The lawn is the aspect of a home that attracts the most attention. Even an average home can have much more charm with a vibrant property. A lush, thriving lawn is emotionally calming and visually pleasing. Furthermore, it ensures good times for the family in spring and summer.
Grass cover is the most fundamental requirement of a good lawn. A healthy, thick grass cover is vital for ensuring a vibrant, fresh lawn, and sod can make it a reality for your lawn. Sod is essentially a grass carpet, saving maintenance time and money. Of course, sod needs care and maintenance so your lawn can maintain its beauty.
You can ensure that your sod flourishes by familiarizing yourself with its installation and maintenance. This article is a one-stop guide with answers from our sod-laying experts to frequently asked questions (FAQs) on sod installation and lawn maintenance in Ottawa. Their advice will help you achieve a beautiful lawn that you and your family can enjoy for years.
Our Experts’ Answers to Sod Installation FAQs
How often should I water my new sod?
If you water your new sod often, it will grow strong roots. Water it throughout the day for sod you apply in summer to prevent shrinking and drying. Ensure moisture your lawn stays moist for at least two weeks after installation of your sod, and continue watering it for another two weeks to ensure it does not dry out. You can also install an irrigation system for your lawn, which will help you save time and money in the long run.
How long should each watering session last for newly installed sod?
You should water newly installed sod for at least 45 minutes for lawn soil to gather enough moisture so that the sod properly takes root. Later, in the first few weeks after installation, you should water your sod twice or thrice daily for 15 to 20 minutes to help your sod lay down strong roots.
How long does it take for roots to develop in new sod?
New sod should take 10 to 14 days to take root after laying. We also recommend waiting for this 10–14-day period to pass before mowing the grass from your new sod. Avoid walking or running on new sod, and ensure that pets stay off your new sod. This action ensures that the fragile young roots develop properly.
What time of the day is best for watering the new sod?
There are two optimal times of day to water new sod: early in the morning and late in the evening. At these times of the day, the sod will retain moisture, which the soil will absorb. When soil lacks water, it cannot retain essential nutrients that sod needs to flourish. Therefore, you should consider buying a timed sprinkler that you can set to sprinkle adequate amounts of water at the appropriate times of the day if your budget allows.
Do I need to add fertilizer to the new sod?
Absolutely. Applying a quality fertilizer to your sod will create a sustainable root system, which will help keep your yard lush for many years. For example, applying liquid fertilizer is particularly good for new sod because it can percolate through the soil to help enhance conditions under the soil surface.
Aerating your lawn is one way to ensure fertilizer reaches roots that are deeper underground. You should perform this aeration after 6 to 12 months of laying new sod and once or twice per year thereafter.
Adequate and regular aeration will:
allow percolation of water, fertilizer, and other nutrients through the soil to reach the roots, keeping your lawn and landscaping green and beautiful; and
prevent soil compaction, which can prevent the absorption of moisture and nutrients
Helpful Tips for Maintaining New Sod
To care for your new sod:
Keep your lawn adequately moist before installation.
Level your newly installed sod using a lawn roller; and
Mow your lawn within five weeks of installation.
Keep your lawn adequately moist before installation.
Overwatering your lawn in preparation for installation will create mud, which impedes successful sod installation. Avoid overwatering prepared soil and only ensure that there is enough moisture in the days leading up to sod installation. Watering it daily for 10–15-minute sessions will provide enough moisture without overwatering the soil.
Level your newly installed sod using a lawn roller
If you use a lawn roller shortly after sod installation, you will enable the rooting of sod in your lawn soil. When levelling, ensure that the sod patches are firm and as close to the soil as possible. This action minimizes the space between the new roots and the earth where they will grow and facilitates water circulation from beneath the sod.
Mowing your lawn within five weeks of installation
After the installation of new sod, it is crucial that you wait for a minimum of five weeks before mowing your lawn because you will avoid cutting too close to the grassroots. Although you will need to keep your yard moist to ensure proper rooting, we recommend reducing the frequency of the watering sessions in the days leading up to mowing.
Maintaining your lawn by yourself is a good idea: you get exercise and save money simultaneously. However, sod-laying experts have years of experience and the best equipment at their disposal. Although you can upgrade your lawn-care equipment, lawn care can be time-consuming and physically exhausting, and your lawn will suffer as a result. SOD Boys can help as we have the solutions to all your problems. We prep soil, install, and help maintain new sod throughout the Ottawa area. Our sod-installation experts will ensure the proper installation of your new sod. They will provide recommendations on watering and fertilizing in order to help you maintain a lush and beautiful yard. Contact us today for a free estimate.
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