OT: New sod question

[COYSGBR]

I had some new sod laid last Wednesday (I know great timing with this heat). It’s looking real nice and I am watering the heck out of it. I do have a few small areas that are starting to die off. When I lift the sod the soil is wet but is hard as a rock in this area. The sod layers did grade and loosen everything prior to laying.

Is there anything I can do now to salvage this? I have tried watering this area more but the water is not soaking and just runs off. Could I lift the sod and apply some sort of organic material and than place the sod back? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Ewooc]

I have had sod laid twice at 2 different houses. I had similar issues on both. Nothing horrible, I ended up just seeding the few spots that died off. I would assume if you wanted to take a little loose dirt and put it under the die off areas it would be ok. At this point it is going to probably die as is, so lifting it to put a bit of dirt shouldn't hurt. I am no pro, so if any lawn pros on here have another opinion I would listen to them instead of me. lol

 

[HuskDaddy]

Sounds like a compaction issue. I typically tell my farmers to either disk it or plant some turnips this fall then try corn next spring.

 

[WTFMatt]

I don't think there is much you can do about the areas that are dying off. When I lived in Texas I had to lay sod a couple of times. I had a backyard that was half Bermuda and half St. Augustine. There was nothing I could do about it due to a green belt right behind my house. I laid St. Augustine both times due to sunlight issues in the areas needing grass.

The first time was OK for about a year. Then every bit of it died. It just wasn't getting enough sunlight. I eventually just laid mulch everywhere to cover up the dirt.

The second time was further up in the yard, closer to the house. Most of it did excellent and took root. But there were a few areas that turned hard and wilted back. I had to throw that out. After a year it was getting worse. I moved out of the house and I can't imagine the people moving in maintained it. It needed a lot of water.

What I didn't do was till the soil before laying sod either time. If I had done that I think it would have stuck much better the 2nd time at least. It really came down to sunlight for me, though. I just wasn't getting enough for the grass to really thrive.

 

[Crazyhole]

Probably the only hope you have is getting an organic surfactant and spray the soil underneath the sod, but that's a long shot. Probably better to just let those sections go and replace them in the fall.

 

[Sporty]

If you have a potato fork, roll the sod back in those spots and break up those spots by hand with the potato fork. This will do much more than adding a little dirt.

 

[Bill_Callahan2.0_rivals121792]

Keep watering and aerate, over seed and fertilize mid September.

 

[jolley]

I had some new sod laid last Wednesday (I know great timing with this heat). It’s looking real nice and I am watering the heck out of it. I do have a few small areas that are starting to die off. When I lift the sod the soil is wet but is hard as a rock in this area. The sod layers did grade and loosen everything prior to laying.

Is there anything I can do now to salvage this? I have tried watering this area more but the water is not soaking and just runs off. Could I lift the sod and apply some sort of organic material and than place the sod back? Any help would be appreciated.

If it dies and there is hard clay underneath it, I have spaded gypsum powder into the clay to break it up and make it more permeable. It kind of softens up the clay and "breaks it up". I don't know if you could do it now without hurting the sod above, but what would you have to lose if it's going to die, anyway, until the next time you put sod or seed on it? I have done it successfully in the past, but it is, obviously, up to you.