Lawns: dead patches. Apply a lawn treatment containing a moss killer and then try to remove the causes. Some of the pieces are turning yellow now. Don't fertilize until the roots have had a chance to take hold in the ground. Reduce watering frequency to every second or third day once the lawn has begun new root growth (about two weeks). The next two weeks - or until the sod has rooted - water to keep it moist. 2016-05-11 . Cooler ground temperatures will help prevent the roots from shock. new sod pieces yellowing. I just laid 3 pallets of St. Augustine a week and a half ago. Sod, though appearing to be just a big, green, rolled-up carpet, is no different. The professionals at ABC Home & Commercial Services have the experience and knowledge to troubleshoot common lawn problems on any type of lawn and … Generally, new sod needs to be watered every two to three days. Here are 10 common problems, along with the best solutions: 1. Wind or hot air can cause the plant to dry out. Frequent or heavy lawn use can disturb the new roots forming underneath the sod, leading to a less than stellar lawn down the road. No soccer games or family picnics on the new sod until the roots have taken hold well. Make sure you only mow the top third of the grass blades. Water heavy the first irrigation cycle to wet the new sod and the soil profile to a depth of four to six inches. New Sod Care. hasnfefr – posted 19 October 2004 07:26. Here’s How You Can Fix These 9 Pesky, Common Lawn Problems Reader's Digest Editors Updated: Aug. 16, 2017 Improve your grass when it comes … Quick facts. Check it twice a day during the first two weeks. No Comments. Symptoms: Quickly appearing and expanding dead spots caused by a number of difficult-to-diagnose lawn diseases. Stay Off New Sod: Please stay off your new sod for two weeks at least so as to not disturb the roots. However, too much nitrogen can cause a lawn to yellow. Scotts Lawn Fungicide is a granular while the Daconil is a concentrate which will need to be applied from a pump sprayer or a hose end sprayer. Buy a pH kit; the more expensive ones tend to be more accurate, plus you can use it out on your paddocks ñ and test the pH. To re-grow your grass, you have 2 good choices: You can rip out the old sod and put down new stuff or; Legacy post . Week 1 - Keep Sod Wet. Yellow lawn problems could stem from a host of conditions. Laying sod is such a fast way to start new grass that it is almost no exaggeration to say it gives you an "instant lawn." Try to keep off the newly installed sod until it becomes well established, usually within a couple weeks to a month. Plant problems; Back. Before laying new sod, you must completely remove the old grass so that the sod has fresh, clean soil to grow on. A brown lawn, caused by drought. Water new sod to keep it moist but not wet or mucky. New sod is usually cut into rectangles to make transportation and installation easier. Sod Dying from Lack of Water. Pick a starting point and press the sod cutter into the grass with your foot until the guard on the back meets the ground. If you are certain that you have watered enough then you might consider an application of fungicide. New sod has a very shallow and underdeveloped root system that’s only about ¾ of an inch deep. If you have problems with new grass dying, it could be from a lack of nutrients in the soil. Keep the soil moist to a depth of 1 to 2 inches. Words: Nadene Hall DIY SOIL TESTING There are two simple tests to see if your lawn needs assistance. The root system needs a chance to establish deeper into the ground before it can access that water. Dead patches of grass on lawns are very common. Pesticide and herbicide applications kill not only the bad bugs but the good bugs too. Uneven growth in the shade. I am scared of overwatering, but wonder if lack of water can be it? New sod doesn’t need fertilizer for the first one or two months and can get burnt by it. Fortunately, many lawn problems are quick to identify and easy to remedy with the right products and tips. If it does, reduce the time you’re watering. Grub control products are available at your garden center. Once your new lawn has reached a mowing height, you can reduce the frequency and start watering thoroughly once or twice a week. If you see the leaf blades turning a grayish-green, pull up a corner of the sod. However, it requires more water than established grass and turns brown if it doesn’t get enough. Many types of grass seed don't love very shady spots. Tapering off on watering encourages grass roots to sink deeper into soil. New sod is perishable and must be installed immediately to ensure a successful, healthy lawn. And when you have invested in top quality turf and lawn maintenance products, it can be very frustrating to wake up one morning to a patchwork of small soil hills. It enhances green, leafy growth and is a necessary nutrient for a healthy lawn. Once they are, start the lawn on a treatment of a new-lawn starter fertilizer. Remedy: Pull back a section of sod and inspect for fat, white curved worms. Some common problems are: Grass in the shade? Back. This year was a very bad year for white grubs. It is essential to keep newly installed sod wet the first week. Washington State University recommends early morning watering, which allows soil and grass blades to dry out thoroughly during the day. There are two problems with grass in shade: reduced sunlight and reduced air movement. Of course, there is usually a fair amount of prep work involved, depending on the situation, and the sod must be watered and monitored carefully until it is established. If you've got uneven growth in the shade, take these three three steps: Make sure your trees are properly and regularly pruned. More than ten per square foot can cause lawn damage. Adjust your mower to high setting to keep the lawn nice and thick. But, if you’re dead set on doing it yourself, your sod’s problem could be a number of things, so let’s take a look. Hi – I am new to this board and really hope someone can help. A deeply-rooted lawn is one of the secrets to growing a lush, healthy, thick stand of grass. Compaction is one of the most common, yet overlooked lawn problems. Diagnosing lawn problems is not hard - you need to observe the turf and understand some basics about turf grass physiology and the impact of the environment. If the soil is wet and mushy, you're watering too much. Diagnosing Lawn Problems. Moles do create big problems in some gardens, with much more visible results than the smaller pests, making them one of the more annoying common lawn problems. New sod can turn brown due to early fertilizer application, inadequate watering, soil compaction and lack of contact with the soil. Pesticide and Herbicide Use: Do not use any pesticide or herbicide on your new sod. A lot of times the ground below new sod will be wet but the sod itself is drying out. Problem: Fungus Disease Photo by Courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder. Check to make sure that soil does not stay saturated for long periods of time; otherwise, the plants may not root. Whether you start a lawn from seeds or use a vegetative planting method such as sod or plugs, the soil conditions largely determine how well the grass grows. Whether or not the topsoil should be amended depends on the soil conditions and can be determined by a soil test. New sod does need to be watered more often than established grass to ensure that it will take root, but it is possible to put too much water on the sod. Here, we look at 10 common problems standing in the way of the perfect turf. The most common is dryness but excess nitrogen is another. Credit:Neil Hepworth/RHS The Garden. Pay close attention to edges, corners and areas near buildings - these spots tend to dry out quickly and may need addition hand watering. Once your new lawn is in place, remember this: For the first 4 weeks, the less walking, the better. Coming up with a specialized maintenance schedule for your lawn can be a challenge for many homeowners, since every lawn will have slightly different requirements. No turf looks as good in the shade as it does in the sun. Compaction reduces the amount of air, water and nutrients that your grass can get and limits the lawns ability to put roots deep into the soil. Generally, it is some type of fungus that attacks new sod but bacterial diseases can occur as well. Maintenance. However, it is usually easy to trace and remedy the cause, restoring green and healthy grass. Rent a sod cutter to remove the grass and its roots. Care for New Sod Lawns. A carpet of soft green grass does put the finishing touch to any landscape. Once the lawn and soil are thoroughly wet, water 3 to 5 times a day, so the sod never dries out. Water your new sod at least twice a day, including once midday. The removed sod can be put back in place if it is still in good shape, or replaced with new sod or seed. After the first week, reduce watering to every other day. Too much water on your sod could make it soggy, which prevents it from establishing a strong root system. After about 2 to 6 weeks, your new sod will be bonded with the native soil. Now you have to cut it. ABC Can Help Treat And Prevent Lawn Problems. Lawn moss is a serious problem in spring and autumn, most often found where drainage is poor and the lawn is in the shade. Warm-season grasses. Unfortunately for you, it is too late for this procedure now. New Sod Care. new sod pieces yellowing. Seeds, sod and plugs all require at least 4 to 6 inches of good topsoil. This is most frequently from dog urine but can also come from over fertilizing. Thus leaving your soil ecology … A light watering of the ground before installation is recommended, since dry soil acts like a wick and removes the moisture from the sod. For any depression an inch or more deep, repair should involve removing the sod, correcting the cause of the sinking, and then back filling with new soil with enough extra to allow for settling. Nitrogen is the first number in a fertilizer ratio. The most important part of proper care for new sod is irrigation, especially in warm weather. Water shouldn’t puddle on your new sod. After the area is prepped, the rectangles of sod are set down, each piece tightly butted up against the surrounding pieces. Tug carefully on the grass to see if the roots are anchored in the soil. The sod is more susceptible to insect, fungus and disease damage if it gets too much water. Compaction is caused by excess wear and tear on your lawn causing the soil underneath to go hard. Grubs: Grubs are a common problem in mid to late summer, and most easily identified when your sod easily pulls back from the ground like a carpet. Let the sod dry out until the top 2 inches of soil are dry and crumbly. Other types of problems might be insects. Lawns: dead patches. Great, your new lawn is growing vigorously. The granular fungicide by Scotts should be applied with a Drop Spreader for best results. Push forward to peel a strip of sod up from the lawn. But once you have prepared the ground properly, the sod installation goes very quickly. Often the installers leave gaps in the sod, sometimes intentionally in order to maintain a neater pattern, and other times simply due to negligence. Watch the new sod for color changes. Any brand new plant needs extra water because it has to establish a root system in your soil. 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