St Augustine Experts

[Ellis]

I installed sod last spring in my back yard. Probably about a 1000 sq ft.

Question 1:
I thought I had the dirt pretty even before I laid the sod, but now I have low spots. Will it kill the grass underneath if I spread top soil over the low spots or will it grow through?

Question 2:
My back yard is fairly shaded. After all of the cool weather and rain last fall, my lawn suffered what I believe was root rot. There are half a dozen spots that are dead looking. Will these areas come back or do I need to replace the sod?

Thanks Braintrust!
Wayne

[KHo]

Good questions...after having a pool installed last fall, parts of my yard are "questionable". I will be following this thread - THANKS for posting.

[b.latiolais]

I have filled in holes with sand and the grass grows right back. Never tried with top soil.

[Chuey]

ill use sand instead of top soil to fill in spots.

[Ellis]

I have filled in holes with sand and the grass grows right back. Never tried with top soil.

I'm afraid sand would wash out after a good rain or two. Not a problem?

[Mike Murphey]

bank sand or top soil will work...rain is going to wash out either one if it happens.....just place enough soil (or bank sand) to cover the area to level it out...you might need to add more after the rain settles it....grass will soon take it over...but if you want a quicker grow over add plugs or mats of grass and keep it well watered for a couple of weeks until the roots start to grow into the soil, add some winterizer fertilizer, (slow release) to the grass you are adding....soon you will be mowing and wondering why you didn't add something else but grass.....

[Big_gun]

I have added bank sand to my yard but left maybe 1/2" of the grass poking through he top of the sand worked fine... keep doing that until you make low spots elsewhere ...haha

[Eric Pence]

1.Fill with sand thats how u fill in low spots because it does not clump together like Top soil when wet and will let water seep thru it

2.You have dead spots in your yard prob due to a fungus in the soil, u need to distribute peat moss evenly over the yard and this will repel the fungus and help ur Lawn Growth.

Had to treat my parents last spring.

[quarterback]

Don't panic yet. It's way too early to tell what your St. Augustine is gonna do. Give it some time after it starts greening up. Sure you don't have grub worms? Did you treat for them during the winter?

Fertilize it really well and see what that does. Good luck.

[Dirtymike]

1.Fill with sand thats how u fill in low spots because it does not clump together like Top soil when wet and will let water seep thru it

2.You have dead spots in your yard prob due to a fungus in the soil, u need to distribute peat moss evenly over the yard and this will repel the fungus and help ur Lawn Growth.

Had to treat my parents last spring.

I too think it is fungus. During spring and fall you have to watch out for Brown Patch fungus. Ways to help deal with it are cut right at 3 inchs. If you let it get to long it will hold moisture which invites fungus. Water in the morning. Before dawn is fine. Fungus needs 10 hrs of wetness to thrive. If you water at night or in the evening the yard is wet all night and the morning dew keeps it wet for a few hours more in the am. Wet is bad. Peat moss is one way to deal with it. You can also use fungicides. They are costly however. DO NOT FERTILIZE! If you fertilize the area you are having problems with fungus two things happen. You fertilize the fungus, and you can thicken up the grass to where it will hold too much moisture. You will only have this issue spring and fall. Cool wet condions. Every yard has the brown patch fungus. It is everywhere. Does not become a problem unless you provide it the perfect living condions and or you have new or sick sod. It is weaker. Spring and fall mow at three inchs, 3.5 in the summer and winter. The more grass you have on top the deeper the roots are in the soil. Also the more grass will protect the roots during super hot, and super cold aswell as pull water from deeper in the soil. In the long run your best bet is to use organic fertilizers. The chems are cheap and quick. I compare them to steroids. They work fast but when they are gone things go to **** quick. Use a mulching mower and top dress your lawn with dillo dirt in the spring. You will have a care free lawn in a year or two.

[quarterback]

OK what Dirtymike said. Sounds like he knows what he's talking about.

[rynolandscaping]

Instead of fungus, I would take a bulb planter and dig a few holes that are 8 - 12 inches apart. I bet you will find grubs there. If it is fungus, non-homogenized corn meal spread around the area will eradicate the fungus as well.

As for leveling, you can do one of two things - Sand (used on gold courses) or get a sod cutter or a sharp flat nosed shovel and cut this area out, add additional soil, then place sod back on area. It is important to cut at least 3/4 inch pad out of soil. Water ASAP. If you cannot put sod back same day, keep moist - DO NOT SATURATE, and let pad dissipate......

The other key to St. Augustine is to bag it when you cut it. The clippings will settle in the pad, and will also encourage mold/fungus to grow.

[junior]

DirtyMike, What is Dillo dirt?

[bigskinny]

I think you should wait also and see if it still looks dead after grass starts to green up. I have filled low spots with sand, topsoil, plain ol dirt, and grass came through.

[Ellis]

I too think it is fungus. During spring and fall you have to watch out for Brown Patch fungus. Ways to help deal with it are cut right at 3 inchs. If you let it get to long it will hold moisture which invites fungus. Water in the morning. Before dawn is fine. Fungus needs 10 hrs of wetness to thrive. If you water at night or in the evening the yard is wet all night and the morning dew keeps it wet for a few hours more in the am. Wet is bad. Peat moss is one way to deal with it. You can also use fungicides. They are costly however. DO NOT FERTILIZE! If you fertilize the area you are having problems with fungus two things happen. You fertilize the fungus, and you can thicken up the grass to where it will hold too much moisture. You will only have this issue spring and fall. Cool wet condions. Every yard has the brown patch fungus. It is everywhere. Does not become a problem unless you provide it the perfect living condions and or you have new or sick sod. It is weaker. Spring and fall mow at three inchs, 3.5 in the summer and winter. The more grass you have on top the deeper the roots are in the soil. Also the more grass will protect the roots during super hot, and super cold aswell as pull water from deeper in the soil. In the long run your best bet is to use organic fertilizers. The chems are cheap and quick. I compare them to steroids. They work fast but when they are gone things go to **** quick. Use a mulching mower and top dress your lawn with dillo dirt in the spring. You will have a care free lawn in a year or two.

I'm pretty sure the dead spots were a fungus. If figured brown patch or root rot. I applied a fungicide late fall and I think it stopped dead spots spreading. It was already going dormant though, so I am curious if it grows back. I'll wait a month or two to see if it turns green.
My back yard has a good bit of shade so I do mow the grass high and every 7-10 days during the growing season.
So Dillo Dirt is basically a compost? If I don't have access to it, a good quality compost or peat moss should suffice? Right?