The first few weeks after your sod renovation is very important and requires a lot of attention. The three main factors are watering, mowing, and lawn care. Watering may seem obvious, but in our experience customers try to avoid this. The moment pieces of sod get dry, they will shrink, causing gaps. This is irreversible. If you mow too early you can stunt root growth, which could lead to an extended initial period or even kill the turf.
There are many reasons lawn care is a major factor. Using the proper fertilizer and rate at which it is applied is very important for proper root growth. All sod can come with weeds and/or pests in it, so it is important to treat your sod initially with a weed and pest treatment. Bugs love new grass. And finally due to the amount of water you put on your grass in the beginning, the moisture can lead to fungus. Fungus can kill a lawn very quickly. This all may sound very negative and overwhelming, but let Leafy can help. Here are some tip for proper care:
Start a Watering Schedule
- Week 1: Apply a 1/2” of water twice a day in the morning and early afternoon daily. Repeat “Week 1” watering schedule when establishing Zoysia.
- Week 2: Apply a 1/2” of water once a day around 11:00 AM.
- Week 3: Apply 1/2” to 3/4” of water every third day in the morning. If your lawn should show stress at any time, additional watering may be needed. The blades of grass will start to curl when they are dry. A healthy blade will be flat.
To gauge watering, place several upright cans randomly about your lawn. When you collect your desired amount of water in the can, it is time to move your sprinkler to the next area. When using automatic irrigation systems, an approximate setting would be in the following:
- Mainly Spray Heads: 30-45 minutes/zone
- Mainly Rotor Heads: 45-60 minutes/zone
When to Mow
DO NOT MOW until the actual blades of grass reaches 5”. It may take up to six weeks. Be patient. It is important to establish healthy roots.
When to Fertilize
Within 3-5 days after your sod is installed, have a licensed lawn care company treat your lawn for bugs, weeds, and have them fertilize initially with a low nitrogen, but high potassium mix.
