If you want to have a lovely, lush lawn, you may want to consider adding sod to your landscaping. Sod installation is an investment into your home, so proper care and maintenance are crucial. When you choose to install new sod on your lawn, you want to make sure you take care of it to ensure it flourishes.
The following are some commonly asked questions about how to properly care for your new sod.
Should You Water the Lawn to Prepare for the New Sod?
You might think you should water your existing lawn to prepare for the sod installation. However, you should avoid doing so. Watering before you install new sod can have a negative impact on the new sod. The new sod is more difficult to install when the ground is muddy or overly moist.
When Should You Water Your New Sod?
Regular watering is essential to keeping your new sod strong and healthy. Proper watering ensures the sod develops a strong root system. If the weather is warm, you should water the sod daily to keep the sod from drying out. As you water, be sure the sod remains moist to the touch for at least the first couple of weeks after installation.
When Does New Sod Take Root?
New sod should root the 10th day after it is installed at the earliest. At this point, you could mow the sod for the first time. You should mow using the highest setting on your lawnmower so you do not cut too close to the roots. You are not required to mow your lawn at this point, but you can if you choose to do so.
Try not to water your sod right before you mow. Also, avoid walking too often on your new sod for the first couple of weeks, as the pressure can hurt the developing roots. Also, keep your pets off the new sod as much as possible until the sod has successfully rooted.
Should You Add Fertilizer to Your New Sod?
You should definitely plan to fertilize your new sod. Fertilizer helps create a healthy root system to keep your lawn looking nice and healthy for a long time. Liquid fertilizer is best because the liquid can better reach the root system of the sod.
To allow the fertilizer better access to the roots beneath the ground, consider aerating the lawn within the first year of installation. You should then aerate the law a few times a year after installation.
The goal of aeration is to create small holes in the soil. The small holes provide access for water and fertilizer to reach the roots of the sod. Aeration helps keep the sod green and lush. When you aerate the lawn regularly, you also prevent soil compaction. When the soil is compacted, it cannot get adequate nutrients and moisture.
Should You Use a Lawn Roller?
You can use a lawn roller to help your new sod root. After the installation, roll each section of sod to help each piece reach the soil as closely as possible. This allows the moisture to get beneath the sod to help the root system become established and the grass thrives.
Sod installation is a serious investment in your home, so you should do everything you can to help the grass properly establish itself. Knowing how to best care for your new sod is crucial to the success of your new lawn. if you have any questions about new sod installation or you would like to discuss installing sod in your lawn, please contact us at
Novasack Turf Farms.
