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new bermuda sod help
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Posted by
lilmanplease none (
My Page) on
Wed, May 11, 11 at 17:32
| See picture. We put down bermuda TIF 419 sod on may 4. We removed all the weed and grass with shovels and used a bow rake to grade the area and added top soil (less than an inch). first half of the sod was laid the day it was delivered and the second half was laid the next day. Im in Atlanta and it was fairly hot. I water the sod 15 min in the am and 15 min in the pm. now that it is week two, I started watering 20 min in the am. I'm concern that the sod is dieing. Please take a look the pictures and tell me what i need to do to save it. Should I add starter fertilizer or nitrogen or just leave it alone?
http://media.angelfire.lycos.com/3240046/1738845.jpg
http://media.angelfire.lycos.com/3240046/1738843.jpg
http://media.angelfire.lycos.com/3240046/1738846.jpg
http://media.angelfire.lycos.com/3240046/1738848.jpg
http://media.angelfire.lycos.com/3240046/1738849.jpg
http://media.angelfire.lycos.com/3240046/1738850.jpg
Thanks |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: new bermuda sod help
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| Go around and lift up a few pieces of sod and look under them. If the soil under the sod is moist, then you are applying enough water. For now, just continue watering like you are, and in a couple of weeks you'll see a world of difference. Follow the advice of Texas Weed and his Bermuda Bible. Then, when your sod turns out great, put him a check in the mail! (His stocks are a little down this year). |
RE: new bermuda sod help
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| It is not uncommon for new sod to go temporarily dormant after being transplanted. Parts of mine are doing that too. It will green up in a few weeks. Straw color is ok. Gray/black is bad=dead, according to TW. Hopefully, he will come along and say if it ok to add fert or even iron (liquid Bonide form Pikes). Did you/they roll it after being put down? |
RE: new bermuda sod help
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| I can lift up some sod and some I can't and I'm worry that after 10 days some of the sod haven't rooted (these are the ones that are brown). I did rolled the sod after laying it. I didn't fill up the rolling drum completely because I was affair it will be too heavy. my question is: will it survive? |
RE: new bermuda sod help
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| Not to worry...just keep watering the sod as you are. In a couple of weeks you'll be relieved to see your fully green lawn. |
RE: new bermuda sod help
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| Lilman I looked over your photos, not uncommon what you are experiencing, not is it as bad as you think. What you see is somewhat normal. The tan or dormant grass is drought dormancy, meaning the grass has gone dormant to protect itself from being too dry. It is too dry because it has no roots to speak of to pull water up from the sub soil, and because you have not been keeping it watered enough for the local conditions. If it has been rather warm and windy will suk the moisture right out of the sod even though you have been watering lightly twice a day. Up the water as it is almost impossible to over water new Bermuda sod. You may have to water lightly 4 to 6 times a day. What I suggest is give it a good thorough soaking asap so as to make the ground a bit on the soggy side, then water enough each day to keep the sod good and moist without any standing water. Then when it greens up apply a good balanced fertilizer like 15-10-5 or even some ole fashion 10-20-10 to accelerate root development and start weening off the water. Just be patient and it will be nice thick and green in a couple short weeks. As long as the grass is tan or straw colored you still have live grass. Black or grey is dead. |
RE: new bermuda sod help
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| Well, I'm at work from 8 - 5 and I don't have a automated sprinkler system so I've been watering each section (and there are 8 sections) 20 min in the morning (between 6 and 7) and 20 min in the afternoon (between 5 and 7). It's getting greener. should i change my watering schedule at week three to once a day for 30 min or continue with my current schedule? also should I mow the lawn after 15 day even if it's not completely green and add fertilizer at 30 days. I was at home depot and they have a fertilizer the is 22-2-2, can I use that at 30 days? Thanks for all your help. |
RE: new bermuda sod help
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| Lilman I understand your time constraints. Soak the sod in the morning, and again when you get home until it greens up nicely. You mow it when it needs it, you do not have to wait for anything other than letting it dry enough to run a mower over it. You can apply fertilizer yesterday and repeat every 30 days. However for the first application I would not use the 22-2-2. Look for something with a 1-1-1 or 1-2-1 ratios like 10-10-10 or 10-20-10 as you need a good shot of potassium and phosphorous to get the root system in high gear. Save the 22-2-2 for the later applications when all you need is nitrogen. |
RE: new bermuda sod help
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| I just wanted to think Y'all for all the advice. My sod is getting greener everyday. Couldn't have done it without Y'all help. THANKS THANKS THANKS THANKS THANKS |
RE: new bermuda sod help
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| OK start backing off on the water a bit once it is about 75% green up |
RE: new bermuda sod help
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| My new Celebration Bermuda sod went down in late April. I am located about 100 mi. N of Houston, TX. I am getting some patches throughout the lawn that look golden/wheat colored. Do I need to get more water on it? I have very sandy soil but the sod has a very hard (clay?) bottom to it and I wonder if it is blocking the moisture from soaking in. The temps are approaching 100 degrees now and I am not sure what to do to keep the grass healthy and growing. I do not have an irrigation system - just me and my sprinklers! I am keeping the height up - about 2". Suggestions? |
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