How to Care for Your New Sod Lawn (Fertilization, Watering & Weed Control Tips)

As a homeowner, some home upgrades are simpler to plan than others. For example, repainting a room’s walls is straightforward, thanks to numerous YouTube tutorials offering tips and methods.

However, more vital tasks, such as maintaining your new sod lawn, can be more challenging to understand.

Since your grass is a front-facing part of your home exterior, you certainly don’t want to be the only one on the block with a brown lawn riddled with weeds that makes the neighborhood look bad and makes you look like a negligent homeowner.

There are several key considerations to keep in mind when caring for new sod. From watering new sod to when to mow new sod, let’s answer some frequently asked questions about new sod maintenance and weigh in on techniques that can help your yard stay beautiful for years to come.

New Sod Care in Tupelo, Oxford & New Albany, MS

Nothing enhances your home's appearance more than a beautifully maintained lawn that frames it.

Besides its visual appeal, a lawn is also practical.

Many of your favorite moments might occur in your yard, whether you're playing games with family and friends, enjoying cool drinks, throwing a frisbee for the dog, or simply relaxing in a lawn chair.

Plus, maintaining your grass well can significantly increase your home's value.

Here are some tips on new sod care that you need to know to tend to your new asset and keep your lawn in great shape.

New Sod Watering Schedule

Water is a crucial element in the health of your grass. Consistently watering new sod is crucial for ensuring the growth of strong roots.

When installed in the summer, water sod throughout the day to prevent it from drying or shrinking. Provide sufficient water to ensure consistent moisture for the first two weeks after installation. Continue watering for another two weeks to prevent drying out.

After that, maintain a watering schedule where you water long and deep for a few times each week to ensure moisture reaches the lawn roots.

Remember to water your lawn in the morning or late evening. Watering your lawn in the afternoon during the warmest part of the day can lead to evaporation versus absorption.

When to Mow New Sod

A common question is when to mow new sod.

It typically takes about 10 to 14 days for the sod to develop roots, which is when you should mow for the first time. Use the highest mower setting. Avoid removing more than one-third of the grass height in one mowing to protect your lawn’s health.

This approach helps keep your grass fuller, thicker, and more resilient against drought and weeds during the hottest, driest periods.

Understanding Your New Sod Fertilizer Schedule

New sod care can be enhanced with fertilizer from a professional lawn care company that understands the specific needs of these new lawns.

A quality fertilizer can help create and maintain a more sustainable root system. A pro may use liquid fertilizers on new sod to ensure proper penetration.

Aeration Is Important, Too

Aerating your sod lawn within six months to one year of installation, and then annually thereafter, can also help improve your new sod care.

Aerating your lawn with a machine creates small holes in the soil, allowing water, fertilizer, oxygen, and other essential nutrients to reach the grass roots more effectively.

Regular aeration will also prevent soil from becoming compacted, which can prevent moisture and nutrient absorption.

Enlist the Help of a Lawn Care Professional

When you hire a lawn care professional for your new sod care, you don’t need to scour the home improvement stores looking at all of the products or waste time learning about proper lawn care.

In fact, hiring the right service professional can mean you receive all the new sod care tips you need, in addition to properly timed and targeted treatments to ensure your grass stays in great shape all year long.

A professional can address all your worries about fertilization, weed control, or insect management, providing you with an informed partner for any questions or lawn needs.

Furthermore, hiring a lawn care expert enables you to enjoy your outdoor space without constantly tending to it.

Lawn & Pest Solutions Up Can Help Make New Sod Care Easier

You want sod that looks good and boosts your home value in Tupelo, Oxford & New Albany, MS.  We completely understand.

We hope these new sod care tips help you get that lawn you love to give that home the look you’re after.

As you tend to your sod, you may still be unsure about what to do. Stop worrying and call Lawn & Pest Solutions. We can help you assess your sod and suggest a proper lawn care program to ensure your new yard receives the attention it needs.

Ready to learn why Lawn & Pest Solutions could be your choice for lawn care services in North Mississippi? We’re excited to learn more about you and help you have the best lawn on the block. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we can prepare a customized plan that is perfect for you and your lawn.