Sod needs to be properly handled and laid quickly to prevent drying out and yellowing.
Sod is the quickest way to a green, lush lawn. Site preparation is of primary importance when installing a sod lawn. Soil tests need to be done before the grass is laid so you can amend any adverse conditions. These would include the pH of the soil and the nutrient content. Improper soil conditioning can bring about yellowing and cause poor rooting in a new sod lawn. New sod can also come with diseases or poor disease resistance, which can cause problems in the turf. Does this Spark an idea?
Preparation to Avoid Sod Problems
A soil test should reveal a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 for the best performance in turf grass. Soil can be sweetened or acidity increased with lime or sulfur. The soil test can also determine if there is enough mineral content in the soil. Poor nutrition is another cause of yellowing and poor appearance in new sod. Inadequate drainage can build a weak root structure in the sod and cause numerous problems if not corrected. Soils cannot be too wet or dry for sod. Heavy incorporation of sand is often required to break up clay and enhance drainage.
Dogs
We all love our pets but their daily deposits of nitrogen-rich waste can leave yellow spots on turf grass. Nitrogen in concentration can burn plant roots and the excess salts can leave soil saturated and damaged. The salts cause moisture in the leaf blades to evaporate which can make them dry out and yellow. The area will eventually grow out of it if the pet can leave the spot alone. Unfortunately, dogs are drawn to urine-saturated areas and it can be a challenge to keep them away long enough for the young sod to recover.
Overwatering
Constant moisture invites root rot, leading to yellow spots in the grass above. Often this is due to poor drainage. Grasses laid on clay soils will suffer from this problem since they need to be kept moist but the collected water under the sod can't drain away. This is why it is so important to correctly cultivate the bed before laying the sod.
Diseases
Rhizoctonia yellow patch often occurs on new turf laid over heavy soil. The disease is brought on by a fungus that comes out in cool, wet weather. The patches the fungus produces are 2 to 3 inches in diameter. As the disease spreads, the patch can grow to 2 feet across and will be bordered by reddish looking blades of grass. Yellow tuft is another fungal disease that can attack young grass. The disease produces small scattered yellow spots that are raised above the general turf surface. It is also found in poorly drained or heavily irrigated areas.
Tags: soil test, turf grass, yellow spots