Question
Installed new sod march 2007.Three weeks later grass was being cut 2 to 3' ,weed wach.and edge.After alot of watering there seems to be big burned patches in my new sod.Is this called scalping and burned from cutting to short and to often

Answer
'Scalping' is the term we use when Grass is Mowed too short.

The number one rule in mowing is that you do not Mow off more than 1/3rd of the blade of your Grass.  If you have a St Augustine Lawn, it should be mowed down to 2 to 3 inches to be healthiest and thickest -- but not if it is already 5 inches tall.

A lot of people believe that mowing this low opens up the Grass to rays from the sun that are just too strong, too soon.  This is Baloney.

It's the loss of all that food- and energy-producing leaf tissue that hurts so bad when you Mow too much too soon.

Got that? You with me here, Vince?

What I think you have here is a Fungus problem, sir.

Sod becomes Fungus prone when people water a new installation, and then water some more, and more, and more.  The Grass never dries out.  The roots run out of air.  Fungus LOVES a juicy wet Grass blade, especially if you have a little shade.

Hold off on the watering and stop putting down Weed Killer (which wipes out microbes that keep bad Fungi in check).  Your Grass will recover.  Two inches in fine!