After sod installation, following a timeline for watering and maintenance is crucial to ensure a lush and healthy lawn.
1. Initial Sod Installation (Week 1-2)
- Water daily without saturating the sod.
- Use hand watering or set your irrigation system to a light sprinkle.
2. Root Development (Week 3)
- Start watering three times a week.
- Increase water amount to achieve saturation for dense root system development.
3. Mowing for Growth and Root Stimulation
- To stimulate growth and root development, begin mowing the new sod installation once it is well-rooted
4. Ongoing Maintenance (First 11 Months)
- In the summer months, mow every one to two weeks. In cooler weather, warm-season grasses go dormant and won’t need to be mowed.
- Water between 6 am and 10 am if you’re hand-watering to reduce evaporation and prevent fungal growth. If you’re using a sprinkler system, set it to start watering at 5 a.m.
- Check root establishment after 14 days by gently tugging on a corner of the grass.
- Pay special attention to the sides of the sod to prevent it drying out. If it appears dry, hand water the edges.
- Avoid walking on the sod unless necessary.
- Do not add fertilizer until at least six mowings in the spring/summer months.
- Avoid mowing when the sod is soggy.
