New sod tips

[calgary350z]

I just was wondering if anybody has any tips for someone with newly installed sod such as watering tips or things to do in the first month or two. I have had my sod in for about a week and I have noticed some dead spots, and a friend says they will come back. I just wanted to see if this is normal and what things I could do to ghet it looking good quickly. I also still can see alot of gaping and sod lines and my landscape guys told me they will go away quickly.
thanks in advance

[Graham_A_M]

The lines will go away eventually. Fertize the sod and give it a GOOD watering every few days. Dont water it everyday as you'll want to encourage the grass to grow deep roots. Watering it everyday discourages this. Like I say, with a good fertilizing the dead parts will eventually come back, and just water it causally from that point on, but be mindful of the amount of heat & sun.

On these HOT days, watering it everyday is a good idea.. if its cool or rainy out, every few days (read: twice a week) is enough.

[calgary350z]

so I should fertilize right now or wait till I can walk on it. If so do you recommend a certain type of fertilizer or method to fertilzing when I should start. Sorry for the stupid questions but I have never had a lawn that I had to maintain before and I spent a bunch of money on a underground sprinkler system and landscaping so I want it to look good

[Graham_A_M]

Scotts general turf fertilizer is excellent. You can get a 20kg bag of it at Home Depot for $45 or thereabouts. It'll last you probably 2-5 years depending on how big your lawn is, or how often you want to apply it. I'd say probably twice a year should be good. One in the spring (or now at least for you) and once again in late August or later.
The cool part is that its not Granular, so if you apply too much (within reason I mean) it wont burn the lawn, you also dont HAVE to water it right away. With typical granular fertilizer you have to water it or it'll burn the turf.

You can use any type of spreader, a drop spreader (great for targeting specific areas obviously) or a rotary spreader. I'd use a rotary spreader on probably a 75% setting. You'll see results after the first week.
Just water it twice a week (give it a good soak) like I said and you'll do fine. Let it grow until its fairly long before you start cutting it. Remember the taller the grass, the deeper the roots so give new sod a while to properly take root before cutting it. When you do cut it, just leave the mower deck on a higher setting so there is no chance of scalping the sod.

[ChappedLips]

Just keep it watered and you should be good to go, don't cut it too short either when you do start to walk on it.

[Supa Dexta]

Also water in the evening or early morning before the sun is strong, so the water has time to soak in.

[sevewone]

Originally posted by Supa Dexta
Also water in the evening or early morning before the sun is strong, so the water has time to soak in.

Exactly. I see to many people watering there lawns in mid afternoon. The amount of water that evaporates before hitting your lawn on a hot sunny day is a huge.

[Barking_Spidre]

Originally posted by sevewone


Exactly. I see to many people watering there lawns in mid afternoon. The amount of water that evaporates before hitting your lawn on a hot sunny day is a huge.

And I believe the sun can also burn your grass if watered during the day?

I had always been told to water your sod lots during the first couple weeks, like twice a day. But don't take my word for it.

[ExtraSlow]

Yeah, water every two days, very deeply, and water around dawn. Invest in a water timer so you don't have to get out of bed. They are gold.

[Graham_A_M]

Originally posted by Barking_Spidre


And I believe the sun can also burn your grass if watered during the day?

I had always been told to water your sod lots during the first couple weeks, like twice a day. But don't take my word for it.
^ no watering it during the day will not burn the sod. Its just a waste of water, as like what was said: it just evaporates mainly.

And no like I mentioned with examples: it is not good to water twice a day. This way the grass has wont develop long roots since they would be entirely not needed.