Caring for Your New Sod Lawn

by Evergreen Turf

So, you have just installed a fresh new sod lawn. That's great! Now what do you do? Your Arizona sod lawn requires proper care, maintenance, and upkeep if you want to see it grow into the lush and healthy image you have in your head. These post-installation tips should help get you on your way to a happy lawn.

caring for your new sod lawn, gardening, how to, lawn care

Care Tips From O to 10 Days:

* Water for 2-3 times per day for 5-10. Mid-summer may require watering 4-5 times per day.

* Check your moisture level by pulling back the corner of the sod in several places across your lawn to ensure that the water is penetrating through the sod into the soil.

*Increase frequency or length of watering if your moisture tests reveal dry soil.

*Keep non-essential foot traffic off your lawn, and walk on it only to move the sprinklers and perform essential maintenance.

*Use a new lawn starter fertilizer before you install your sod

*Do not mow your lawn.

Care Tips From 10 to 21 Days:

* Water daily for 10-30 minutes to encourage root growth deep into the soil. (every sprinkler system is different)

* Perform moisture level checks frequently, but do not force the sod if it's difficult to pull up. Resistance means the lawn is rooting well. If it's easy to pull up, you may need to increase your watering.

* Cut the grass before watering, but do not go remove more than 30% of the leaf at one time. If you grass is 3 inches tall, don’t mow below 2 inches. If it is 1.5 inches, don’t mow below 1 inch.

* If your grass is too wet to cut, skip watering for a day to let the water absorb into the sod and soil, then check it again tomorrow. If it's dry, proceed with your normal mowing regimen.

* Do not fertilize your lawn.

Care Tips From 3 Weeks Going Forward:

* Cut the lawn as needed.

* Water two to three times per week, applying 1" of water weekly.

* Measure your irrigation by using a small container (such as a pie tin) right in the path of the sprinkler. Use this equation to compute your total water: Amount of water (in inches) x number of times you water weekly to total 1"

* Apply a balanced turf fertilizer 3:1:2) six weeks after installation using a rotary spreader.

* Avoid herbicides when it's hot and dry and wait until cooler temperatures are prevalent.

Enjoyed the project?

You can do it! Saved to your projects

Frequently asked questions

Have a question about this project?

Ask a Question

Top stories

Caring for Your New Sod Lawn

Enjoyed the project?

Frequently asked questions

Have a question about this project?

Comments

Join the conversation

Popular Project Book

Why Everyone is Using Hometalk Blue in Their Home

Popular Project Book

9 Dining Room Table Makeovers We Can't Stop Looking At

Other

More

Top stories

Caring for Your New Sod Lawn

Enjoyed the project?

Popular Project Book

Popular Project Book

Related DIY Projects