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Sod Fails Repeatedly: Fungus, pH, or Watering?

Marta has resodded 350 sq ft five times. Each time, grass dies in 6–10 days with brown patches and thinning. Everything else in the yard thrives.

Likely Culprits

Fungus: New sod kept "muddy" (overwatered) invites Pythium, Rhizoctonia, etc. Water to keep moist, not saturated.
pH: Test soil—target 6.0–7.0.
Grass type vs. site: Is the sod variety suited to your sun/shade?

Immediate Action

Apply a broad-spectrum lawn fungicide now (check local garden center for approved products). Verify watering: frequent light irrigation for 2–3 weeks until roots knit, then transition to deep, infrequent watering.

If it fails again: Send a soil/turf sample to a lab. But start with fungicide and pH correction.

Soil Issues: Revitalizing Raised Bed Soil: Organic Matter, pH Adjustment, and Green Manure; Fairy Ring in Lawns: Mycelium Mats Block Water and Require Aeration Plus Fungicide; Topsoil Selection for Floratam St. Augustine on Clay; Why Grass Dies Over Septic Drain Lines: Causes and Fixes; Managing Spongy Bermuda Lawn on Sandy Soil; Controlling Moss in a Virginia Lawn with Trees; Fixing Sod Laid Over Clay Without Tilling: Short- and Long-Term Solutions; Why You Should Remove Grass Before Adding Soil to a Bed; Fixing Fescue Failure in Clay Soil Under Oaks; Diagnosing Dead Spots in Zoysia Lawn: Compaction and Drainage

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