Witnessing newly laid sod turning black is worse than a nightmare itself. You might feel like your lawn is conspiring against you. We know that you have done all that you could do to make your lawn thrive. You probably have watered it religiously at regular intervals or you might have danced around it assuming that the Sod God will finally show some mercy but in the end, all you get are dead-looking patches scattered all over the lawn. There is no point in wasting your time cursing your own luck. Here in this article, we will try to get to the root of the problem and help you revive your lawn.
Figure Out What “Black” You’re Actually Seeing
First you need to understand what kind of black discoloration you are seeing. Just because some parts of your lawn have turned black, it does not mean that the sod is already dead or beyond saving. Sometimes, sod turning black simply means the grass is under stress.
Check it like this
- Is it only the tip of the leaf black?
- Is it black underneath, like the roots and soil side is slimy and dark?
- Is the soil side of the grass being black? Is it kinda slimy as well?
- Can you wipe off the black residue with your fingers? Does it feel like soot?
- Is it black near the soil and does it smell like a rotten egg?
Do a Quick Sniff Test
All you have to do is grab a flap of sod and turn it upside down. Try to give a quick sniff. If it smells like a rotten egg or swampy water, it could indicate the fact that the roots of those grasses are low on oxygen. But if it smells like fresh grass, it means you are dealing with something different here. Leaf disease, heat damage or slime mold could be the culprit in that case. I know some people might feel the whole idea of sniffing grass repulsive but sometimes, you have to do what you have to do.
Overheating before installation
Freshly cut sod in most cases stays alive up to a certain point. You simply can’t leave it rolled up on your truck forever like a forgotten carpet in the sun. Because that would be the death sentence for the sod. Once left stacked on pallets for too long, heat starts building up and this internal heat can get hot enough to kill those delicate grass tissues before they can get the chance to touch the soil.
Signs you probably have pallet heat damage:
- Center of the stack has got darker hue compared to the outer edges.
- Flip the sod up, you will find it is darker underneath and sometimes, it might feel a little fermented.
- You will be able to pull the sod apart very easily. It clearly indicates that the sod has already started breaking down.
- Sometimes the rolls might feel a bit warmer.
What to do:
- Don’t start watering the sod because overwatering will not revive the dead grass.
- Try to keep the healthy pieces moist but don’t overdo it.
- If you have already identified the dead sod, remove it as soon as possible as dead mats tend to invite all sorts of trouble like insects, muggets or fungus.
Overwatering can make roots go dark
We get it. You have installed sod and we all know that your lawn needs water in order for the grass to survive and thrive. But what about the roots? You simply can’t forget about the roots and keep watering the lawn like crazy. Unlike what most people believe, roots need air as well.
Oxygen levels tend to tank massively if the soil stays saturated for far too long and it will eventually lead to issues like root rot. Eventually the sod base will turn black. This problem is quite prevalent in clay soils. You can encounter similar issues in those spots of your lawn where water pooling tends to take place every now and then. A compacted yard is another spot where you need to pay proper attention.
What to do:
- Avoid watering in the late evening. Try to water early in the morning.
- You should wait for the surface to dry out first before watering it again otherwise, it will lead to more trouble.
- Try to avoid double coverage at all costs.
Underwatering can still lead to dark patches
When the grass does not get enough water, it doesn’t turn straw brown all of a sudden instead, in some cases, those grass turns darker and slowly but surely, some patches will turn tan.
Signs of underwater stress on new sod:
- The edges of the sod will start getting curled, seams will start lifting and the sod will itself start feeling lighter.
- Crunchy texture
What to do:
- You need to make sure that you are watering enough and that the moisture is actually reaching the soil underneath and not the surface alone.
- If runoff takes place by any chance, you need to do a couple of short cycles back-to-back.
- The edges and the corner of the lawn should get the most attention because those places tend to get less water and they are also more likely to get dried out faster.
Fungus
Newly installed sod tends to have shorter roots and they tend to be watered more often and this is what creates the perfect environment for disease to grow and thrive. Greasy and water-soaked patches could be the early signs of Pythium blight in action. It all starts with dark patches; sometimes with dark borders, but it can grow very fast. Warm wet nights and high nitrogen levels in the soil can exacerbate the situation further.
Under shade, brown patches can appear a little darker. If you spot brown patches on sod, it could be the result of Rhizoctonia outbreak. Rhizoctonia is commonly associated with arcs and circle like patches.
Slime on the other hand might make you feel a little panicky but it is kinda harmless. Yeah, it looks disgusting but this slimy thing feeds on decaying organic material and not on live grass and that means, your lawn is perfectly safe. Just take a broom and dust it off.
