Care Instructions

Fertilizing: We recommend a starter fertilizer such as a 19-19-20 or 10-10-10 when establishing your new lawn. Spread the fertilizer onto your final grade before installing the sod. This way, the sod roots will chase the nutrients into the soil as they dissolve during watering. A 50# bag will cover 10,500 square feet, but be sure to read the bag to verify this. Manufacturer and granule size can affect this coverage. A helpful trick is to calibrate your spreader to apply only half of the recommended rate, then go over your area twice in an “X” pattern to make sure you don’t miss any spots.

Watering: This is the most critical part of caring for your new sod. Make sure you have enough hoses and sprinklers for your area. Most homes only have enough water pressure to run 3-4 sprinklers at once so if your area is large enough, you'll have to plan on moving the sprinklers occasionally. Make sure the corners of your lawn and areas near concrete get plenty of water, as these tend to get missed. It's ideal to water during the hottest part of the day, usually between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. This is when the new sod can get stressed and dried out by the sun being directly overhead. If you can't water during this time then water in the morning.

            To establish your new lawn:

            Days 1-3: Apply 2 inches of water to your sod each day.

            Days 4-14: Apply 1 inch of water to your sod each day.

            To determine how much water you're putting on your new sod, place some tupperware containers or coffee cans on the grass where your sprinklers will be running. This will help you find out how long to leave your water running in the same spot. These deep waterings will soak through the sod and wet the top few inches of soil, encouraging root growth.

Mowing: After watering for 14 days your sod should be rooted in well enough to start mowing. Pull up gently on the grass in a few areas to make sure the roots are taking and the sod won't be sucked up into the mower. Make sure the blade is sharp, set your mower to its highest setting, and consider collecting the clippings for this first cutting since the grass will be fairly long. Bluegrass is at its healthiest when it's mowed high so don't cut it too short. Tall grass equals deep roots and deep roots allow the sod to absorb more nutrients from the soil. A healthy bluegrass plant is between 2 1/2" and 4" tall.

Maintenance: Continue mowing, fertilizing, and watering as needed. We recommend fertilizing 3 times per year, ideally close to Memorial Day, Labor Day, and a winterizing fertilizer around Halloween. Make sure the fertilizer gets watered in every time or you could risk burning your lawn. During periods of drought it may be necessary to water your established sod. Remember, one deep watering is much better than several light waterings. Feed and water your grass as needed and you'll love your new lawn for years to come! Please call us with any questions at (920) 735-0929.