Putting in new sod is the quickest and easiest way to have a beautiful, lush lawn. Once it's in, you'll need to care for it properly, or it will quickly turn brown and die. That's because it takes a while for the roots under the sod to attach to the earth and get nutrients. Here's how you should care for your new sod.
Water Frequently
Since the roots won't grow into the soil for several days, you'll have to keep them moist so the sod doesn't die. Depending upon the temperature and humidity level, you may have to water your sod a few times each day. You can lift up the corner of a piece of sod to check the conditions underneath. The ground and bottom of the sod should always be moist.
After several days, the roots will take hold, and you'll no longer be able to lift the corner of the sod. You can cut back on watering then, although you should water twice a day for a couple of more weeks, and then once daily for as long as it's needed due to the weather conditions. You should plan on watering your sod the entire first season after it is planted, even if you normally don't water your lawn very often. This will help the roots grow deep into the soil and stay strong.
The only nourishment your sod needs during this time is water. Don't apply fertilizer until the roots are deep into the soil, or the sod may turn brown. That's because the roots won't be able to absorb the nutrients when they're still above the soil, and this allows the fertilizer to burn the grass.
Protect The Grass
Don't walk on the sod at all for the first few days. Limit traffic on the sod for several weeks, or until the roots take hold. If you have to walk across part of your lawn, take a different path each time, so you don't wear out the sod while it is still fragile. You can mow the grass if it is needed, but be sure to use a sharp blade, so you don't tug on the sod. If the roots aren't deep enough when you mow, the sod may move around as you walk on it. It shouldn't damage the sod, but to be safe, don't mow your grass until it has grown a few inches, and has been on the ground for a couple of weeks. Keep the mower on the highest setting, so you don't cut the grass too short.
You may have patches of sod that fail for whatever reason. When that happens, you should replace them with new sod and start the soaking and watering process. You can buy individual squares of sod for lawn repairs at a garden center without having to buy them in bulk.
By the time your new sod enters the second growing season, it should have strong, healthy roots, and you can care for it as you would an established yard. This includes watering it when it looks dry and feeding it with fertilizer in the spring and fall. Get sod from a trusted provider, such as California Sod Center, to have all of these methods be most effective.
Share1 December 2014
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