If you’ve recently had your lawn replaced with new sod grass, then you’re probably wondering what the best maintenance schedule is for it. Having a good maintenance schedule for your new sod will ensure it grows healthy & lush all season long. Luckily for you, the experts at My Landscapers have put together a small cheatsheet from watering schedules to fertilizing.
Watering Schedule
As we’ve stated in a previous article, a proper watering schedule is important for your new lawn. It is important to remember that water needs to reach the soil beneath your new sod grass. How often should you be watering if you’ve just had your lawn replaced? Check out the infographic below to get all the details.
**If you still haven’t purchased a sprinkler, consider:
Aqua Joe SJI-OMS16 Indestructible Metal Base Oscillating Sprinkler with Adjustable Spray (large coverage)
**Or for small coverage (small lawns) consider:
Aqua Joe AJ-TSSBM Indestructible Series 9-Pattern Metal Turret Sprinkler
You have to use your discretion when it comes to the length of time of watering as hot days require more water than cool days. It’s important to note that you should check your new lawn and make sure it’s not soaked in water to the level that you cannot step on it, and on the other hand, you need to make sure that the soil under the sod is wet (under ideal conditions it’s around 15-20 mins every watering period and 30-45 mins during hot summer days).
Recommended Reading: Why A Watering Schedule Is Important For Any Lawn Care Plan
Mowing
Ah, the most daunting task of your new sod installation. Most people are left confused when it comes to mowing their new lawn. There is a lot of mixed information and recommendations on the web, but we’ve put together the most effective mowing schedule for our customers. Feel free to share this with anyone who is lost when it comes to mowing their new sod grass.
Greenworks 48V (2 x 24V) 17″ Brushless Cordless Lawn Mower + 24V Drill / Driver, (2) 4.0Ah USB Batteries (USB Hub) and Dual Port Rapid Charger Included
Recommended Reading: How Often Should You Mow Your Lawn?
Fertilize & Topdressing Your New Sod Grass
Fertilizer is important to keep your brand-new lawn looking healthy and lush all season long. In the early stages of your sod, we don’t recommend any fertilizing / Topdressing until Day 30! This ensures that your sod has enough time to lock in roots and increase its strength.
RECOMMENDED SPRING & SUMMER FERTILIZER:
Nutrila 33-0-5 + Iron and 5 More Micronutrients Fertilizer, Slow Release and Money Saver Lawn Food for Spring & Summer, Covers 4,300sqf (5kg)
RECOMMENDED FALL FERTILIZER:
Scotts Turf Builder Fall Lawn Food – 5.2kg, White (03214A)
**MAKE SURE TO CAREFULLY FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PRODUCT BEFORE USING IT**
Recommended Reading: 6 Tips For New Sod Care, check it out!
Handling & Preventing Pesky Weeds in Your New Sod Grass
Weeds can be super difficult to fight off once they’ve begun to spread. There are many products that are out there that claim to kill off weeds for good, but the truth is, these companies have been looking for a solution for almost a decade now. The harsh reality is, that you need to use some manual labour to get rid of these pesky weeds. Weeds can damage your lawn and make it look unhealthy.
Walensee Weed Puller, Stand Up Weeder Hand Tool, Long Handle Garden Weeding Tool with 3 Claws, Hand Weed Hound Weed Puller for Dandelion, Standup Weed Root Pulling Tool and Picker
Recommended Reading: How to Control Weed Growth in Your Lawn and flower beds
Nematodes & How They Should Be Used for Your New Sod
Nematodes are a great way to help your sodding thrive. They are small, round and long worms that help protect your new sod. Understanding the benefits of using nematodes throughout your new sodding installation will be explored here. Stay tuned and make sure to subscribe to our newsletter.
Here Is a good recommendation brand for Nematodes: Nema Globe 4003203 25 Million Beneficial Nematodes-Flea, Fly and Chinch Buster Pest Control.
**When purchasing, make sure the product is not expired
Other Recommendations for Taking Care of Your New Sod Grass
For the first 2 weeks (14 days ) we recommend that you avoid walking on your new sod grass. Keep pets & children away from running around on your new lawn installation. This helps it grow uninterrupted and allows it to strengthen its roots within the soil. The experts at My Landscapers also recommend that you aerate your new lawn 1 – 2 times per year. Dethatching at the end of the April/May season will also help it grow healthier.
How Long for Sod to Take Root
While sodding offers a quicker alternative to the natural seeding and growth of lawns, it’s important to note that it isn’t instantaneous. Typically, after installation, sod should start establishing roots within 10-14 days. With optimal conditions of sunlight, air, and watering, complete rooting of your sod can occur within 2-6 weeks.
SEASONAL ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE:
IF YOU HAVE A SMALL LAWN, YOU CAN USE A MANUAL AERATION TOOL:
Gardzen Plug Aeration, Hand Hollow Tine Lawn Aerator, Heavy Duty Aerator for Compacted Soils and Lawns, 35″ x 11″, Black
Recommended Reading: The Perfect Guide To Maintaining Your New Sod Grass
Professional Sodding, Sod Installation & Sod Maintenance in Toronto
At My Landscapers, we have over 15 years of experience laying new sod grass across Toronto, Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan & Stouffville. Our experts are here to answer any questions you may have and guide you through the entire process. Bring your lawn back to life with professional care and expertise. We provide FREE, no-obligation, detailed estimates for any sodding, lawn care or commercial landscaping project.
Customer Testimonials
Read some of our customer testimonials on:
- Homestars
- Houzz
- TrustedPros
Read why we’re the number one recommended landscaping, lawn care & sod installation company across Toronto!
- Tall Fescue and Dog Urine (Important Note)
Although Tall Fescue tolerates dog urine damage better than either Kentucky bluegrass and perennial Ryegrass, it is still important to note that it does not mean that it’s 100% resistant to it. Your pet’s urine will still damage urine resistant grass, but it will take longer to show the damage and will be better able to recover from it. There are 2 approaches to how to deal with this situation: First, prevention (making sure the dog urine somewhere else), and the second is diluting the urine in order to reduce the concentration (prevention is always the safest way to go).
