Brown patches (not circles)
 

I while ago we had sod installed. It seemed to be doing well. For the
first three weeks it was watered 20 minutes a day and grew in just fine.
The first time I cut it I used a regular hand pushed mower since I was told
to wait a little while before using the John Deer riding mower I had. It
got through the first mowing fine but about a week ago I used the riding
mower and a few days later brown patches started appearing. I've checked
books on lawn care but they all cover brown rings or circles. These
started out as strips following the wheel marks left by the mower and
spread out. I don't think there was anything on the wheels that would
cause this since this has only happened in parts of the lawn, not the whole
thing. Thew rest of the lawn seems fine thoug I have noticed browning at
the vert tips in some places.
I'm not even sure if these areas are dead or could be revived.

What kind of sod was installed and what area of the country are you in?

I am having to replace all of the sod in my lawn due to a chemical burn.

Much has been learned and I will relay any information that I may have.




"Rix" wrote in message
news:1119050646.dba9cc044692e517a322d314c2975e90@t eranews...
:I while ago we had sod installed. It seemed to be doing well. For the
: first three weeks it was watered 20 minutes a day and grew in just fine.
: The first time I cut it I used a regular hand pushed mower since I was
told
: to wait a little while before using the John Deer riding mower I had. It
: got through the first mowing fine but about a week ago I used the riding
: mower and a few days later brown patches started appearing. I've checked
: books on lawn care but they all cover brown rings or circles. These
: started out as strips following the wheel marks left by the mower and
: spread out. I don't think there was anything on the wheels that would
: cause this since this has only happened in parts of the lawn, not the
whole
: thing. Thew rest of the lawn seems fine thoug I have noticed browning at
: the vert tips in some places.
: I'm not even sure if these areas are dead or could be revived.
:

If the brown areas started with the mower wheel tracks and then spread,
it sounds like you may have spread a fungus/disease with the mower.
I'd get the company that installed it out pronto. Also, if you have an
agricultural service available, usually through the county, I'd take a
sample to them for an evaluation. If the sod company isn't sure what
it is, I'd ask them if it's OK to put down a fungicide. This won't
harm anything and if done quickly could save the lawn. I'd also talk
to the sod company about watering levels. Keeping grass constantly wet,
plus excess nitrogen and hot weather are a presecription for problems.

I'd also start taking pics at intervals, which will be valuable if you
get into a dispute with the sod company.

"Rix" wrote in message
news:1119251004.0b62224261c75a7528c08d02c79c86b2@t eranews...
wrote in news:1119099012.145200.215750
@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

If the brown areas started with the mower wheel tracks and then spread,
it sounds like you may have spread a fungus/disease with the mower.
I'd get the company that installed it out pronto. Also, if you have an
agricultural service available, usually through the county, I'd take a
sample to them for an evaluation. If the sod company isn't sure what
it is, I'd ask them if it's OK to put down a fungicide. This won't
harm anything and if done quickly could save the lawn. I'd also talk
to the sod company about watering levels. Keeping grass constantly wet,
plus excess nitrogen and hot weather are a presecription for problems.

I'd also start taking pics at intervals, which will be valuable if you
get into a dispute with the sod company.



I don't think the company has any responsibility after the installation.

Are brown patches dead or can they be revived? How do I tell the
difference? If it's dead should I try cutting it out and seeding?

Do a google search using the name of your state along with the words
"cooperative extension", and get on the phone with them TODAY.

I have heard of the LT/GTmuffler heat burning grass, since these days
exhause it is often deflected downward. On mature grass, this is only when
sitting while running. On new tender grass, something to think about
depending on your tractor.
"Rix" wrote in message
news:1119050646.dba9cc044692e517a322d314c2975e90@t eranews...
I while ago we had sod installed. It seemed to be doing well. For the
first three weeks it was watered 20 minutes a day and grew in just fine.
The first time I cut it I used a regular hand pushed mower since I was
told
to wait a little while before using the John Deer riding mower I had. It
got through the first mowing fine but about a week ago I used the riding
mower and a few days later brown patches started appearing. I've checked
books on lawn care but they all cover brown rings or circles. These
started out as strips following the wheel marks left by the mower and
spread out. I don't think there was anything on the wheels that would
cause this since this has only happened in parts of the lawn, not the
whole
thing. Thew rest of the lawn seems fine thoug I have noticed browning at
the vert tips in some places.
I'm not even sure if these areas are dead or could be revived.