Essential New Sod Care and Maintenance Advice

The cost of new sod installation is a significant upfront investment for your home. However, it is one that will deliver a strong return, if you care for it properly. To avoid damaging your new sod, it is imperative that you understand how to care for it, treat it, and maintain it regularly, especially during those delicate first few weeks after installation.

Tips for New Sod Care and Maintenance

Immediately after your sod installation, you need to follow a step by step to-do list. You must know how to properly water, mow, and fertilize so that your sod has time to take root and become a strong piece of your yard.

• Water the Sod Correctly – New sod watering is not the same as existing lawns. In fact, improper watering is the most common reason new sod does not take root properly. During the initial days post-installation, you need the first few inches of sod thoroughly saturated with water. Thereafter, you must keep it moist until the roots have attached. Typically, this equates to 30 minutes to 1 hour of sprinkling per day. Once your sod takes root, you can reduce watering to an inch of water per week. If you notice that your new sod is turning yellow, you may be watering it too much, so you can slowly decrease the amount of water.
• Avoid Stressing the Sod – Walking on new sod is a big no-no. This stresses the new sod. Instead, keep feet off the sod until you are ready for the first mowing – approximately two weeks after installation.
• Fertilize Properly – You will do a start fertilizer under the sod upon installation, but once that is done, you must wait a few months before fertilizing to avoid stressing the sod.
• Keep an Eye Out for Disease – New sod is susceptible to disease. If you notice your new sod is turning gray, it may have contracted a fungus. Use an organic fungicide or contact your installation company for recommendations based on the type of sod you have installed.
• Mowing Your Sod – Mowing new sod is done with care, and typically not done until two weeks after installation. Mow it once the sod reaches approximately 4 inches or higher, but do not cut more than a half inch per mow session.

How Long Does it Take for Sod to Take Root?

The process takes anywhere from 2 weeks and up to 6 weeks. Shallow roots occur at the 2-week mark, but for full root establishment, your sod takes up to 6 weeks. By 6 weeks you should have deep roots established. However, if you ignore the sod care and maintenance, it may take longer for your roots to establish.

Hire a Professional for Sod Care and Maintenance

New sod care must be done the right way. The roots are very delicate, and too much water, fertilizer, or harsh treatment could cause irreversible damage.

Therefore, hire the professionals from Greenbloom to not only perform the sod installation but the care and maintenance post-installation too. Our experts will come out to your home and ensure your sod is watered properly, mowed when necessary, and takes root as it should.

Learn more about our sod installation and care services by contacting the team at Greenbloom. You can also call us at 647-500-5263.