was so dry that anything Ya dug would just crumble in your hand. I'll have to try the screwdriver thing.

[Inspector]

From my limited experience I have found that plugs and flipping up just a flap will cause brown spots if the soil is very dry and the dryness continues for several days after. The dry soil allows the roots to be shocked I believe. My 2 cents :)

[kaptainkosmic]

I thought it would be a good idea, since then I've changed my mind.
It works relatively well in black dirt and clay, but not well at all in sandy soil. The black dirt and clay for lack of a better term are good packing, the sand just runs out of the end.
The major problem I had was pinpointing. If you miss by more than 1" with this plug cutter your either going to miss the target completely, or worse yet hit it with the cutters teeth, Oooops! I scratched a merc dime which cured me. If you get the depth and pinpoint perfect it's cool to just pluck the target out of the bottom (the face of the dirt) on the business end, reinsert push down on the syringe and presto holes filled.
Reality for me was that didn't happen nearly often enough. Also didn't stop grass from dying, just made the dead spot a nice 3" rd. spot. Also if target is grass roots the grass is dead for sure! Just my 2 cents worth.
Here are a couple pics of the plug cutter.

[Nighthunter]

The key is to dig a deep plug...even if the coin is a couple of inches deep. You need to keep the dirt around the roots of the grass..if you don't do that the grass will die. You need to dig deep enough to clear the roots.

[rwsnc]

Originally Posted by EBCIII

This past summer a true plug or flap was hard to do. It was so dry the ground would just crumble. It really made digging in yards a real worry.

I hope this next spring and summer is better, Beale.

But I think we know that it probably won't be any better, unfortunately.

Bob

[ERnurse]

Originally Posted by portraitartist

Even in normal conditions, regardless of what you do or how well, there will always be some grass that dies and becomes brown... but making a flap is much better than cutting a plug - one, because it does leave some grass roots intact to continue growing, and two, the dug area will be much harder to disturb once it's filled back in... I know that for a fact - I used to dig big, deep plugs at this school I hunted, and kids would sometimes follow me around... well, I went back the day after hunting there and found almost every plug I had dug pulled out! It made me sick... so when I do have to dig (I currently use a screwdriver, as Buster mentioned), I make as small a flap as possible...

That's my opinion as well.

[mtpockets]

I usually dig a Deep plug when recovering a target. Sometimes it helps with the Brown spots..
I thought of carrying some Seed as TinMan Suggested But I try to dig every signal, if I carried seed with me I would have to have a Spreader mounted on my back

I really don't think there is anyway to control the brown patches.. I've dug perfect plugs in Nice soft Moisture rich ground when I was in Pittsburgh and to top it off it would rain in the late afternoon..

Just to come back and notice the patches.. So Basically what I'd do is work an area and then not come back to the same place for a couple days.. Or just work a different section further away... This way I wouldn't draw too much attention with the maintenance crews..

[Tn Dirt Digger]

This is great info for all of us...especially for green peas such as me....I have wondered about this issue....So...you guys keep shareing your info and I'll keep learning.....Thanks a Bunch.

[Jazdo]

NCHL I think you are referring to a "hole hog". It cuts a perfect 3" circle every time. About 9 inches down or so. Then lift it out of the ground and push the ball to plop the plug out. It has gotten me into some very manicured lawns. It leaves virtually no evidence of being there. I would put a rag under the plug cut it into two sections find the target then replace parts as necessary. The rag can be used with any digging tool. This eliminates the loose dirt left on top because you empty it back into hole.

I try not to DETECT in extremely dry conditions on P.P. unless its a field or woods grass will usually die if to dry condition.but also have heard of someone dumping water on the dug areas to help it out. If using a knife I would leave a flap JMO.

As far as where to get one not sure.. Mine says it was made in Brownstown,In 47220 by "Professional Recovery Tools"
What kaptainkosmic says in post above is true it can be annoying to use and grass will die if conditions are to dry. My Tesoro I use has a good pinpoint toggle which makes it easier. I would stick a knife through the donut hole coil after pinpointing.

Hope this helps!