Question
QUESTION: Hi, I live in Northwest Arkansas.  I had Bermudagrass sod laid down in my front yard in Dec. of 2006--it started out beautifully in the spring, but then, it started to get brown spots near the edges.  The brown is now a general color all over my lawn.  I want to save my grass and I don't want to use chemicals, necessarily.  
What should I do?
Thanks

ANSWER: Please see the photo of Brown Patch, Gray Leaf Spot, Leaf Spot and Nematodes at this website and tell me, Eileen, if you see anywhere here a picture of YOUR Lawn:

http://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/pubs/pathol/ag360.html

There are many diseases that strike Bermudagrass Lawns.  There's even one called 'Bermudagrass Decline':

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/turf/publications/Bermdecline.ht

This time of year, your brand new Bermudagrass Lawn ought to be the talk of the town.  This was no cheap fix you used.  I feel your pain.

Can you tell me why you put down Sod?  Do you have any idea how the bed was prepared before the Sod went down?

There are many solutions, depending on which problem is yours.  If you can perhaps select a photo that COULD be the one you grow, please note the weather conditions and time of year. Or you can perhaps tell me how the weather has been since your Grass began turning colors.

And then we can solve your problem, Intelligently.  rsvp


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: My grass looks like the pix with the brown circles--they are more than 24" across, though.  The grass nearer the house is different from the grass way out in front.  Nearer the house, it is about 30-50% brown blades mixed with the green blades.
Yes, I can tell you how the bed was prepared...  I had a load of topsoil delivered and spread over the dirt that was on the ground.  The dirt came from where my contractor cleared an area for my house to go, so the dirt wasn't rich with nutrients for the grass:-(  I put the sod down because I have a bad knee and I had a big dog who had to go out to use the bathroom.  I couldn't walk him and it was getting so muddy in my house that I couldn't stand it anymore...
The weather conditions here have been in the 80's with some 90's, and a LOT of rain.  Cooler temps and more rain than normal.
Thank you for your help with this problem.  Coincidentally, I was born on Long Island, NY!!
Eileen

Answer
Bipolaris cynodontus (formerly Helminthosporium) ('Leaf Spot') or the ascomycete fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis ('Bermudagrass Decline') are the most likely Fungus problems to strike your Grass right now, my friend.

Given that you had an expensive new Lawn, I am guessing you took very good care of it.  You watered it carefully every day to keep it moist and healthy (per the instructions even of the Sod Guys who laid it out, yes?).  Please confirm, yes or no.  Reason being, all that water is the 'ON' switch for pathogenic Fungi that can and will destroy your beautiful Grass if they have the chance.

From your description, I would guess it is probably Bermudagrass Decline, which strikes weakened Grass -- alas, Sod is 'weakened Grass'.

The Texas Cooperative Extension tells you all about Bermudagrass Decline at its website, pointing out,
'Initial symptoms of bermudagrass decline include chlorotic patches of turf 8- to 24-inches in diameter. The turf thins out and may eventually be completely killed in these patches. Chlorotic leaf blades may develop next to green shoots at the margins of the diseased area.'

You can read the whole essay here:

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/turf/publications/Bermdecline.ht

Please go out and check the roots of some of those hurting Grasses.  Because as they also say: 'Roots of diseased bermudagrass are brown and without feeder roots and root hairs. Signs of the fungus on the root surface appear as dark brown hypal runners.'

To completely rule out insects, would you please walk across your Lawn and make sure you don't see any Leafhoppers or, if you check underneath in the GREEN areas make sure there is no great collection of Grubs under the roots?  A few Leafhoppers or Grubs is NOT a problem.  Many, though, could explain everything.  This is something to be concerned about if you did NOT have excessive amounts of moisture that would feed a Fungus colony.  But as you noted, you had a LOT of rain, and the cool weather narrows down the list to a nice short one.

Where in Long Island are you from, Eileen?

My sister is named Eileen.  You had me nervous for a few minutes... until I realized you are not living in Chicago.  She has been remarried so many times I have lost track of all her last names.

rsvp