Having a verdant lawn can add value to any design and type of home, but it takes a lot of patience and time to be able to enjoy its appearance. If you want an instant lawn to beautify your home for a special event or occasion, then you can consider installing a sod lawn. It takes away all the hard work of planting seeds and long waiting time before it grows in a healthy-looking green grass.
However, sod installation requires aftercare and maintenance to preserve a healthy-looking lawn. There are important things that you need to keep in mind as a sod lawn owner, so your investment will not go to waste. The following are easy resodding aftercare instructions for all homeowners.
0 to 7 Days After Sod Lawn
• During this time, the sod needs a proper watering schedule that is at least 3 times a day such as in the morning, in the middle of the day and late afternoon. You need to avoid watering the sod during night time because it can promote the accumulation of fungus that can harm your grass.
• An important aftercare practice to keep in mind is to avoid walking or heavy foot traffic around the lawn.
8 to 13 Days
• Once the sod reaches 8 to 13 days, then you can water at least once a day in the morning, but always observe and check for the moistness of the soil. During the summer season, it is important to keep the soil well hydrated.
• It is still recommended to avoid heavy foot traffic during this time especially if you have dogs at home. Constant running and digging of dogs will harm grass blades and the roots.
14 to 21 Days
• This is the time when the grass already established a stronger root system. It requires watering three times a week or as needed depending on the condition of the soil and the temperature.
• Mowing is already required during this time, but make sure to set the blades higher to avoid stunted growth. Also, do not forget to weed the lawn before mowing.
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22 Days and Above After Sod Lawn
• You can do the watering two to three times a week depending on the condition of the soil. Always observe the level of the moistness of the soil especially during hot weather conditions.
• Weeding is done before mowing the sod and set the blades higher to allow the grass to grow in its fullness.
• It is during this time when you need to apply a high-quality fertilizer in your new sod. It is advisable to do a soil test to find out the health condition of the soil and fertilized on the 30th day. Apply fertilizer using a formula which is 10-10-10, so your sod will get 1 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. of the lawn.
• There are cases when you need to do nematode management for your sod lawn. However, the use of pesticide is the last resort and make sure it is bio-pesticide.
Regular Maintenance Activities
• Maintain a watering schedule of two to three times a week. You can lower the blades when moving if you think grasses have grown taller. Regular weeding is very important to ensure healthier grasses as weeds can take away all the nutrients from your sod.
• Fertilizing must be done at least 2 times a year to constantly replenish lost nutrients in the soil. You can also consider creating a compost pit for your sod for a good nutrient supplement.
• Also, you need to do the dethatching process at least once or twice a year from April until May to eliminate excess thatch. Another vital process for lawn care is aeration to avoid compact soil that can happen due to foot traffic, pressure, and gravity.
Important Considerations After You Sod Your Lawn
• As you water the sod, it is important to ensure that it reaches the underneath of the sod because this is where the root system is placed.
• Also, avoid mowing right after watering or when the grass is wet. Do not forget to remove grass clippings after mowing as it can pile up and prevent air from getting into the soil.
• Lawn owners must always observe the condition of the sod lawn for a possible accumulation of weeds. By manually pulling out weeds, you can prevent it from spreading around the lawn.
• First winter experience is hard for new sod, but proper maintenance can help prepare the sod for the upcoming colder months.