Learning how to care for new sod is essential for transforming a bare space into a lush, green lawn. Those first few weeks after installation are critical — the difference between a thriving lawn and a costly disappointment often comes down to proper initial care.
Proper care during the establishment period is crucial because new sod is vulnerable. Like any transplanted living thing, it’s experiencing stress and needs ideal conditions to develop strong roots. Without the right care, your investment could quickly turn brown, leaving you with patches of dead grass and wasted money.
This guide will walk you through how to care for new sod, ensuring your investment takes root and flourishes in its new environment.
How to water new sod
The watering schedule for new sod is very intense in the first two weeks but becomes less so after the sod has established. Let’s look at the progression:
Weeks 1 to 2: Water frequently
The first two weeks are crucial for your sod’s survival. It needs to be kept moist at all times, so you should water it at least twice a day down to the root zone. That generally means letting the sprinklers run for around 20 minutes at a time.
Hotter weather will dry out the sod more, so you will need to water your sod more often – possibly up to four times a day – if you lay sod in the summer.
Don’t overwater, though. An overly wet lawn can invite fungal diseases or even kill your newly sodded lawn. Too much water causes the sod’s roots to rot, and rotted roots are a death sentence for your sod.
Check if your sod is overwatered by lifting a corner of the sod and checking the soil beneath. If it’s soggy, you’re watering too much. Pooling water on your new lawn is a sign of overwatering as well.
Weeks 2 to 3: Gradually reduce irrigation
As sod grows stronger roots, it will need water less frequently.
Sometime during Week 2, check your sod for white roots by gently lifting one of the corners of the sod piece. Start cutting back to one watering session daily when you see these white roots, which means your sod is establishing.
Around Week 3, your sod should be ready for its first mow. After you mow your lawn for the first time, you should only irrigate your lawn every other day.
Week 4: Graduate to deep, infrequent watering
Your sod should be established nicely by Week 4. You’ll need to water it like you would an established lawn. That means deep, infrequent watering sessions throughout the week that total 1 to 1.5 inches of water across your lawn.
Additional watering tips:
- Don’t water new sod in shaded areas as often. Shaded areas lose less water than areas exposed to full sun.
- Watch for yellowing, browning, or dried sod. These are signs of underwatering. Usually, the discoloration starts at the edges of the sod pieces, leading to unsightly outlines on your new sod lawn. However, yellow sod can also be caused by overwatering, so make sure to check your sod before adding more water.
- Adjust your irrigation when it rains. You don’t want to overwater.
- Water only lightly in the winter. Frozen soil doesn’t absorb a lot of water, but you will still need to keep your sod moist throughout the winter months. Water sparingly – just to keep the surface of the soil moist – if you installed sod in late fall.
- The best time to water grass is the early morning. This time of day is not hot and gives ample time for the grass to dry off before the evening rolls around.
You can read more about proper watering practices in our guide, When and How to Water Your Lawn.
When you can walk on new sod
Avoid walking on freshly laid sod. It can stress the tender grass and compact the soil. Compacted soil is harder for new roots to grow in, and it can also cause your lawn to become uneven.
You can start walking on your new sod after it has taken root. With proper care, it should be rooted properly by Week 3.
When to mow new sod
You can mow your sod as soon as it has rooted and the grass blades are a couple of inches long. This usually occurs by Week 3, but you may need to wait until Week 4. Sod that has rooted quickly and is growing vigorously can even be mowed as early as Week 2.
Before busting out the lawn mower, check if the sod has rooted. You can do this by trying to lift a corner of a piece. If the corner comes up easily, you should postpone mowing and check the roots again after a few days. If it doesn’t, it’s rooted; mow away.
After your sod has rooted, it will be strong enough to withstand the stress of mowing.
Typically, this also coincides with the grass growing tall enough to cut it down to the recommended mowing height. Your grass should be tall enough that taking off one-third of the grass blade will put it at the upper limit of the recommended mowing height.
Note: Don’t mow when the sod (and subsequently, the ground) is wet. Not only will your mower choke on wet grass, but the weight of the lawn mower can also cause the soil underneath to shift and compact, leading to unevenness and compacted soil.
How to fertilize new sod
Wait at least 30 days after installation to fertilize sod..
Sod harvested from a sod farm will likely have been well-fed and can last for four to six weeks without fertilizer. There’s no need to fertilize sod so soon or even to add starter fertilizer into the soil before laying sod.
In fact, fertilizing early is harmful – not to the sod itself, but to the environment. A study conducted by researchers from the University of Florida found that sod that wasn’t fertilized after installation was just as green as fertilized sod after 30 days. However, the fertilized sod leached out twice the amount of nitrogen into the soil, which can contaminate water.
The best fertilizer for new sod is the one recommended by your soil test results. But generally, you should shy away from high-nitrogen fertilizers and opt for those with balanced N-P-K ratios (like 10-10-10).
When to apply weed control products on new sod
Don’t spray herbicides until after your lawn has been mowed at least three times.
Do you see weeds on your newly sodded lawn? Pluck them by hand. Your new sod generally can’t handle post-emergent herbicides until after it has been mowed three to four times. Spraying too early may injure the tender grass.
When in doubt, consult the directions of the weed killer you plan to use. Usually, it will come with precautions regarding spraying newly seeded and sodded lawns.
FAQ about sod
The best time to lay new sod is during spring and fall. The exact season will depend on the type of sod you’re installing:
● Install warm-season varieties in spring.
● Lay cool-season sod in early fall.
On average, professional sodding costs $0.86 to $1.75 per square foot. It’s possible to spend less if you install the sod DIY, but only if you already have most of the tools you need.
You can make sure sod takes root by watering it appropriately. Soil moisture is the most important factor in your sod rooting and surviving. If there’s not enough water, it will dry out and die out.
Hire a professional to care for your new sod lawn
Although maintaining sod is mostly water-heavy during the first few weeks (which can be automated with sprinklers), there will come a time when you’ll need to go out there with a lawn mower and a fertilizer spreader.
If you don’t have the time to care for your sod, why not hire a professional to do it for you? Lawn Love’s pros can mow your new lawn and fertilize it when it’s ready.
Main Photo Credit: Dziurek | Adobe Stock Free | License
