Question
1. If the lawn has been fertilized in August, can I still use Winterizer? When should I do this?
2. I put 4 pieces of sod on my lawn that had disease in it and one of the pieces just died. What should I do? The others do not look too good either. Can anyone tell me the steps in planting sod. Pls correct me if I am wrong

- buy the sod and soil
- rake out old grass, add soil then place sod
- water it immediately
- do not use fertilizer now
- water twice a day once in the morning and once in the evening until it takes root
- then go on a regular schedule
- fertilize after 4 weeks

Is this all correct? How long does it take for the sod to take root typically in Austin?

I have no idea about all this and just moved into a new home. I am so overwhelmed and am going crazy cause the nice lawn is now going bad!!!! Pls help!!! Thanks in advance.

Answer
Hi Nis;
When I put don sod, I fill in around it with a little soil, and scatter a little over the sod pieces, then water well.
Keep it watered until it has time to set.
You will see new growth when the roots set.
Keep watering deeply, to a depth of at least 6 inches, to develope a deep root system.
A deep root system protects against heat, cold and drought  damage, and prevents a thatch buildup.
For right now, that could be a fungus on the grass you bought.
You have a humid climate in Austin, so fungus is something to reckon with.
I don't recommend fertilizing with chemical fertilizers EVER!!!
They create problems, they do NOT solve them.
They are gardening artificially.
Much better to do it like God laid it out to work.
For every harmful insect that can be attracted to your yard, there are hundreds of beneficial ones that feed on the harmful ones, and improve your soil at the same time.
Fertilizers kill beneficial microbes that work round the clock, enriching your soil.
Weeds will not grow in rich soil, they like poor soil. Make rich soil, weeds will not thrive in your yard.
Make a healthy enviornment for the lawn critters like toads and lizards, and grass snakes, and they will eat all the larger harmful insects.
It is really so simple.
I used the chemicals for over 40 years before I tried organics, and I wouldn't go back to that stuff for anything in the world.
Besides having a weed free, insect free, and lush thick grassy lawn, my Asthma is 90% better, since I am not breathing in those poisons.

Haward Garrett has columns in most of the leading newspapers in Texas. He is a scientist as well as a horticulturist, and he is ,in my mind, the most authorative expert on gardening in the country.
He is certainly Texas' organic guru.
I bought a subscription to his website and I have learned so much more since I did that this spring.
I think it is $25.00 for a year's subscription. You get total access to the website, and there are a lot of videos on there, about different things, forums, and a monthly online magazine and a monthly snail mail magazine.
Go there and check it out.
You won't be sorry if you decide to join too.
Just what is on that site now is almost the equivilant of 2 years of college courses in organics.
Go to      
        www/dirtdoctor.com

Chack it out.
Charlotte       
PS.
There is a video on planting sod.
C