| You
have a newly sodded lawn, and now that the sod has been unrolled
you will need to spring into action to see to it that it has the
best chance to thrive.
The most
important responsibility you have in this project is to keep
your sod moist. During the first 2 weeks, you should be watering
1-2 times per day (30 minutes per sprinkler location), or
more often if needed. Your sod must be constantly moist for
those first 2 weeks. Let moist sod be the guide – if you have
some sod yellowing in the first few days, you will need to water
those areas longer, and more often. But make sure it's not
yellow because it's drowning!
To achieve the
level of water coverage necessary you may have to purchase
multiple sprinklers and hoses, and still have to move them
around every day to ensure total coverage. After those first two
weeks, watering 2-3 times per week (30-40 minutes per sprinkler)
should be sufficient. Two weeks after the sod is laid, it should
be ready to mow! Keep your lawn trimmed to a height of 2
½".
We offer a
service where for a fee (starting at $100) we will provide the
sprinklers, hoses and splitter valves to get you started
watering, along with instructions on where to place sprinklers
and how to adjust them. Once your lawn is off to a good start
(4-6 weeks), we’ll come out and collect our equipment. This
service can save you money, time and headaches. Ask us about it
if you’re interested.
When we sod
your lawn, we also apply a slow-release starter fertilizer, with
a 19-19-19 analysis. You should not apply any other fertilizers
for at least one month after seeding. After that we advise
against a ‘weed and feed’ soon afterwards, as the weed
killer used may cause enough stress to your grass that it will
also succumb. Fortunately many weeds are annual, and several
mowings or the first frost will wipe them out. So, if you’re
having weed troubles in the early going, just keep your lawn
mowed (2 ½" height). Next year you can initiate a ‘weed
and feed’ regimen.
If you want to
fertilize but only have time to do it once all year, the best
time to do it is in early fall (during September). This gives
your grass the food it needs to make a strong root system
through fall and winter. However, if you can fertilize more
often, follow this schedule:
1st
application – In Spring as the lawn is starting to grow. Use
approx. ½lb N/1000 sq ft. Use a weed and feed at this time.
2nd
application – In mid-Summer, using a slower release, like
Milorganite, approx. 1lb N/1000 sq ft.
3rd
application – In late August to early September, as the
weather get cooler. 1lb N/1000 sq ft.
4th
application – In late Fall, October-November, when the tops
are green but not actively growing. Use as much as 2lb N/1000 sq
ft.
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