Post Installation Care
Post Installation Care
You Have Freshly Installed Sod. Now What?
Water, Water, Water
- Sod's greatest need after installation is water. Water as quickly as possible even if that means that you lay a little then water then lay some more. Never let sod sit without water. Generally for no more than 30 minutes. Exactly how quickly varies with weather conditions.
- How much water? In the first 24 hours, you cannot over-water. You should water until the soil is completely saturated beneath the sod. For small projects, this is pretty easy. For larger yards, you may have to move multiple sprinklers around regularly to make sure all areas are being watered often.
- How often to water? We recommend watering each area for 45 min at a time at least 3 times per day for the first few days. At that point, you can go to 2 times per day for the next week. After that, water as needed to keep the ground soft and damp. Current weather conditions will determine how much water is needed.
- Don't depend on mother nature to water for you. Many times it is tempting to wait on a forecasted rain but that is risky business. Many times the forecast is wrong. We recommend watering until it is actually raining. When it does rain, just consider that one watering.
- Pro Tip-While watering so heavily, sometimes the grass can get matted down which may lead to dead spots. We recommend keeping the grass fluffed up by using a leaf blower. This can make a huge difference.
- When to start mowing. After being cut and installed, sod grass tends to be in shock and will not produce top growth until it begins to root. Depending on the season, 2-4 weeks. We recommend waiting until it is substantially grown and obviously needs mowing. At this point, you will need to ease off on watering and take great care while mowing not to turn too sharply. If possible, push mowing is recommended the first few times.
Long Term Care
Watering your lawn during dry weather is key. Especially in the first year. Keep moisture in the soil. A watering schedule is recommended. If you begin watering when the grass looks dry, the damage is already being done.
Lawn Treatment
We recommend starting the lawn on a treatment plan with a professional lawn service. They will treat the lawn for weeds and apply fertilizer. Your lawn will do best with multiple feedings throughout the year rather than when it appears to need it. Treatments can begin after the lawn is well-rooted.
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