New sod dying and it doesn't seem to be because of the heat. - Ask Extension
Hi. I had new sod installed in mid May, It was doing great until the mid June then two strips started yellowing. I sprayed with Cutter backyard bug sp...
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New sod dying and it doesn't seem to be because of the heat. #139418
Asked July 09, 2013, 8:11 AM EDT
Hi. I had new sod installed in mid May, It was doing great until the mid June then two strips started yellowing. I sprayed with Cutter backyard bug spray because someone told me those little tiny flying bugs were sucking the moisture from the grass. It only got worse. I live in Widefield, Collorado so I don't have water restrictions and water at least once a day either at 7 am and/or 9:30 pm for 30 minutes at a time. I have attached pictures. I would appreciate any advice you can give me to get my new grass back. I applied Revive 3 days ago.
Thank you,
Thank you,
El Paso County Colorado
Expert Response
Your question as just today forwarded to me. Sorry for the delayed response.
Just from photos...
It could be that the brown areas have poorly-prepared soil underneath and did not root in well or deeply. Now with the arrival of summer heat, rooting under brown areas is not adequate to supply plants with moisture needed on hot days.
Suggest you use a different type of sprinkler to deliver water to this lawn - one that delivers water in a lower trajectory, and one that delivers bigger water droplets.....An example would be the "Rain-bird" pulsating type. Your oscillating sprinkler throws small water droplets way up in the air, where some blows away or atomizes before it even falls back to the soil.
To illustrate the need for more water needed, let hose end run on a marked/designated brown area for 1-2 mins. After 3-4 days you "should" see some new green shoots or general green-up.
Just from photos...
It could be that the brown areas have poorly-prepared soil underneath and did not root in well or deeply. Now with the arrival of summer heat, rooting under brown areas is not adequate to supply plants with moisture needed on hot days.
Suggest you use a different type of sprinkler to deliver water to this lawn - one that delivers water in a lower trajectory, and one that delivers bigger water droplets.....An example would be the "Rain-bird" pulsating type. Your oscillating sprinkler throws small water droplets way up in the air, where some blows away or atomizes before it even falls back to the soil.
To illustrate the need for more water needed, let hose end run on a marked/designated brown area for 1-2 mins. After 3-4 days you "should" see some new green shoots or general green-up.
