First Two Weeks After Day One:
New sod has small roots, so it can only absorb so much water at a time. Thus, you should irrigate the sod multiple times a day for short periods of time. Schedule watering in the morning and afternoon hours. If you water it in the late evening or at night, there is more chance of a fungus problem arising.
Depending on the temperature, you should water it 2 to 6 times a day for 4 to 6 minutes at a time. The hotter it is, the more you should water it. The goal is to keep the sod and soil underneath moist, but no longer soggy, throughout the day.
Try to stay off the sod for the first two weeks. The roots need time to take hold and dig in. It will not be ready to mow until around the 14-day mark. Ease up on the watering schedule the day before you plan to mow, as this will allow the soil to firm up. Set your mowers cutting level to high. You do not want to cut more than the top one-third of the blades of grass.
How To Lay Sod
When you just cant wait for a new lawn, choose sod over seeds.
If youve reached the point of no return when it comes to your lawnyou know, when the grass has retreated to the point where there is nothing but weeds as far at the eye can seeits time to start over. Youve got two choices: Reseed or lay down sod. While reseeding might be cheaper and involve a little less effort, it also takes longer to get that gorgeous green lawn youre longing for.
Laying sod, on the other hand, is a path to near-instant gratification. Instead of waiting 6 weeks for seed to grow, you get a finished-looking lawn right after you complete the job. The key here is the word lookingits not really finished until the grassroots are established and have bonded with the underlying soil, which can take anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks.
What Is The Best Fertilizer For Bermuda Sod
High-nitrogen liquid fertilizers are the best choice for Bermuda sod. Lawn Food 16-4-8 is a great choice for new Bermuda sod because it contains 16% nitrogen and will provide an immediate boost.
If youd like to use an organic fertilizer, Milorganite is one of the best Bermuda fertilizers on the market. Because it comes in granular form, Milorganite is best suited to established Bermuda lawns, but it will be effective at boosting the growth of your sod as well.
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Week 4 Of Your New Sod
After mowing the 3rd time, you may now start watering your lawn every other day or less, depending on the weather. Unless you have a really sandy soil condition, you most likely will only need to water 3-4 days per week in the summer months.
The key to having a happy lawn, second to good ground preparation, is regular and consistent watering, mowing, and fertilizing! These three items will give your root establishment the best chance to provide a healthy and happy lawn for years to come.
Watering and mowing are ever-changing with your local weather patterns. The above guidelines are for warmer summer months. Make routine adjustments as needed for your specific climate and time of year.
For ongoing care, you may want to consider using some technology to help you maintain your lawns health. Soil moisture sensors can be particularly helpful for perfecting your lawns watering schedule through different seasons.
You can learn more about laying and caring for your sod during different seasons here:
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How To Care For New Sod: 5 Faqs Answered
How to care for new sod. There are a few things to keep in mind. These things can help when it comes to the best way to ensure your new lawn is able to thrive. From moisture to aeration, our experts answer your most frequently asked questions. They weigh in on various techniques about sod maintenance. These techniques are proven to help your yard stay rich and beautiful for years to come.
1. HOW MUCH SHOULD I WATER NEW SOD?
Consistent watering is the key to ensuring new sod is able to grow strong roots. Sod that is applied during the summer should be watered throughout the day. This will prevent shrinking and drying. You should water your lawn enough at least two weeks after installation to ensure moisture. Also, you should continue to water it for an additional two weeks to prevent it from drying out.
2. HOW LONG SHOULD I WATER NEW SOD?
New sod should be watered for a minimum of 45 minutes immediately after installation to allow both lawn and soil to gather moisture, which will help with the rooting process. During the first couple of weeks following installation, each watering session should last approximately 15-20 minutes are a minimum of two days.
3. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE NEW SOD TO ROOT?
4. SHOULD I FERTILIZE NEW SOD?
5. THE BEST TIME OF DAY TO WATER NEW SOD?
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Weed Issues In New Sod
Weeds can be a challenge in new sod installations. They are often more easily seen if the sod is still thin and has not yet grown out or when there is an area of bare ground where weeds were pulled up with the old lawn.
Newly laid sod is vulnerable to weed killers, so it will take 3 weeks to establish before using any. When caring for fresh sod, it is best not to apply weed killers until the turf has at least grown 3 weeksspot-treat weeds by applying post-emergent weedkillers.
How do I get rid of weeds in new sod?
The best way to deal with weeds in new sod is to pull them up by hand. If there is an area of bare ground, seed it with a weed-free mix and cover the seed with mulch or soil from another part of the yard.
So youve decided to take the plunge and install new sod in your yard. Congratulations! It can be exciting, but it also requires a little bit of work on your part before things get rolling. We hope this post has helped with some tips for taking care of that new green space so that soon enough, you have a lush lawn full of life and beauty.
One last thing we want to leave you with is our advice about watering dont overdo it or underdo it!
Mowing The Lawn Frequently
After the Zoysia sod has ultimately grown into the soil, wait until it has grown to around 2-3 inches per blade. This is an ideal time to start mowing the new lawn for the first time. Set the lawnmower to about 1-2 inches in height, and trim away! A Zoysia lawn should be mowed every 5-15 days, depending on the weather and fertilization frequency. Also, make sure to never begin mowing until the sod has completely set. Otherwise, you can accidentally rip out the soils seedlings, which can cause bald patches in the grass where nothing grows.
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New Sod Maintenance: How To
Weve all been there before You complete a backyard renovation with some Premium Kentucky Bluegrass Sod from Greenhorizons. The sod looks magnificent when you leave, but you revisit the site one week later only to realize that the homeowner didnt keep up with the necessary watering! The sod has turned brown and is dying, beyond the point of recovery. Thats a lot of wasted sod, time, and resources for all parties involved. We have seen this happen time and time again. In order to improve the rate of sod success, weve laid out the necessary watering and maintenance schedule here!
How To Take Care Of New Sod In The Fall
We recommend applying a winterizing fertilizer or other slow-release nitrogen fertilizer to the sod in November. This will help keep the grass-fed during the winter and into the spring. This step should be followed as long as the sod has been in place for over six weeks.
Laying sod in late summer or early fall if possible to avoid the summer heat and this will allow for plenty of time for your sod to become established before cooler weather sets in during the late fall.
Fall is a great time to lay sod as it means cooler temperatures. You will still need to water regularly but there is less intense heat drying out your sod. You will also need to use less water with cooler temperatures. Timing is a bit more crucial in the colder months than in the hot summer. Sod takes around 5 8 weeks to grow before the ground is expected to freeze. Once the ground is frozen your sod will be able to continue developing its root system.
For various varieties of sod in Utah and questions about sod and sod for your landscaping needs give Sod King a call today. We offer sod installation, sod pickup and also carry a variety of mulch products and offer sod installation and mulch installation in Utah. We have many pickup locations throughout the Wasatch Front including Lehi, Salt Lake City, South Jordan, Farmington and more.
For sod prices, sod in Utah, additional information on sod and what would be the best sod variety for your yard give Sod King a call or text us at 801-203-3035.
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What Is The Best Time Of Year To Lay Bermuda Sod
Bermuda sod should be laid in spring when daytime temperatures are 7590 . Bermuda is a warm-season grass that grows most quickly in warm spring and summer temperatures. By laying Bermuda sod in spring, your lawn will be established quickly and will be strong enough to survive cooler late-year temperatures.
Do not lay Bermuda sod in fall or winter. Bermuda grass grows slowly or becomes dormant in cool temperatures, resulting in difficulty establishing sod and risking the death of your sod during a frost or cold snap.
Fertilizing New Sod Schedule
Sod is usually fertilized before harvesting. Hence, you will not have to fertilize sod for the next 30-50 days after installation. If you fertilize before this period, you will find yellow patches on the lawn. That is because the shallow roots of the sod cannot absorb all the nutrients. This will cause nitrogen to leak into the soil.
After the first 30-40 days, you can apply a granular fertilizer containing nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous. Apply the granular fertilizer when the lawn is dry. Make sure to spread it evenly.
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New Sod Should Be Watered For A Minimum Of 45 Minutes Immediately After Installation To Allow Both Lawn And Soil To Gather Moisture Which Will Help With The Rooting Process
How to care for new sod in late fall. Fall is a great time to sod. The new sod needs to stay moist 24 hours a day. Therefore do not fertilize the new sod until the fall and fertilize with an appropriate granular fall fertilizer application.
Freezing temperatures are too cold for laying sod. Fertilizing your new sod lawn. The morning and late afternoon are the best times to water your lawn but remember to adjust your watering schedule to account for rainfall.
Prior to installation, your soil must include the organic matter sod needs in order to allow the sod. your new sod lawn should be mowed as soon as needed, usually 7 to 10 days after installation or before blades exceed 3. Here in florida, the best time to install your new provista sod is from late spring to early fall.
Laying sod in late summer or early fall if possible to avoid the summer heat and this will allow for plenty of time for your sod to become established before cooler weather sets in during the late fall. How to care for sod in fall sod must be well rooted to establish itself, so a properly prepped, loosened, balanced and nourished soil is the only soil conducive to receiving sod. During the first 2 weeks, while the sods root system is being established, heavy watering is necessary.
Your new sod can be mowed when it looks like it needs mowing . ¾ to 1 inch deep, on the sod surface and water till it is full.
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Lawn Care For New Sod
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Sod is easy to install and provides an instant lawn, but it requires a little more care than you would give an established lawn. New sod has shallow roots, which need time to establish in the soil. Proper watering, fertilizing and maintenance are vital to ensuring your new sod will endure long after it is installed.
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Other Recommendations For Taking Care Of Your New Sod Grass
For the first 2 weeks we recommend that you avoid walking on your new sod grass. Keep pets & children away from running around on your new lawn installation. This helps it grow uninterrupted and allows it to strengthen its roots within the soil. The experts at My Landscapers also recommend that you aerate your new lawn 1 2 times per year. Dethatching at the end of the April/May season will also help it grow healthier.
Mower Lawn Height For Bermuda Sod
Bermuda grass performs best when mowed to a height of 1.5 inches, so plan to mow your sod at this height. However, if mowing down to 1.5 inches would remove more than of the grass height, plan to mow in stages. First, mow off of the grass height, wait 3 days, and then perform a second mowing pass to reduce Bermuda grass height to 1.5 inches.
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Can You Scalp New Bermuda Sod
Bermuda sod should never be scalped. The process of scalping should only be performed on lawns that have been established for 612 months. Scalping Bermuda sod is very likely to kill the sod outright, destroying your lawn.
Bermuda grass should only be scalped in early spring, just before it exits winter dormancy. Growing sod should be laid in mid- to late spring, while the grass is green and growing. You can save the scalping for next year.
Routine Maintenance For Your Sod Lawn
Three to four weeks after the new sod installation, it becomes easier to maintain than it was initially. You should begin to re-adjust your watering to a lower frequency gradually after each mowing, while simultaneously increasing your minutes per watering. At this point, deeper and less frequent soakings will help roots grow further down, giving them a better opportunity to establish in the soil.To check how well this process is progressing, you can give your turf a tug to see how rooted in it actually is. Lastly, be sure to fertilize the sod lawn at one month to continue the growth of the roots and maintain its establishment.
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Things You Need To Know To Care For Your Sod Grass
All Turf February 3rd, 2020
When it comes to caring for your new lawn, knowing what to expect on a newly sodded lawn will make the process much smoother. New sod is an expensive investment and must receive proper care in the beginning stages to result in a successful new lawn. New sod can be compared to a newborn baby, as it needs delicate care and proper nutrients in the beginning stages. These 6 tips will help make your journey with new sod much easier on you and your wallet in the long run!
Should New Sod Turn Brown
New sod is carefully cultivated before it is sold for installation. It is cultivated in an environment that offers a perfect balance of nutrients, sunlight, and moisture which allows it to thrive. New sod in general is very healthy and should not turn brown. But carefully caring for new sod is absolutely critical. Like any living thing, sod is perishable and will need to be installed as soon as possible. If the installers wait too long, the sod may start to die and it will begin to turn brown.
Drought or lack of adequate moisture will also cause new sod to turn brown. If the roots are not getting the moisture they need, they enter a state of dormancy. During the dormant stage, new sod will become brown, however, if it is not watered, it will die. Anytime you notice new sod with brown patches, there is a problem that is generally linked with moisture or lack of proper nutrients. If the new sod is mostly yellow, it can still be saved. New sod that is mostly brown will be much harder to revive.
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How To Care For Bermuda Sod
New Bermuda sod should be laid in spring for the best results. After installation, water Bermuda sod at least 2 times daily for the first 2 weeks. This will keep the soil moist and encourage root growth. Following 2 weeks, mow the Bermuda sod to 1.5 inches in height. Then, gradually reduce watering to mature Bermuda lawn needs. Finally, fertilize your Bermuda lawn 4 weeks after installation. This will encourage full lawn coverage and strong root growth, turning your sod into an integrated lawn.
During the first few weeks, monitor your new sod. Make sure it is not suffering from signs of overwatering or underwatering and adjust watering schedules accordingly. By watering, mowing, and feeding your Bermuda sod, you will quickly establish a vibrant Bermuda grass lawn.
