Sod Maintenance
With a little TLC your new lawn will remain the envy of the neighborhood. Monitoring the needs of your lawn is the important and will vary from season to season. Watering, fertilizing, mowing and weed management will become a part of maintaining your newly sodded lawn from Green Meadow Turf .
After installing your sod, give your new lawn enough water to saturate the sod and the soil underneath. Water daily, keeping the underside of the sod and soil underneath damp. It is a balancing act. Too much water can hinder root growth, not enough water will dry the sod out. Peeking underneath the sod will help monitor the condition. Continue watering in this manner until the sod is firmly rooted which takes about 2-3 weeks. The best time to water is in the morning.
The first application of fertilizer should be applied after the sod is installed with additional applications about every six to eight weeks, depending on your lawn's needs. Use an all-purpose fertilizer and follow the label directions. Application rates will vary based on the brand you choose.
Your new lawn will be ready to mow in about 2-3weeks. Test your sight in several locations for readiness by giving a gentle tug on the sod; resistance is a sign that your sight is ready to mow. If you mow too soon you risk pulling up the sod and damaging the root structure. For the first mowing, raise your mower height. This will protect areas that may not have taken root as quickly as others.
The most effective weed management strategy is to maintain a healthy lawn. Weed identification is important to determine which herbicide will be the most effective. Your local garden center can help you determine the appropriate herbicide and application rates.