When Is It Time to Mow a New Sod Lawn?

Sod may help you get a green and growing lawn almost immediately after moving in to a new home, but it still needs a few weeks to settle down and develop strong roots before being treated like any other lawn. Yet waiting too long to complete some basic maintenance chores, such as mowing for the first time,can also interfere with the sod's development.

If you just had sod laid recently or are considering it for the future, you're likely wondering how long you must wait before mowing. Find out exactly how long to wait and why for the perfect timing.

Resting for 2 to 3 Weeks

When the soil is prepared properly and the sod is watered regularly after installation, sod is usually ready to mow between 10 days to 2 or 3 weeks. In poor conditions where there is a lot of heat stress or other interfering conditions, sod may take as long as 6 weeks to become mow ready.

A month and a half may seem like a long time to go without mowing, but it may be essential to prevent damage to the sod.

Developing Strong Roots

Sod needs this resting period between installation and the first mowing so it has time to send deep roots down into the soil to anchor it. Shallow roots develop within the first few days, but they don't have the strength to keep the sod pieces from moving if you mow or even just walk over the lawn.

Following the watering and fertilization recommendations from the sod supplier is the best way to speed up root development. Watering more than what's recommended will kill off roots rather than helping them grow, so give your sod time to absorb moisture and dry out slightly between soakings.

Mowing Early Causes Damage

Healthy and properly installed sod can start putting out green growth early, resulting in as lightly shaggy lawn that may seem to beg for mowing. Trying to keep recently installed sod short will only result in damaged or dead grass.

Mowing before the sod is fully anchored often leads to the edges or corners of the slabs peeling up into the mower blades. This can ruin entire patches of the lawn very quickly. Sod also doesn't appreciate having weight pressed down on it aside from specialty sod rollers while it's trying to grow roots, so the weight of your mower can lead to depressions and brown patches too.

Testing the Roots

Since a sod installation could take up to six weeks to settle in for mowing, you should start testing for root attachment regularly around the two week mark. Gently grab a handful of the grass as close to the roots as possible and attempt to lift it from the ground with only a little force. As long as the majority of the sod slabs are holding tight to the ground, you're likely ready to mow.

Preparing to Cut

Once your sod passes the root test and has at least 48 hours to dry from the last watering or rainfall, it's time to get the mower out. Go slowly and cut the grass as high as possible to give the sod more green growth for photosynthesizing during the first few months. Watch behind you as you work for signs of movement or damage to the sod.

With these tips, your new sod should handle its first mowing just fine. Pick out the sod for your new lawn by shopping our selection here at Novasack Turf Farms. If you are not sure which variety is right, we can help you make the right choice.