How to Care for New Sod: Watering and Maintenance Tips

Picture this. You just laid fresh new sod and have lush, beautiful greenery before you. There aren’t any weeds, and your lawn hasn’t looked this good in years! 

You’re proud of your work; now to let Mother Nature do her job. 

Nope, sorry. That’s where the fairytale ends. Mother Nature alone won’t keep your lawn looking this good. In fact, without proper new sod care, you can say goodbye to that beautiful lawn — if you wait too long, it sadly won’t recover. 

Not to worry. The following tips will make caring for your new sod easy and keep your lawn the envy of the neighbourhood. 

Why is Proper Care for New Sod Important?

Once you’ve laid your sod, partnering with a professional lawn care company can significantly improve its chance of survival. Knowing how to care for new sod, like when to water, cut, and fertilize, red flags, and how long to stay off it, can significantly improve your lawn’s health. 

How Often Should You Water Newly Laid Sod?

Properly watering new sod is crucial for establishing its roots. Apply enough water to penetrate the sod and at least 2” of soil on the installation day. 

Your new sod watering schedule begins on day two by keeping the soil and sod moist throughout the day. Your new sod can’t handle significant amounts of water at a time, so the ground under your sod should never be soggy after day one. 

Establish healthy roots by watering 4 - 6 times daily for approximately five minutes. Avoid watering after six p.m. to avoid fungus growth. Root establishment generally begins within 7 - 14 days, depending on your environment and the time of year. 

Watering your new sod regularly for at least one month post-installation prevents it from drying out. If you’re short on time or don’t think you can give your lawn the attention it needs to thrive, hiring a lawn professional to do the work for you is your best option.

How to Mow and Fertilize New Sod

After installation, mowing new sod happens approximately 14 days later. You should never cut more than ⅓ of the grass blade during a mowing cycle, as this can result in more stress for the lawn. 

New sod maintenance requires more than proper watering and mowing. A healthy lawn needs extra root nourishment. Fertilization helps establish roots and support continued healthy growth. You can start fertilizing new sod approximately 4 - 6 weeks after installation. 

Dealing with Pests and Diseases

Your sod may come infested with sod webworm eggs from the sod farm. If you have patches of brown grass and see fine webbing near the roots, this is a bad sign. You can nip these guys in the bud by monitoring your new sod closely and treating any sod webworms immediately with insecticide. 

Diseases are also common in new sod, primarily if you lay your sod during cooler weather. Monitor your new sod for signs of disease (yellow specks, weak, thinning spots, rust-coloured grass) and apply fungicides as needed. Neither insecticides nor fungicides will stress your new sod. 

Prevent Damage from Foot Traffic and Pets

Always stay off your new sod until after the first mowing; this includes people and pets. Walking on it too early can affect root development, leading to failure or poor rooting. 

When in Doubt, Call On Scott’s Sod

From sod pallet deliveries for the confident DIYer to residential and commercial sod installations, seasonal lawn care, other landscaping product installations and deliveries, residential and commercial snow removal, and more, the grass is always greener with Scott’s Sod. 

Get a free quote.