A lush, green lawn is the pride of any homeowner, but seeing newly installed sod turn brown can be disheartening. It’s frustrating to invest time and money into achieving the perfect yard, only to have it marred by unsightly brown patches.

Bad growing circumstances, lack of irrigation and other factors cause new sod to turn brown. However, before you panic and assume that all is lost, it’s essential to understand that new sod turning brown is not necessarily a sign of failure.

In this post, we will explore some of the most common causes of new sod turning brown, and what steps you can take to prevent or remedy the problem.

What Causes New Sod Turning Brown or Brown Spots?

New lawns are covered in brown blotches as the cooler spring days give way to the sweltering summer ones. It’s simple to fix this! 

Brown spots are typically brought on by a lack of irrigation. Because of its thin root system, new sod is especially prone to drying out. Sod that has dried out and gone through drought shock develops brown patches. 

To cope with the water shortage it is suffering, the sod will enter a dormant state. It needs water to stay alive after going dormant. Because they are exposed to the wet air, the edges of the sod frequently dry out first. There are many reasons why sod spots, but the majority of them are related to how water is distributed throughout the yard.

Your lawn’s grade may have dips and valleys, which might lead to irregular watering patterns. It may be sufficient to cause them to turn brown if some areas receive less water, even a tiny bit less.

6 Ways to Revive New Sod Turning Brown 

Save your new sod as soon as possible if it has turned into a brown lawn. Your sod could perish if you don’t act quickly. 

Sod cannot be brought back to life once it has totally expired. You will be left with a lawn that is entirely made up of dead grass. 

Use the advice below to know the reasons for new sod turning brown. To also stop this waste and save money by not having to re-sod your grass. They will turn your weak sod into thriving grass.

1. Assess the Root Development of Your Sod

Check your sod first to determine if it has sunk roots into the ground. Start by grasping one corner of a single piece of sod and gently trying to lift it off the ground. If the sod comes up readily, it has not been able to take root. This suggests you have some major work to do. If the sod won’t come up easily, it’s only starting to root and needs some extra attention.

Take hold of a piece of sod in the corner and gently tug to see if it comes up without difficulty. The sod has not taken root if it does not resist being pulled up. To save your sod, the topsoil must be improved. The sod has started to take root when it feels “tacked down.” Don’t spook it. Your sod probably needs water.

To determine where the sod is having trouble, test it out in several yard areas.

Check several pieces of sod in various parts of your lawn to see if it has started to develop roots. Some places may have better sod germination than others. Pay attention to the brown areas of your grass to see whether a lack of root growth is the issue. 

The next two suggestions are meant to aid in the germination and greening of your fresh sod.

2. Loosen the Topsoil

If the roots of your sod have not yet started to take hold, you must loosen the soil. To accomplish this, pick out the sod fragments that haven’t taken root and place them on a pallet or paved area for later use. 

After that, loosen the soil to a depth of 6 inches with a rototiller, shovel, hoe, or rake. (15 cm). Additionally, now is the ideal time to incorporate compost or fertilizer into the loosening soil.

• All sod that hasn’t taken root should be removed and stacked on a pallet or your driveway.
• 6 inches of the earth must be worked into the ground where the sod was placed. (15 cm).
• If you haven’t done so in the last three months, add compost or fertilizer to the soil.
• Roll the soil and level it using a lawn roller.

3. Replant Sod That Didn’t Take Root

It’s time to replace the sod after you’ve worked the area where it failed to take root in the soil. On top of the newly loosening dirt, reinstall the sod. But your work isn’t finished yet. 

Between sod and the ground below, an air pocket may develop. The roots are unable to make contact with the soil as a result of this drying. Therefore, use a lawn roller to press your sod into place when it has been reinstalled. 

As a result, the roots will be certain to make touch with the soil, allowing for fast development and lush grass.

4. Set Your Sod Above the Soil You Loosened and Rolled.

To ensure good sod-to-soil contact once your sod has been laid, roll over the sod with a lawn roller.

To correctly press the sod to the earth, push or tow the lawn roller over the sod in a north-south pattern, then an east-west pattern. A struggling sod can take root and green up more quickly with adequate soil contact.

Use a lawn roller that is one-third full of water or sand to roll your sod. North-south motions are followed by an east-west motion as you roll across the sod. This will allow your sod to make soil contact and grow healthily again.

5. Ample Water Should Be Available

Lack of water is one of the main causes of browning sod. Water your sod twice daily for at least two weeks to help it regreen. 

Early in the morning, water once; then, in the late afternoon, water once more. Ten minutes should be allotted for each watering session. 

Check to see if your sod is starting to take root after two weeks of following this program. If so, progressively cut back on watering to once daily and then, if your sod is well established and totally green, to twice weekly.

• To help brown sod turn green, water it twice daily.
• Ten minutes of water in the morning and ten minutes in the late afternoon.
• For two weeks, keep up this twice-daily watering routine.
• Your sod should start to noticeably green up after two weeks.

New sod dries up quite rapidly, so it needs to be watered several times per day. Thin sod pieces can be easily dried out by sunlight and mild temperatures, resulting in dead grass and brown grass. The sod requires continuous watering to keep green until it forms roots that reach far into the earth.

6. Keep Off the Grass

Avoid walking or mowing on brown sod when you want it to become green. Pets must be kept off of the lawn as well. Pet pee and excrement can also destroy sod, resulting in dead, brown areas of grass in addition to foot traffic from animals. 

You shouldn’t walk on or mow your sod until it is 4-5 inches (10-13 cm) tall, green, and well-rooted.

• For 2-4 weeks as you try to revitalize your sod, don’t drive, stroll, or let dogs on it.
• Dead grass can result from even minimal pet activity and mild foot movement.
• Treat brown sod with extreme caution because it needs special care and needs time to green up.

How Much Time Does Brown Sod Take to Turn Green?

Brown sod can start to restore its color within 1-2 weeks with the right treatment. You can give your struggling sod a chance if your soil is properly prepared, the sod is planted correctly, it receives twice-daily watering, and you don’t walk on the sod. 

Be patient and persistent with the sod-saving approach for at least two weeks before expecting immediate benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Can Brown Sod Be Saved?

Even though the sod you buy for your yard could be dormant and brown, it can still be placed as soon as possible. 

You may effectively lay sod on your lawn with the right upkeep, irrigation, and soil care, which will become a lovely green when the dormant season is over.

Why is the Color of My One-Month-Old Sod Brown?

Possibly Lawn Disease Caused by Brown Spots in New Sod. As it becomes established, your new sod receives a lot of water, and that additional moisture might make it vulnerable to the fungus that forms brown patches in your new sod.

Conclusion 

If you notice brown grass in your fresh sod, take immediate action by following the above tips. Sod will eventually perish if it struggles for too long. You can save your entire lawn by acting as soon as the sod starts to struggle.

It’s crucial to understand that dead grass cannot be revived. Your sod can be saved and transformed back to a brilliant, green color in only a few weeks if it has started to turn brown but has not yet completely died. 

But entirely dead sod will never regenerate its green color. Dead sod needs to be removed and replanted.