Should my new sod or lawn look this brown?

Some browning is normal in the weeks following sod installation. Sod needs time to root into the underlying soil, and during that period, blades may look stressed. Follow the watering schedule your contractor provided—usually daily watering for the first two weeks, tapering to every other day after roots take hold. If brown patches persist beyond a month, check for poor soil contact by lifting corners, or look for irrigation gaps. Insects and fungal diseases can also cause patchy decline, especially if sod stayed rolled too long before installation. Utah’s hot summers can trigger dormancy in new lawns if roots haven’t fully developed, but this often reverses once cooler weather returns. Document issues with photos and ask your landscaper for a site visit if sections don’t recover. Proper mowing height, watering depth, and early fertilization are critical to establishing strong sod. With care, initial browning should give way to healthy green growth.