Question
Hi.  We live in central California.  We just bought fescue grass sod and laid them in our backyard.  It looked great, but a few days later, there's dead spots.  I'm trying to figure out whether I overwatered the grass -- it appears the grass thins, then turns yellow/brown, then it turns rotten.  I've been watering the grass once a day.  I've been told it's ok to overwater, to "drown" the grass ... especially during the hot summers here.  How do I tell if it's overwatering?  If it's not overwatering, what's the problem?

Answer
Whoever told you it's okay to drown the grass is sorely misinformed.  Watering, like anything else in plant management is a balancing act.  Too much can be even more destructive than not enough.  If you don't water, usually the grass will simply go dormant, then bounce back again when the weather is better.  If you overwater, many destructive diseases can ruin the lawn.

It definitely sounds as if you've overwatered, and encouraged fungal disease development.  If the roots of the sod have already taken (which I assume they have), then stop watering and let the grass dry out completely for a week to two weeks.  Then resume a more moderate watering schedule.  Usually 3X per week deep waterings is plenty.  This way, water gets down to the root system, but the surface (where most diseases occur) doesn't stay wet too long.

Good luck Will.

-C.J. Brown
www.TheLawnCoach.com