However, given that it is grass, it will require cutting at some point. However, you should avoid mowing it too soon after it has been installed because doing so may cause damage to the grass's fragile roots as well as the delicate balance of the newly established turf.
Before you start mowing freshly laid sod, you should wait at least two weeks, as a general rule. This will provide the roots with the necessary time to establish themselves in the subsoil that lies under the surface. However, running a lawnmower over the newly sodded area isn't the only thing you have to do in order to keep the sod in good condition and to get it to take.
In this post, we are going to take a more in-depth look at the various aspects that go into mowing sod, such as the timing of the process, the height of the cutting deck, and other significant aspects. In addition, we'll have a look at some of the other essential particulars that will assist you in getting your sod off to an excellent beginning throughout its first year.
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No walking for at least 2 weeks
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Fertilize before mowing
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Water before mowing
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Ready to mow
When sod is first installed, there is little to no connection between the roots and the underlying subsoil. When kids, pets, neighbors, and delivery people walk across the young sod it can disrupt the roots pulling them out of the soil. It can also compact the turf leading to a loss of aeration and make it difficult for the sod to absorb water.
It’s best to keep any and all foot traffic off of young sod for at least two weeks. Even after mowing, it would help to keep foot traffic off the sod for a full six weeks. Putting up warning markers might also serve as a reminder for kids and visitors.
FERTILIZING NEW SOD BEFORE MOWING
The application of the appropriate fertilizer is an essential step in getting off to a good start with your newly sodded lawn. In the garden departments of most large-scale hardware retailers, you may find a selection of spray fertilizers that have been developed expressly for use on sod. A strong boost given to the sod around a day or so before the first mowing will encourage good root growth in addition to giving the grass a wonderful boost for regeneration. This should be done.
WATERING YOUR SOD BEFORE MOWING
Moisture is critical for vigorous grass growth. It’s especially important for establishing sod. Ideally, you want to water your sod right after installing it, and continue watering it at least once if not twice a day. Then it needs to be watered 3 to 5 times over the course of the first two weeks. You might need to water more if the seasonal weather is especially dry.
Watering the sod thoroughly the day before you mow it for the first time will also help the roots establish themselves. Depending on the type of fertilizer you choose, you might be able to fertilize and water at the same time.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MOWING NEW SOD?
Mowing new sod every two weeks does more than just keep it looking lovely. Additionally, it stimulates the growth of the sod, causing it to become fuller and thicker. Not to mention the fact that it assists in suffocating weeds as well as crabgrass. Insects, grass spiders, and other unwanted critters can be deterred from the sod if it is not mowed and kept correctly. Additionally, it lessened the likelihood of issues brought on by a fungus that lives in the soil.
HOW HIGH TO CUT NEW SOD
Let’s say you resisted the temptation to mow too early and you’ve given your sod a solid two weeks, without kids, pets, or delivery people walking on it. With proper watering and fair weather, your new sod’s roots should have a reasonably firm grip on the underlying subsoil. If you are curious, you might want to try pulling up a small corner to see how the roots are doing.
The height to set your lawnmower’s cutting deck will vary depending on the prevailing weather pattern as well as the type of grass in your sod. If the extended forecast is calling for prolonged dry weather, and you don’t have a lawn irrigation system, you might want to leave the grass a little taller than you would for an established lawn. This will help retain soil moisture levels.
Popular types of grass like Kentucky bluegrass and fast-growing fine fescue can be cut down as low as 1.5 to 2 inches. Yet tall fescues and perennial ryegrass need more soil moisture for the blade mass and should be left between of 2 to 3 inches high during dry conditions.
CARING FOR SOD AFTER THE FIRST MOWING SESSION
After the first two weeks and the first mowing, the roots of the grass should have grown down into the subsoil by a quarter to half an inch. This will allow the grass to become more resistant to drought and disease. At this point, the plant may require some "tough love," which can be demonstrated by decreasing the amount of times per week that it is watered.
The roots will be encouraged to grow deeper as a result of this. Just try to avoid being overly harsh. You are not attempting to recreate a drought, are you? In an ideal situation, you should be able to reduce the frequency of the watering sessions to once every other day if the weather is agreeable. The frequency of the check-ins can then be reduced to once every three days after an initial period of one to six weeks.
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WHEN SHOULD I WATER SOD?
Whether you use an automatic sprinkler system or you're going to be doing the watering by hand, the optimum time to do it is first thing in the morning. This will allow the water to permeate far into the turf layers before being evaporated by the sun. It may be necessary to water the sod again in the late afternoon or early evening if the local climate is particularly hot and dry. In this way, the grass will be able to retain its moisture for longer.
Watering should be avoided in the two to three hours before nightfall if at all possible. The growth of soil fungi and other pests that might harm new sod is facilitated by an abundance of water in the turf.
