Question
QUESTION: C.J, I saw your 10+ rating and hope you can answer my problem?? Cj,I live in Orlando Fla and sodded my yard with St Augustine about 2.5 months now.As you are aware we have had a flood of rain and i haven't had to run my sprinklers in quite a while.I just mowed it for the 2nd time now and also have had a few Insect or Fungas problems and just cant afford a monthly lawn service at this time.About a month ago I had an area really browning out and asked a landscaper going by and he said looks like chinch bugs so I got me a bag of scotts summerguard with insect control?Its still sort  of bare where the problem was but it never got to the rest of the yard.CJ,I mowed today and now I have 2 spots,Round about 4" in diam and outside circle grass is yellow.I can barely touch the leaf and it pulls right out.I also raked it with my fingers and get alot of black grass clippings?I also applied scotts fungus about 2 weeks ago.I am also seeing quite a few little mushrooms in the morning and white crystals on some of the blades where the circle is ???

ANSWER: Without looking at it on site, I cannot give you a positive diagnosis, but it does sound fungal.

All I can tell you is that you need to let the grass dry out thoroughly.  This'll be tough if the rains don't let up, but definitely do not water under any circumstances until the grass seems on it's last leg from drought stress. It may appear as though you're causing more harm than good, but I assure you that is not the case.

Once the grass is all dried out, resume a normal watering schedule & a good percentage of it should bounce back.

If the rains don't ease up, you'll likely have some damage. It isn't the end of the world though.  You just may have to buy some patches of sod to fill in those dead areas.

Good luck.

-C.J. Brown
www.thelawncoach.com

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QUESTION: Cj,Sorry to Trouble you again but other then the Scotts Insect,Scotts Fungas,I have not applied any normal fertilizer or weed and feed??Should I get some and fertilize or just let things be for now??I realize if I apply fertilizer I'll  have to water it in and this is just more water to possibly cause more fungas??Forgot to ask you in last question.Thank You

Answer
I wouldn't in this case.  Many fungal diseases thrive under wet, fertile conditions.  You could well be feeding the disease which would counteract any benefits to the lawn.  Just wait until it has undergone a thorough drying cycle.  Then you can assess what needs to be done to rebuild.