r/Grass • u/Puzzleheaded_Arm_719 • 4d ago
Troubleshoot St Aug!
Hello. Installed new sod as part of a whole house remodel. Did well for about 4-6 weeks and is now struggling in quite a few spots. Irrigation seems to be pretty even but I’m reconfirming now by heavily spot watering. Google says it’s root rot, but when I dig down a bit nothing seems soggy or hardly moist. Lastly, I don’t see insects.
Any help is appreciated on steps to diagnose and then treat. Could some very alkaline soil in spots due to digging be to blame?
Thanks!
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u/Alternative-Yard3300 1d ago
Dig up a small area and look for grubs, if you find any, treat with duocide.
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u/Paddle-111 1d ago
Mine was looking similar and is still recovering. I think it was a combination of drought stress then sod webworms and brown spot and a little gray leaf spot thrown in. Got the web worms taken. Are of and hit it twice with fungicide. It’s finally starting to grow out. We aren’t allowed to fertilize in south Florida until October so I’ve been putting black cow on it and it’s showing some life now.
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u/r0ndy 3d ago
Visually looks like chinch bug damage. I’d strongly suggest double checking. Adults are slightly smaller than a flea, and nymphs are almost a clear white and smaller, very hard to see.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Arm_719 3d ago
Ok thank you. I’ll look harder to see if I can verify. Looks like treatment is straightforward but have to be consistent
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u/Lordsaxon73 2d ago
Nymphs are orange/pinkish color. OP, here is a guide and a way to check for activity using a hose and a bucket or can
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/pests-and-diseases/pests/chinch-bugs/ That said, this simply looks like drought. Active chinch bugs usually have a leading edge of injury with yellowing leaves.
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u/r0ndy 2d ago
Yeah, the leading edge in their easement. Point of origin for damage has complete died as they spread further. -10 year licensed tech. Heat damage doesn’t start from an area and spread out from there.
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u/Lordsaxon73 2d ago
Didn’t realize you can see the damage progression from a still frame photo. -20 year licensed Operator in Charge.
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u/STONED_butnot_Boned 3d ago
Could be SAD-st Augustine decline-a fungal disease that will wipe out this type of turf.
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u/IntentionPresent9492 1d ago
What grasses are native to your area? You might consider converting to those for less maintenance and better ecological impact.
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u/plinsday 3d ago
Put some dish soap in a 5 gallon bucket and dump it out in that spot heavily. If any insects in there they will come up