"Lil' Dave" wrote in message
link.net...
Understand the need for detail. Comparison of various sections of sod
that
receive alot of sun, supposedly all the same species. Some very green,
some
not. All has been irrigated identically. Asked for an opinion based on
that observation as to whether there may be more than one species of grass
in the delivery.

Answers to your questions below in your reply.

"World Traveler" wrote in message
link.net...
You'll get better advice if you provide a little more info -- although
the
yellowing can be due to overwatering, since your back yard is OK, that's
probably not it. The best way to get an answer is to take a sample to
your
local extension service and Master Gardener program --

1. -- Where are you?

Hays county, west of Wimberley. IE hill country

2. -- Which variety did you plant -- Bitter Blue? Floratam?

I'll have to hunt down the paperwork.

3. -- Most St. Augustine grass does not do well in shade, so that in your
shady back yard may not do well in the long term.

Depends on the variety/species. The species my parents had thrived in the
shade. Turned brown, dormant in days of extended heat in the summer. I
remember that well.

4. -- If you're sticking to a good watering schedule -- deep enough and
frequent enough, the sod in your sunny areas should be doing well, even
in
the summer.

Once a week, deep irrigation/watering. Bearing in mind any major
precipitation to modify that schedule. Light watering to combat
wilting/yellowing due to heat if sunlight is excessive/no cloud cover for
that period. No fertilizers, root growth stimulators or other additives
have been applied to this grass.

5. -- If there are areas that got skipped at topsoil time, or if your
yard
has other issues (e.g., buried construction debris -- not uncommon in new
developments -- or a septic tank close to the surface, the sod in that
area
may not do well.

Spread topsoil about 3" deep, to 10' from house, runs the perimeter of the
house. Debris, rocks etc. were cleared away from house well before the
topsoil arrived. Septic tank is downhill from house, in front. About 70'
away in the middle of the gravel drive. Leech field is further downhill
and
further away from house.

Your St. Augustine grass should be well established by now, and healthy.
the light afternoon watering is not doing it any good and could lead to
fungal problems. Just make sure it's deep watered without overdoing it.
Sod that I laid about 8 weeks ago has already established itself, and
yours
should have, also.

Good luck and regards --

Dave: I stumbled onto a website that might help, which includes a map
showing areas where St. Augustine grass can best be used -- have you seen
http://www.fertilizer.com/lawn/st_augustine.htm?

This site does say "Bitterblue and Seville are the most tolerant of shade;
others need full sun". This area has a lot of sod farms, but Seville is
hard to find anymore. Mostly it's Floratam or something similar. My
experience has been that St. Augustine is a warm weather grass that should
stay green all summer, and that the differences between the characteristics
of different varieties of the grass are not great enough to fit your
description, so my kneejerk reaction to your question is that rather than
mixing varieties it may be that there's a environmental/maintenance problem
of some kind. In established lawns yellowing could be a sign of an iron
deficiency. The website has some fertilizer and other care recommendations.
Regards -- WT