new sod pieces yellowing

hasnfefr – posted 19 October 2004 07:26

Hi – I am new to this board and really hope someone can help. I just laid 3 pallets of St. Augustine a week and a half ago. Some of the pieces are turning yellow now. I am scared of overwatering, but wonder if lack of water can be it? The yellow doesn’t seem to be spreading, but just in a piece or two here and there. There were some “light” pieces when we laid it, and maybe the yellowing pieces are those. Maybe they need more water, but it rained a lot after laying the sod, and since then, in about a week’s time, I have watered it twice, paying special attention to the yellow pieces. Please help if you have any ideas. Thanks

[This message has been edited by hasnfefr (edited 19 October 2004).]

hasnfefr – posted 19 October 2004 11:22

could it be a fungus? I also spread a fungicide after we put the sod down

jackj – posted 19 October 2004 16:24

I would be cautious of overwatering, too. I fear I overdid it and have a fungus myself. However, I can’t imagine that that’s the problem with yours, unless it could have been present when you laid it. I’m no expert, but the watering recommendations I’ve read are, from this board’s faq, “no more than once per day until rooted, then back off to 2-3 times per week, depending on rainfall”; and elsewhere, 1/2″ twice a day the first week, and then switch to 1″ once per day. The thought being that at first you want to make sure they get enough water, and they don’t have long roots yet to go deep. Then in a week or so the roots will be longer and you want to water deeper to encourage deep growth, but less frequently to deter fungus problems. Try lifting up the yellowed pieces and see if you have new roots (white) coming through. If the rest is green, they must be getting enough water. Once established, go by the look of the blades; wait until you see them folding up and starting to wilt, and then water, 3/4″ or to a depth of 5-6″.

tahoekid – posted 01 December 2004 22:56

Some repeating here. Lift the yellow edges. If it does no lift easy and seams t to be rooted then they may be establishing roots without the grass greening up. It is just around slow down, darn near dormancy period right now. The grass would look pretty crappy from the time you laid it until the spring green up. Sod farms claim you can plant the stuff anytime. You can but it sucks until spring. Wait it out or call the sod company to deliver a few pieces to you for replacement. That st agustine is unstoppable once it gets rooted. Those yellow spots will be filled in by June.