How to Take Care of the Sod?
Congratulations! Your property has just been planted with a high quality blend of turf. This sod offers an instant lawn and prevents erosion problems, but proper care is essential in establishing its root system. To help ensure good results, we have prepared a set of care instructions. If you should have any questions after reading this information, please contact our office at (262) 376-8727.
The first four week period, after installation, is the most critical time for proper sod establishment. Try to stay off your new sod until after the first mowing occurs. Remember, sod is a living plant that requires adequate moisture to survive. The ultimate result of your lawn relies on you for proper watering, fertilizing and mowing.
Watering
Proper watering is essential to ensure good, and even root development for sod. If you do not have an irrigation system installed, an over-lapping pattern of sprinklers needs to be set up throughout your property to ensure proper coverage for watering. For the first two weeks, lightly water 15 to 20 minutes at two different times during the day and then soak thoroughly for 20 to 30 minutes before 5:00 P.M. in the evening. Once the grass is rooting into soil surface (can't be pulled up from the ground), gradually increase the time of watering and decrease the frequency until your watering once a week before 5:00 P.M. in the evening. This watering adjustment during the third and fourth week after installation is important, because root establishment has occurred and now you're trying to promote deep root growth. For the rest of the year, ensure that your new lawn is receiving one inch of water per week. A good way to determine how much water is being applied to the lawn is to place a container (i.e. a coffee can) in the sprinkler's path and time how long it takes to collect 1" of water. Please adjust these watering instructions accordingly, due to hot, dry or windy weather periods. Less watering is needed during rainy or cold weather.
TROUBLESHOOTING QUESTIONS & ANSWERS:
- Why is my sod not rooting into the soil? - Most sod varieties will begin to root within 10 to 14 days after installation. Adjust your watering to deeper, less frequent soakings. Excessive shade will slow down the rooting process.
- Why does my lawn have bluish-grey spots / or / why does my footprints show on the lawn after being walked on? - These spots are showing drought or stress and your lawn needs more water. Increase the minutes per watering and check your sprinkler coverage.
- Why do I have mushrooms growing? - These mushrooms are growing because of the
composted soil mixture used in sod farms. They are a temporary nuisance and will dry up and wither away when your watering schedule changes to once a week. - Why are the edges of my sod turning brown and / or have gaps between the rolls? - The sod rolls are shrinking or are turning brown due to lack of water. Increase your minutes per watering. Hand watering may be required on sod between small areas of a sidewalk and roadway.
Fertilizing
Fertilizer applications are critical for the development of a healthy established turf. Following the application of starter fertilizer (13-25-12), that we applied at installation, your new lawn should be fertilized with a slow-release fertilizer 3 to 4 times per year. These fertility requirements provide the nutrients for growth and the ability to stave off diseases, fungal problems and insect infestation. This means, another fertilizing application should be applied to your new lawn areas between 30 to 45 days after installation. Apply a slow release fertilizer 12-4-4 or similar formulation. Once the lawn has been established, a yearly maintenance program should be set up to maintain a healthy, vital turf stand within your property. The three most important fertilizing times are in the beginning of June and during the months of September and October.
Mowing
Once the grass is rooted into the soil surface (can’t be pulled up from the ground), the first mowing can occur. This first mowing is approximately 7 to 14 days after installation. Mow your new lawn often when the leaves reach a height longer than 3”, removing only ⅓” of the leaf blade. After this initial mowing, your lawn should maintain the overall height of 3” throughout your property. Cutting the grass shorter than 2 ½” to 3” will sacrifice root penetration down into the soil, and weaken your lawn. The root system accommodates the height of the leaf blade so that the higher the cutting height the deeper the roots develop for a thicker, healthier lawn. Remember to keep your mower blades sharp at all times. Lawns cut with dull blades will tear the leaf blades and loose moisture more rapidly. This damage makes the lawn subject to disease problems, and becomes dried out turning pale brown in the summer sun.
Weed Control
The best weed control is a healthy lawn. If you maintain a good fertilizing program and watering schedule, your turf should be thick enough to deter weeds from starting. If weeds become a problem, hand weeding or herbicides are suggested. Annual grasses and weeds (crabgrass, mallow, etc.) should be treated with an application of a pre-emergent herbicide in early April. Apply an herbicide for broadleaf weeds (dandelions, plaintain, clover, etc.) in May or in September.
Disease Control
The greatest threat to your new sod is fungal disease. Proper watering techniques and an avoidance of excess nitrogen fertilizer will help prevent the form of this disease.
Patience
Please be patient with the process of establishing your new lawn. With proper care, as outlined above, you will achieve a healthy, enjoyable lawn for years to come.
Seasonal Calendar for Lawn Care
March – April
- Clean debris from lawn areas
- Apply lawn fertilizer with Crabgrass preventative (25-2-4) before first cutting. (If you want to re-seed grass areas within four weeks of this application, do not apply a fertilizer with Crabgrass preventative. Only apply a lawn fertilizer (12-12-20).)
- Maintain mowing at 3" height for lawn areas
May – June
- Maintain mowing at 3" height on a regular basis
- Apply Weed & Feed (22-0-10) granular fertilizer when lawn has dew on grass leaves (A liquid application of Broad-leaf Weed Control can be applied, as a substitute, for a granular weed control treatment. However, the lawn will not receive a fertilizer feeding with this application.)
- Water lawn in summer if dry (at least 1" water per week)
July – August
- Increase mowing height to 3 ½ " and keep mowing on a regular basis
- Apply a non-burning, slow release lawn fertilizer (22-0-11)
- Water lawn in summer (at least 1" water per week)
SPECIAL NOTE: If the lawn has gone into a dormant stage, due to drought situations, do not apply fertilizer and do not water your lawn during these months.
September – October
- Clean leaf debris from lawn, as needed
- Maintain mowing at 3" height on a regular basis
- Apply Weed & Feed (22-0-10) fertilizer when lawn has dew on grass leaves - OR - only apply a Liquid Formulated fertilizer, if necessary.
November – December
- Clean leaf debris from lawn, as needed
- Maintain mowing height at 3" ( DO NOT cut lawn short before winter)
- Apply Winterizer (12-12-20) fertilizer after final mowing
SPECIAL NOTE: Please read all fertilizer and herbicide labels thoroughly. Follow the manufacturer directions carefully, so you do not burn out areas throughout your lawn.
