[mxxxc3]

First let me apologize. I am not a lawn care professional. I am your average Joe that is really clueless when it comes to lawncare. I didn't think this site was for professionals until after I signed up. I just took some pictures of my brown spotted lawn and uploaded them to my PC and was looking for some quick answers from people with knowledge and this is the first site I came upon.

Anywho, I'm sure most of you can answer my simple questions....

I first laid sod down in May, the lawn was great for the 1st month and then this happened and quickly spread throughout the yard. I don't know if this is a product of overwatering or grubs. I've been watering everyday (if not, every other) pretty much since I first laid the sod. But what is weird, if I was overwatering, the back of the yard would be brown too. So are these bugs attacking my lawn?

http://picasaweb.google.com/mxxxc3/BrownLawn

I'd appreciate any responses to how I can get rid of this problem and what I should use to get back that green grass!!

Thanks and sorry again.

Matt

 

[Smallaxe]

The sod probably never took. Looks like it dried out en masse. May have been dried b4 it was laid.

 

[TNT LawnCare Inc.]

The 2 yards next to you dont look bug infected so, i dont think you have grubs. To be honest it looks like someone thru down way to much fertalizer by Hand ?? and fried the lawn .

 

[mxxxc3]

I just laid fertilizer down with a spreader just a couple weeks ago for the first time. It looked like this before. What is my best option right now to fix this? I'd hate to re-sod! Do I just lay seed on the fried areas? Can I give you guys anymore info?

 

[rcreech]

I would say it dried out....

If you look at the pic closely, in the back of the lawn it is more shaded and the turf doesn't look as bad because it is protected from direct sun.

If I had to guess it isn't coming back.

I would take care of what you can...but the bad part is, you are gonna have to pull up the old sod.

That gives you two options:
1) Re-sod the bad spots
2) Pull up the bad sod and add soil (to bring up to the sod level) and seed

Neither is a great way!

If the lawn is less then 50% I would take up the whole think and seed it!

JMO!

 

[The Grass Guy]

soil samples,someone in your area can take and read the soil samples,what did it look like before the sod was put down, was anything growing? I have seen builders throw sod down on about anything to make it sell. But if your neighbors have decent grass then id try to figure out what has been done different on your yard.

 

[mxxxc3]

soil samples,someone in your area can take and read the soil samples,what did it look like before the sod was put down, was anything growing? I have seen builders throw sod down on about anything to make it sell. But if your neighbors have decent grass then id try to figure out what has been done different on your yard.

My dad and I tilled the whole area and laid the sod ourselves. It was pretty good soil underneath and we raked the whole thing. Never did a soil sample or pH testing. I wouldn't say my neighbors have decent grass either. To the right is like a jungle back there, its hard to tell but its all weeds...the guy is never home. And to the left, the grass is green but it almost doesn't look like grass, looks like weeds.
I bought some Scotts seed. I guess I will just turnover the dead areas and lay seed. I really don't want to do the whole lawn.

 

[mxxxc3]

Probably 3-4 weeks after laying sod

Right before we tilled the yard

 

[The Grass Guy]

Looks like from the pictures your soil is compacted and worn from lots of foot traffic etc my guess is your going to have to get it all loose so water and such can get into the soil to work.

 

[RAlmaroad]

Do you have dogs?

 

[mxxxc3]

One dog, small pointer. Male.

I pulled up the sod with such ease last week, looks like it never took. Already seeded the area.

 

[The Grass Guy]

I knew something had the grass worn down, just wasnt sure what it was.Just start feeding the dogs high protein food with a bit of miracle grow in it and you will have big tall grass in no time (just kidding of course)Kinda in the category of a kid with a new go cart the grass doesnt have much of a chance,I think I would check around and see who could do a soil sample for you then get several samples from around your yard to see if it was the same everywhere.I took one at a house i used to live in once and a feed n seed company had it checked for me,it came back needing 100#'s of several things to get the soil in check....needless to say the grass started looking just fine,well like everyone elses lol