Lawn Care

Proper Care of Newly Installed Turf

Proper watering of your newly installed sod is most vital to its survival. New installations will require a minimum of one inch of water per week and this is a very broad recommendation. New installations should be watered until the ground beneath the sod is saturated. Once this is accomplished the soil beneath should be kept moist so as to allow the new sod to attach as soon as possible. The time required for attachment is controlled by many factors many of which are Mother Nature's.

A good rule to try to achieve after installation is, apply enough water to dampen the soil to the likeness of a damp sponge and maintain this level of moisture for at least two weeks. Not only can the amount of water applied be a problem, the timing is often the most crucial. The number one problem with new installations is not taking into account the temperature and the intensity of the sun’s rays. More problems occur as a result of delay rather than the amount of water applied. When the sun is beaming down and the temperature is ninety degrees sod needs water fast. Small sprinklers are not going to deliver enough water fast enough to prevent the newly installed sod to begin to suffer. Care should be taken to provide an adequate amount of water in a timely fashion.

Newly installed sod will usually attach itself to the ground in approximately two weeks, after which time it would be safe to mow. To insure this attachment is adequate you may gently tug at the corners of the sod rolls. If the sod remains attached to the ground the mowing process may begin but care should taken to insure the mower is set high enough to prevent damage to the new turf. A cutting height of three and one half to four inches should be adequate.

Fertilization of your newly installed sod should not be performed for one to two months following the installation. After which time your normal fertilization and weed control program may be initiated.

Following these simple guidelines will insure your satisfaction of your investment in a beautiful lawn for many years to come.