Hi all -
Looking for some advice for my month-old Zoysia sod. Last October, my entire yard was laid with Zoysia. I am located in North Texas, and we had a very rainy few months, followed by a few icy nights. The grass never rooted or greened over and was VERY splotchy (pictures below). They ended up coming out and re-sodding almost the entire yard 4 weeks ago, claiming that it looks as though it had developed a lawn disease likely due to the weather and time of year it was planted. I was also told AFTER the new sod was laid that I had grubs and was instructed to sprinkle Bayer Advanced Fungus Control for Lawns which I did myself (I wish they would have spread that directly on the dirt prior to laying the new sod). That also helped with my pill bug problem, there were dozens finding their way into my apartment every day.
It has been 4 weeks since the new sod was laid and the yard looks MUCH better. However, there are some brown spots and a few seams look to have not grown together quite yet. I do have a dog, but the company told me that her urine wasn't what had done the damage - however, I now sprinkle some water from a watering can over the area right when she goes so that the grass doesn't get burned.
They also left one area of the yard alone as the original grass had rooted. That grass hasn't taken over it's entire spot though, so there are quite a few muddy areas. From the original picture I am including below, it looks as though they just pulled-up the dead grass in that area, hoping the healthy grass would spread.
I have a large tree in my yard, but the entire yard gets full sun for at least an hour per day. Everywhere except under the tree gets another 3 or so hours of full sun per day. The areas with the brown spots actually get the most sun.
I watered 2x the week the sod was laid, and now water 1x per week when it feels dry. We have been getting some unseasonal drizzle days, so I am trying to take those into account when I decide if it is time to water or not. I don't have a sprinkler system, so I water it with a mobile hose sprinkler for 20-30 minutes. I live in an apartment complex where they are supposed to care for my yard (I pay for that amenity that I don't seem to be getting, as I paid to have my own sod laid when I moved in to a full mud-yard), but I have no idea what their schedule is because I haven't seen them once since the new sod was laid 4 weeks ago.
Questions I have:
1. Do I need to get a few pieces of new sod to place in the muddy areas, or will the grass that is there spread? Should I just fertilize? With what?
2. What do I do about the brown spots? Are these dead or dormant from too much heat or another environmental factor?
3. Can I use a lawnmower on my yard yet or should I just use a weed wacker? I had been told not to cut the grass for 4 weeks after the new sod was laid. The grass is looking like it should be cut now, especially the grass that wasn't replaced.
4. Should I use some sort of fertilizer on the brown areas?
I am including multiple pictures of the yard:
1. Original diseased sod
2. Immediately following new sod being laid
3. Full yard (current)
4. Close-up of brown spots (current)
5. Close-up of area with original sod that wasn't replaced (current)
I appreciate any help or advice! It seems silly to care much about a lawn for an apartment rental, but I spend a lot of time on the patio and outside with my dog and want to have a green, healthy yard.
Thanks!
Looking for some advice for my month-old Zoysia sod. Last October, my entire yard was laid with Zoysia. I am located in North Texas, and we had a very rainy few months, followed by a few icy nights. The grass never rooted or greened over and was VERY splotchy (pictures below). They ended up coming out and re-sodding almost the entire yard 4 weeks ago, claiming that it looks as though it had developed a lawn disease likely due to the weather and time of year it was planted. I was also told AFTER the new sod was laid that I had grubs and was instructed to sprinkle Bayer Advanced Fungus Control for Lawns which I did myself (I wish they would have spread that directly on the dirt prior to laying the new sod). That also helped with my pill bug problem, there were dozens finding their way into my apartment every day.
It has been 4 weeks since the new sod was laid and the yard looks MUCH better. However, there are some brown spots and a few seams look to have not grown together quite yet. I do have a dog, but the company told me that her urine wasn't what had done the damage - however, I now sprinkle some water from a watering can over the area right when she goes so that the grass doesn't get burned.
They also left one area of the yard alone as the original grass had rooted. That grass hasn't taken over it's entire spot though, so there are quite a few muddy areas. From the original picture I am including below, it looks as though they just pulled-up the dead grass in that area, hoping the healthy grass would spread.
I have a large tree in my yard, but the entire yard gets full sun for at least an hour per day. Everywhere except under the tree gets another 3 or so hours of full sun per day. The areas with the brown spots actually get the most sun.
I watered 2x the week the sod was laid, and now water 1x per week when it feels dry. We have been getting some unseasonal drizzle days, so I am trying to take those into account when I decide if it is time to water or not. I don't have a sprinkler system, so I water it with a mobile hose sprinkler for 20-30 minutes. I live in an apartment complex where they are supposed to care for my yard (I pay for that amenity that I don't seem to be getting, as I paid to have my own sod laid when I moved in to a full mud-yard), but I have no idea what their schedule is because I haven't seen them once since the new sod was laid 4 weeks ago.
Questions I have:
1. Do I need to get a few pieces of new sod to place in the muddy areas, or will the grass that is there spread? Should I just fertilize? With what?
2. What do I do about the brown spots? Are these dead or dormant from too much heat or another environmental factor?
3. Can I use a lawnmower on my yard yet or should I just use a weed wacker? I had been told not to cut the grass for 4 weeks after the new sod was laid. The grass is looking like it should be cut now, especially the grass that wasn't replaced.
4. Should I use some sort of fertilizer on the brown areas?
I am including multiple pictures of the yard:
1. Original diseased sod
2. Immediately following new sod being laid
3. Full yard (current)
4. Close-up of brown spots (current)
5. Close-up of area with original sod that wasn't replaced (current)
I appreciate any help or advice! It seems silly to care much about a lawn for an apartment rental, but I spend a lot of time on the patio and outside with my dog and want to have a green, healthy yard.
Thanks!
