Brown patches (not circles)

[Rix]

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.

[Mark Mitchell]

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.

[e-mail]

[trader4]

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]

[e-mail] wrote in news:1119099012.145200.215750 @g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

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?

[Doug Kanter]

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

[Frank Knight]