Many property owners think that installing sod is an easy way to get a beautiful lawn instantly. However, there are actually a few things that you need to do to take care of your new sod and keep it looking beautiful following installation. Right after your new sod is installed, you need to water it to keep it from drying up. For the first 2 weeks after the installation, you need to stay off your new lawn, keep it watered, and mow it properly. About a month after the installation, you need to water your lawn less often but more deeply.

What do you need to do directly after installation?

A professional unrolling new sod for installation in La Vista, NE.

The day your new sod is installed is the day you need to begin caring for it. Directly after installation, you need to water your new lawn thoroughly. You should water about 6 inches down into your soil and your lawn should feel soggy when you walk on it. It is crucial to water your lawn deeply on the day it is installed; if you wait until the next day to water it, the sun could dry it up and damage your newly installed sod.

The best time of year to schedule your sod installation is the late summer to early fall.

What do you need to do for the first 2 weeks following installation?

Although it may look like you have a flawless, lush lawn, the grass is still very weak and will need time to establish a deep root system. The best thing to do during the first 2 weeks after your sod installation is to stay off of your lawn. A general rule is to stay off of your new sod until after the first mowing, which should occur 14 days following installation. This will prevent adding extra stressors to the roots of your grass while they are developing. During this time, you also need to keep your lawn moist throughout the day to further help your sod take root.

As you get closer to the 14-day mark, you should cut back on how often you are watering your new lawn. This will ensure that your soil is able to firm up before you mow. On the 14th day following the installation of your new sod, you can mow your lawn for the first time. It is important that you mow high and never cut off more than 1/3 off of your grass blades. After you have properly mowed your lawn 2 weeks after installation, you can begin to use your lawn again.

What do you need to do 3 to 4 weeks after installation?

Hand watering a new lawn with sod installed in Omaha, NE.

About 3 weeks to a month after the installation of your new sod, you need to make a few changes to your watering habits; you should water your lawn less frequently but deeper than you were for the first month following installation. You can do this by watering for a longer duration each time to ensure that your new lawn is being thoroughly saturated with water. This new watering schedule will help the roots of your new sod grow deeper and establish more quickly.

Call us to schedule your new sod installation today!

Our team at Groundscapes, Inc. is dedicated to providing you with the best lawn care, as well as the best customer service, that you've ever experienced. After all, our company motto is "our customers always come first." We have been serving property owners in Omaha, Elkhorn, Bennington, and surrounding areas in Nebraska since 2002. Give our lawn care experts a call at (402) 397-5930 today to schedule your new sod installation!