I recently (five days ago) had this sod professionally laid. The front is doing great, but the back is having a little bit of a problem. What's the deal, experts? Too much water, not enough water, too much sun or am I just worried about nothing? Thanks.

not an expert but looks like bad sod,,

How much/long are you watering?

When the sod started to turn brown, I started watering the back for four to five hours in the morning. Under my son's trampoline, it's nice and green, but this grass is suppose to love full sun.

I don't think it's the sod -- I'll post the front for comparison:

move the trampoline. if the grass greens up under the new spot and the current green spot turns brown, i think you found your problem.

Blahhead said:

---

for four to five hours in the morning.

---

Did you mean 4 to 5 minutes? If you are watering 4 to 5 hours how is the backyard not a lake? Way, way too much if so. Even with new sod, every other day for a few minutes in the early morning is far better for grass.

agfan2013 said:

---

Blahhead said:

---

for four to five hours in the morning.

---

Did you mean 4 to 5 minutes? If you are watering 4 to 5 hours how is the backyard not a lake? Way, way too much if so. Even with new sod, every other day for a few minutes in the early morning is far better for grass.

---

Yes, four to five hours the last two days. It's pretty mushy, but I want the damn thing to stay damp and green up.

Blahhead said:

---

agfan2013 said:

---

Blahhead said:

---

Yes, four to five hours the last two days. It's pretty mushy, but I want the damn thing to stay damp and green up.

---

---

---

Careful thats how you get patch related fungus.Your goal should just be to keep the soil from drying out, not maintaining a saturated state

4-5 hours of watering is way too much for any type of application method, be it drip, rotors, MP rotators, or sprays.
I'm curious what type of heads you have. Your overwatering could lead to Zoysia patch fungus.

Sometimes sod will go into shock if it sits on a pallet too long. Be diligent and patient with it... it will bounce back. Zoysia may take 2-3 weeks to recover as it has a slower metabolism. I've seen Bermuda recover from a straw look to emerald green in 7 days.

Yank up a piece of sod and look for new root growth. You'll see small white roots starting to sprout. If you see those, you're definitely going to recover.

Tell your installers not to use the top squares on the pallets. They are dried out and have died. They still look okay at the time they are laid but they never survive.

Also try watering for about 20-30 minutes 3-4 times a day. Something like 6am 10am 2pm 6pm.

Quote:

---

Also try watering for about 20-30 minutes 3-4 times a day. Something like 6am 10am 2pm 6pm.

---

Putting this in quotes so OP sees it better.

I would do 8pm 2am 8am 2pm personally...less daytime, direct sunlight watering.

You can't recommend a run time if you don't what kind of sprinklers he is running.

Quote:

---

You can't recommend a run time if you don't what kind of sprinklers he is running.

---

4-5 hours is a ridiculously long time unless he's running a soaker hose...

XpressAg09 said:

---

Quote:

---

Also try watering for about 20-30 minutes 3-4 times a day. Something like 6am 10am 2pm 6pm.

---

Putting this in quotes so OP sees it better.

I would do 8pm 2am 8am 2pm personally...less daytime, direct sunlight watering.

---

I would certainly advise your method one the sod is established. With brand new sod however, if it gets 95 and breezy, new sod will burn up in one day. I have seen it happen on 5 acres of newly sodded driving range.

Apache said:

---

You can't recommend a run time if you don't what kind of sprinklers he is running.

---

That's true but I am assuming he has your run of the mill homeowner heads. Probably rainbird 1500

Im thinking of having Zoysia Zorro installed in the backyard in the next couple weeks, curious if OP was able to get thing in order.

My yard is more shaded, there will not be full sun.