So is it damp like that because you had just watered or is it like that because of poor drainage? Very few grasses will tolerate poor drainage. Just given the oppressive heat lately, and because it is new sod, I'd probably apply a fungicide. Getting the watering right is pretty tricky right now--I certainly don't envy you.

Didn't water yesterday. Just checked same area and it's still damp. Sunny and 81 today.
Don't think we've had any rain in about 10 days. Although lots of morning dew so grass is always wet in mornings. And thinking it's not poor drainage as area actually slopes down so if anything water would run away from the area.

The frequent watering necessary for new sod and warm/hot temperatures are an ideal recipe for fungal issues. I'd recommend a fungicide as well.

Has it rooted through the rest of it? It might be time to back off even a bit more on the watering to discourage disease growth a little as well. If you can, realizing that you're right at the worst moment of the year to try to do that as it's also the hottest point on new sod...

I'd go ahead and use a wide-spectrum fungicide, of course, like DiseaseEx or the like. Something that'll also get the grass shielded against disease for a little bit.

I also wouldn't object to use of Serenade as a protectant for the rest of the season. Then discontinue, that stuff's a bit pricey even though it works absolute miracles.

Wife is picking up DiseaseEx at Lowe's on her way home. And I'm going to pick up the Serenade concentration on Amazon. You mentioned for the rest of the season. How often do you apply Serenade?

I'll apply DiseaseEx to the entire area of sod. However would you recommend Serenade against the entire area that we put the new sod down? Or just brown, damp areas. My guess it has/will/may spread to other areas.

I appreciate all the responses.

Check the bottle, but I think it's every 2 weeks if you want. I don't think you're going to require that, just during the current hot period while you're watering all the time--and not even all of that.

I fully expect the DiseaseEx followed by 1 shot of Serenade is going to both take care of the problem and inject the bacteria necessary to suppress out the disease for quite a while, long enough for you to get the issue done. Serenade keeps, so that's not going to be a problem.

I'd spray across the lawn the first time to assure that the bacteria (and DiseaseEx) is everywhere. Even though you can't see the disease, it's also everywhere. Waiting.

Appreciate all of the helpful comments. DiseaseEx was dropped last night and waiting on Serenade which I'll start on arrival.

Can't believe how hot and dry it's been for us Adirondack/North Country folks. Another 2 more days of 90's tomorrow and Thursday with only slight chance of an isolated shower which decrease as the day goes. Normally we are begging for the rain to hold off so we can get in our Little League season. Unfortunately our season was pushed back so we just started tryouts yesterday but looking back at May and June weather, no more than 5-6 days of rain. Would have been great for baseball season but really bad for the fields and my lawn.

Thanks again I'll post update soon.

Area where I put down the new sod is looking really good as you can see in first two photos. I put down the DiseaseEx and followed up with my 3rd application of fungicide yesterday. I'm scheduled to fertilize this weekend (8/15). I fertilize with soy bean meal. Yard is really healthy right now. June, July and beginning of August has been really hot and dry but I keep up with watering trying to get 1 inch a week. Last week however the tropical storm came through and we got almost 4 inches of rain on Tuesday and today we got another strong storm and probably another 3/4 inch of rain.

Several of you offered up helpful comments so I at least wanted to give you an update. Thanks again and hope everyone is safe and healthy.

Awesome! I'm glad everything worked out and the lawn looks great. Yep, it's time for a good (organic) feeding if you have one and your sod is going to be very hungry all fall, so you can drop monthly right up to October 1 if you want and if it's warm enough to be out. The long-range says it should be, but...

In mid-late October or November, give it a good synthetic fertilizer whenever your last mow is to get it through the winter and encourage it to get up early next spring. It won't interact with the organics, and any organics that are left next spring will keep decaying at that point at a really low level.

Then feed well in late May with whatever you want after the spring flush of growth is long over and you'll be set for summer.

While watering next summer is technically optional...I would, at least enough to keep it out of full dormancy. That lawn is kind of young. You don't have to go into hysterics about it, just try to keep it from looking like a hay field. If it's patchy hay, that's fine.

Basically, something that looked like mine this summer would be more than sufficient--heavily stressed, but kind of awake. You can actually go considerably further than this and let more slide dormant if you wish.