Question
We recently lost the majority of our grass to fungus and chinch bugs. The man who came to look at our yard said we needed to take all of the grass out and re-lay the sod     (St. Augustine) Well to save money we painstakingly removed the grass in our front yard by ourselves, only to have everyone but the people who sell sod tell us that it's too late to put new grass down. We live in Charleston,SC. Do we have to live with a dirt yard til spring, or is there still a good chance the sod would take hold before cold weather?

Answer
You know, this is actually a new one on me.  You're definitely in the northern edge of where St. Augustine would be practical, so these concerns seem legitimate.

That said, I would go back to the sod sellers and request some sort of guarantee.  Be ready that they'll want you to show proof that you've watered.  Also, I'd call around to every other sod farm you can find to ask their opinion.  The local St. Augustine sod sellers in your area would know better than I would.

I honestly think you'll be fine, but definitely make a few calls to other people who directly know about sod.

Good luck.

-C.J. Brown