Is this grass normal for a new home? Is this grass normal for a new home? - Talk of The Villages Florida

Is this grass normal for a new home?

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  #1  
Old 06-29-2025, 07:32 PM
Joecooool Joecooool is offline
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Default Is this grass normal for a new home?

New build, moved in April 1st. They told us the splotchyness would go away with water, but clearly it hasn't. It looks like two different species of grass were used.

https://imgur.com/iUVnlye.jpg

My neighbor's yards look fine.

I am on the new Street of Dreams - this isn't normal, right?
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Old 06-29-2025, 07:34 PM
Joecooool Joecooool is offline
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More pictures -

https://imgur.com/gNiQ4tn.jpg

https://imgur.com/ANyFNOE.jpg

https://imgur.com/MYvOwLw.jpg
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Old 06-29-2025, 08:28 PM
CarlR33 CarlR33 is offline
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Before others ask how much water are you putting on it with sprinklers? It was a very dry spring and if your not watering same as neighbor then not a comparison to their yard.
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Old 06-29-2025, 09:07 PM
Pondboy Pondboy is offline
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Could be a few things…..water - too much or too little. Or, it was never fertilized after install.
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Old 06-30-2025, 02:12 AM
Whatnext Whatnext is offline
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I would take up a sod from a bad area, and a good area, and see what the soil/sand depth is under grass. Builders often use sod area as a dump for waste.
If condition are same under both areas, and looking at photos, your grass seems to be growing OK, fertilizer, or lack of, in different areas, could be the problem. JMO.
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Old 06-30-2025, 04:09 AM
Michigan Farmer Michigan Farmer is offline
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Looks like a fertilizer issue to me (nitrogen). You can have a soil sample taken but the university does't check for nitrogen levels.
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Old 06-30-2025, 06:16 AM
Altavia Altavia is offline
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I'd try a low nitrogen fertilizer with micronutrients like this.

50 Pound Bag - Lesco 8-2-12-4 — Fertilizer Direct
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Old 06-30-2025, 07:10 AM
Pondboy Pondboy is offline
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If it is lack of fertilizer, please be sure to use a “slow or timed release” fertilizer. We’re in the rainy season and your lot backs up to a pond.

Fertilizer runoff is the main reason why ponds in Florida get algae blooms. There are a number of counties in the state that actually ban the use of lawn fertilizer this time of year, due to it being such an issue.
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Old 06-30-2025, 08:43 AM
Joecooool Joecooool is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CarlR33 View Post
Before others ask how much water are you putting on it with sprinklers? It was a very dry spring and if your not watering same as neighbor then not a comparison to their yard.
Each of the sprinkler zones is set to 40 minutes, four times a week.

Plus its been raining for more than a month.
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Old 06-30-2025, 09:02 AM
bagboy bagboy is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joecooool View Post
Each of the sprinkler zones is set to 40 minutes, four times a week.

Plus its been raining for more than a month.
Sure sounds like alot of water. I'm no expert but, if it were my lawn I would back off the water.
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Old 06-30-2025, 09:19 AM
Altavia Altavia is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bagboy View Post
Sure sounds like alot of water. I'm no expert but, if it were my lawn I would back off the water.
Agree, 3 times a week is enough in that area.

Installing a wifi irrigation controller makes it easy to delay the irrigation a few days when we have rain.
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Old 06-30-2025, 09:24 AM
dougjb dougjb is offline
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I remember thinking when I closed on my new Villages home that the lawn looked absolutely awful. For that matter, so did the lawns of almost every one of the new homes in my neighborhood!

Lawns are always a challenge in Florida. I remember that from my childhood days in South Florida. But, for the developer to put in such poor lawns on new homes, I thought, did not reflect well upon the developer....despite otherwise nicely put together homes.

All that means is that the developer bought sod from sod farms that were less than decent. Not everything in a new house is going to be top notch! So, I just lived with it...and still do. The spotty lawn that existed at my house is still a challenge to make perfect. The lawn companies here are also pretty shoddy. They get great prices for so-so work. To do it myself requires more work than I can do at my age. But, do it I must...if I am to have a proper looking lawn!
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Old 06-30-2025, 10:16 AM
CarlR33 CarlR33 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bagboy View Post
Sure sounds like alot of water. I'm no expert but, if it were my lawn I would back off the water.
Yes, that is a lot. You must not got your first waster bill yet? Two and maybe three times in the dry season at 40 minutes. I’m at every three days but with smart irrigation and rain wick it has not watered for several days now.
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Old 06-30-2025, 11:48 AM
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You are probably using 2 or 3 more water than I am, you may want to have a lawn company look over your lawn. I have used Deans for many years and am happy with the results, some require a yearly contract which I would avoid.
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Old 06-30-2025, 11:49 AM
margaretmattson margaretmattson is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CarlR33 View Post
Yes, that is a lot. You must not got your first waster bill yet? Two and maybe three times in the dry season at 40 minutes. I’m at every three days but with smart irrigation and rain wick it has not watered for several days now.
Before you mess with it, it is under warranty. Call and have someone in that dept look at it. They may replace for free. If you do something to it and find a major issue, warranty may say it is your fault and will refuse to fix. Best idea is to call them first.
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