How to treat new turf turning yellow?

KevinPlant

Hi everyone,

We recently laid new turf, but some areas are turning yellow/brown and staying quite wet (see photos).

These areas receive less sunlight, and trades have also been walking on them while working on our front brickwork.

Could this be caused by overwatering, lack of sunlight, foot traffic, or something else? What is the best way to help the turf recover?

Thanks for any advice.

JacobZ

Hi @KevinPlant,

How recently was the turf laid? Was it a couple of weeks? Or a couple of months?

What sort of care has the turf been given since being laid? Was it watered daily?

The areas you've highlighted could certainly be affected by a combination of factors. Reduced sunlight can slow growth and keep the soil wetter for longer, while repeated foot traffic from trades can compact the soil and damage the young turf before it has had a chance to properly establish.

When new turf is installed, the main priority is encouraging it to establish a strong root system. During the first few weeks, regular watering is typically required to keep the turf and underlying soil moist while the roots knit into the ground. It's also important to minimise traffic on the lawn during this period, as the roots are still quite shallow and vulnerable to damage.

The fact that these areas are remaining quite wet is also worth noting. Turf roots need both moisture and oxygen, so if the soil stays saturated for extended periods, it can stress the grass and lead to yellowing or browning. Areas that receive less sunlight tend to dry out more slowly, which can compound the issue and make it harder for the turf to establish healthy roots.

For now, I'd recommend keeping people off the affected areas as much as possible, continuing to water appropriately for newly laid turf, and trying to maximise the amount of sunlight reaching those sections if that's practical. You may also want to check whether water is pooling in those spots and consider aerating the soil if water is pooling.

Unfortunately, if the roots have not been able to establish, then there is a chance these sections will not recover, which would mean cutting them out and laying new turf.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob