Not much experience...but...I think it is an irrigation fault.
Is the pressure low in spots?
Is the soil a bit hard and dry?

Or is the soil sandy and droughty in the brown spots?

Was the seed applied evenly?

Topdressing soil applied evenly? Peat moss?
Was scarifying carried out evenly?

 

Not much experience...but...I think it is an irrigation fault.
Is the pressure low in spots?
Is the soil a bit hard and dry?

Or is the soil sandy and droughty in the brown spots?

Was the seed applied evenly?

Topdressing soil applied evenly? Peat moss?
Was scarifying carried out evenly?

We do not do peat moss, and topdressing is like 100% sand for some reason. I will check water pressure tomorrow and soil condition.
It’s rather weird, it is hard to tell from the pictures, but you really can tell that it’s really splotchy in random spots. I can’t really explain it, but it is very random around the field and in spots with previously well watering.

 

I’m not sure exactly but I have the same issue. It gets pretty heavy traffic with fall camps and the lowest areas seem to come in late. That’s what I’ve chalked those issues up to. They do fill in, in spring.

 

I also forgot to mention that the grass is clumping in areas such as this.

 

How did you apply the seed?
Did you apply it before, or after top dressing with the sand?

 

Before by about 1 month

 

Difference in morning/ afternoon sun exposure? It all looks like it’s ready to get fed.

 

The entire field gets full sun for the entire day, there is nothing to throw shade except the light poles and those are so thin they don’t really make a difference.

 

this looks like annual rye-vs perennial rye...shouldn't' affect the germination... is there more ground traffic in some of the affected areas? or compacted areas with rain runoff-?

 

Everything seems pretty flat now, I’ve had to fix some leveling issues, but it’s pretty much all good.
The areas that I thought would be more compacted did better it seemed to me. It’s backwards in my head so I’m really worried for it.

 

Broadcast spreader should work fine. In some spots, I think I can see a distinct like between the good grass and thin grass. This suggests it is due to variations in the soil under the grass. Is that left field?
I think it will work out OK. Check the soil with a soil probe. Sandy?
Also I think, starter fertilizer would be a help. Faster growth and darker green. Take care to apply it evenly. Maybe east and west-- then north and south, to reduce the chances of uneven green.
Think about a higher quality seed. The best types of perennial rye are a beautiful dark green.
Of course, perennial rye does not spread--no rhizomes--it tends to be a bit clumpy if the seeds are not close together. So be sure to get the proper amount of seeds down per square inch.
You want about 25 seeds per square inch.
And consider adding Kentucky bluegrass. The rhizomes cause the sprouts to fill in tiny thin spots--resulting in a denser turf-- eventually.

And...

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And you need to seed with the proper number of seeds per square inch. Myself I like to suggest a bit more--in case not all germinate.

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Broadcast spreader should work fine. In some spots, I think I can see a distinct like between the good grass and thin grass. This suggests it is due to variations in the soil under the grass. Is that left field?
I think it will work out OK. Check the soil with a soil probe. Sandy?
Also I think, starter fertilizer would be a help. Faster growth and darker green. Take care to apply it evenly. Maybe east and west-- then north and south, to reduce the chances of uneven green.
Think about a higher quality seed. The best types of perennial rye are a beautiful dark green.
Of course, perennial rye does not spread--no rhizomes--it tends to be a bit clumpy if the seeds are not close together. So be sure to get the proper amount of seeds down per square inch.
You want about 25 seeds per square inch.
And consider adding Kentucky bluegrass. The rhizomes cause the sprouts to fill in tiny thin spots--resulting in a denser turf-- eventually.

And...

Premium Perennial Ryegrass Turf Seeds for Golf Courses & Lawns

From multi-purpose sports fields to golf courses & recreational parks, our Perennial Ryegrass Seeds are the perfect solution when only the highest quality turf will do

www.mtviewseeds.com

And you need to seed with the proper number of seeds per square inch. Myself I like to suggest a bit more--in case not all germinate.

Seed Research | Pro Turf

Choose DLF Seed Reasearch brand for exceptional turf quality, density, and disease resistance on your golf course. Our Seed Reasearch varieties ensure healthy, resilient, and beautiful playing surfaces.

www.sroseed.com

I don’t have to check to know that the soil is probably way too sandy. For the last like 6 years topdressing was done with 100% sand. I don’t know what the ratio needs to be and if it is better or worse for the sand to be thicker or thinner in terms of the core sample.zz

 

In the first picture--I think I see two sprinkler heads. And the not-green area is sort of circular. This suggests that the sprinkler head is only throwing water about half-way. Is the pop-up head damaged? Stepped on? Can you give it a lube-job? Sand in the nozzle? Is the head failing to rotate? Does wind blow? Sand in the mechanism? Sand on the stem and rubber wiper seal? Install a new sprinkler head.
Can you see the dry area resulting from the roots of the tree reaching out under the grass near the fence?

Maybe your friends gave you cheap seed--maybe annual rye.

This would be a good time to stop by Home Depot--and pickup a soil moisture meter, and a soil pH meter. Or for better quality... MKRittenhouse.com.
Check for acid soil, alkaline soil, excess soluble salts.
You could also be suspicious about the sand--is there a bit of salt in the sand?
"Sand carries all the nutrients it needs." ?
You are correct-do not rely on him for advice.
Discuss this with your nearby Siteone dealer.
Good time to take a sample and get a soil test. U of Florida has some good soil labs. Tallahasee or whatever that town is.

Or...https://www.woerner.com/location/category/retail/

At least get a home soil test kit.
Be sure to put out the python repellant.

 

In the first picture--I think I see two sprinkler heads. And the not-green area is sort of circular. This suggests that the sprinkler head is only throwing water about half-way. Is the pop-up head damaged? Stepped on? Can you give it a lube-job? Sand in the nozzle? Is the head failing to rotate?
Can you see the dry area resulting from the roots of the tree reaching out under the grass near the fence?

This would be a good time to stop by Home Depot--and pickup a soil moisture meter, and a soil pH meter. Or for better quality... MKRittenhouse.com.
Check for acid soil, alkaline soil, excess soluble salts.
You could also be suspicious about the sand--is there a bit of salt in the sand?
"Sand carries all the nutrients it needs." ?
You are correct-do not rely on him for advice.
Discuss this with your nearby Siteone dealer.
Good time to take a sample and get a soil test. U of Florida has some good soil labs. Tallahasee or whatever that town is.
At least get a home soil test kit.
Be sure to put out the python repellant.

When I go back out this afternoon I’ll run the sprinklers for a second and see if I’m getting coverage. Now that you mention it I do see the brown area being outside the circle.
It might be the case where the install guy did not fix the nozzle and it might just be shooting water in a straight stream, I’ve fixed about 20 heads like this and thought I had gotten them all.
How much does a soil sample usually run?

 

I would put a starter out and lightly water it so you don’t push the nutrients past the root zone if it’s all sand. 10 minute per zone? 3 times a week after the sun hits the turf in the am so it dries fast and you don’t get Pythium. Yea sand has 0 nutrients don’t listen to that guy. Consider granular chicken manure to it will start to fix your soil and has a pretty neutral ph.

 

They’ve always told me no on the chicken manure because “it’ll smell like shi*” everyday we’re out there. I don’t guess they realize the smell would go away though I don’t know lol.

 

Thank you everyone!