Sometimes aerating, seeding and watering are just not enough to get that lush, green lawn so many people desire. One way to achieve that type of lawn is to lay sod, which is rolled pieces of cultivated lawn that can be unrolled and, with proper care, take root in the ground. The steps below detail how to take care of sod.
1Lay sod after watering the ground.
2Fertilize the sod no later than 2 weeks after installing it.
- Avoid using a chemical fertilizer as this could result in burnt sod. An organic fertilizer, such as Milorganite or Ironite, is recommended.
- Spread the fertilizer by hand and rake into the sod, or use a seed spreader to apply the fertilizer.
- Continue to use fertilizer once per month.
3Check for any signs of disease, such as fungus, within 3 days of sod installation.
- Cease watering the sod for 1 day and apply a fungicide to the sod at the first signs of disease.
- Choose a granular or spray fungicide sold at any gardening center. Granules can be spread by hand or seed spreader. In severe cases of fungicide, a lawn care company with commercial products might need to be utilized.
4Follow a watering schedule for your sod based on the time of year it is installed.
- Water twice a day for the first 3 days, then once a day for the next week to 10 days if sod is installed in hot weather (over 80 degrees F or 26 degrees C). After that, water every other day for a week, then every third day for the next week.
- Change the watering schedule to twice a day for the first 2 days, then once a day for 4 days if sod is installed in cooler weather (under 80 degrees F or 26 degrees C). After the first week, water every other day in Week Two, every third day in Week Three, and once every 4 days in Week Four.
- Adjust amount of water applied during the above cycles. In the beginning, apply 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) of water. As application times decrease, soak the sod with 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water during each watering period.
- Check that the water is saturating the ground beneath the sod.
5Mow the sod. Mow for the first time two weeks after installation and if sod is about 4 inches (10.2 cm) or higher.
- Do not cut more than 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) during each mowing.
- Keep the grass at about 2 inches (5.1 cm) high.
- Use a mower with a sharp blade. Sharpen blades every 4 weeks or so as needed. Dull blades do not cut cleanly, leaving grass stressed and more vulnerable to water loss and disease.
- Water when temperatures are cooler, such as late afternoon or early morning, after sod installation.
- It can take up to 2 years for roots to firmly establish after sod is installed, watered and maintained.
- You might water your sod twice a day for a week or more in extremely hot (over 90 degrees F or 32 degrees C) and dry conditions.
- Consider applying a fungus control to your sod during the late spring, summer or fall months, as these are the months when fungus is most likely to occur.
- Brown or gray spots on the sod could indicate areas that require more watering.
- Do not over-water sod. While it is important to keep sod moist after installation, over-watering can lead to root damage, disease or insect infestation.
- Do not water stacked sod that has not yet been installed, as this can cause a "microwave effect" that results in burnt sod.
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