Wow!--What happened!--Looks like it could be an excessively hot sun or dryness. It will recuperate given better conditions.

Hoping to revive this thread. My sago, in the ground near our koi pond, has gradually turned completely yellow and brown. I am afraid I have killed it either with too much water or too much hot summer sun exposure? Or maybe it was planting it too deeply? I am trying to study what could be wrong and how to fix it but I'm reading from some that say 'give it full sun' and others that say, 'it needs shade from direct sun' and some say it may have root rot while others say don't throw it out, just transplant . ... I'm confused! Help!

It doesn't need protection from full sun where you are.
It could be planted too deep. They do need good drainage, so check on that. If you're concerned about root rot, I'd take it out of the pot and look at the roots.
Are you fertilizing it? I'd give it something like cileated palm nutritional or at least some epsom salt. Both add magnesium sulfate and manganese.
I've had sagos that looked worse and came through just fine.
Barb

Thank you for your advice. I may try to move it as the soil does stay pretty moist beside the pond. And i have given it a feeding of regular 10/10/10 but may try some Epsom salt first and if that doesn't revive it, I will buy some special feeding. Thank you again.