Follow this comprehensive guide for tips on caring for new sod.
Installing fresh sod is an exciting step toward achieving a lush, green lawn. However, proper care in the first few weeks is crucial to ensure it takes root and thrives. At Quantico Creek Sod Farm, we want to make sod care as simple as possible. Follow this comprehensive guide for tips on caring for new sod.
Watering New Sod: The Most Important Step
Water is the key to keeping your new sod alive and thriving. Ensuring that every part of your lawn gets enough water is crucial—sprinklers sometimes miss edges and corners, which can dry out faster than the center of the lawn.
Additionally, areas near buildings, concrete, and asphalt dry out faster due to reflected heat, so they may require extra watering.
Too little water can cause sod to shrink, leaving gaps, while too much water can lead to disease. Here’s a detailed watering schedule to follow:
Watering Schedule for New Sod
Days 1-7: Water twice daily at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Days 8-15: Eliminate the 1 p.m. watering and only water at 7 a.m.
Days 16-22: Reduce watering to four times per week and change watering start time to 1 a.m.
Days 23 and beyond: Gradually reduce watering to two days per week by eliminating one day per week.
Fertilizing New Sod
Applying a starter fertilizer helps your sod’s roots establish themselves. Strong roots make your lawn more resilient against disease and insects. However, fertilization is not a one-time event—continue feeding your lawn throughout the year to maintain its health.
Preventing Insects, Weeds, and Disease
Fungus & Disease Prevention
- Because new sod receives extra water in the beginning, it’s more vulnerable to fungus.
- Apply a systemic and curative fungicide within seven days of installation.
Insect Control
- An insecticide application at the same time as the fungicide will help protect your sod from pests.
Weed Prevention
- Weeds may appear due to excess moisture but cannot be treated with weed control products right away.
- Reduce watering on schedule and mow as soon as possible to help prevent weeds from taking over.
Stay Off the Grass!
- While you can walk on your new sod, avoid heavy traffic until it has rooted firmly into the soil.
- No construction, wheelbarrows, or sports games for a few weeks to prevent damage.
- Following proper sod care early on will help ensure a thriving lawn later!
Mowing New Sod
Love mowing your lawn? You’ll need to wait a little.
- Mow only when the sod is firmly “tacked” to the ground.
- This takes about two weeks in summer and four weeks in winter.
- If your sod isn’t “tacking,” it may be receiving too much water.
- First mow:
- Cut no more than one-third of the grass length.
- Bag the clippings if possible, or rake them up to keep the lawn clean.
New Sod Care: When Problems Pop Up
Keep an eye on your lawn and watch for signs of trouble:
- Browning or wilting could mean your sod isn’t getting enough water—or could indicate a fungus or pest infestation.
- Sod webworms are common pests that lay eggs in your grass, and their larvae feed on it, causing damage.
- Don’t overwater if you notice browning—it may not be dryness but a sign of pest damage.
Proper watering, fertilization, and monitoring will keep your new sod healthy and thriving.
For more expert sod care tips, visit Quantico Creek Sod Farm and speak with our team of professionals for expert guidance.
Get Your Yard Ready for Winter!
Since our inception from a humble 30-acre field to over 4,500 acres of turf grasses, Quantico Creek Sod Farm is now the LARGEST SOD FARM IN THE TRI-STATE AREA. Our service areas cover Pennsylvania, Maryland, DC Delaware, Virginia and Northern North Carolina. Order early and order often to ensure the best service possible. Contact us through our online page. Please find us at 27616 Little Lane, Salisbury, Maryland 21801. Our phone number is 410-726-6103, and our fax number is 410-742-6550. Speak to Jason Anderson for Turf Grass Sales. Reach him by email at jason@quanticocreeksod.com. Finally, follow us on social media on Facebook, LinkedIn, and our blog.