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    Care For New Seed Lawns
    September 28, 2021
    Helpful Guides
    September 28, 2021

    Care for New Sod Lawns 

    Your new lawn has been carefully installed, and needs proper continuing maintenance, particularly in the next several weeks to ensure the success of the installation. Please follow the watering and care instructions below. PLEASE NOTE: 

    • You may walk on the lawn to move sprinklers, but keep non-essential foot traffic to an absolute minimum during the initial establishment period. 
    • You are not applying enough water if the edges between the sod pull apart or are separating, this indicates the sod is shrinking. 
    • Do NOT water at night or late in the evening. 
    • Make sure to water along pavement surfaces when the temperatures are warmer, as the sod will literally bake next to the hot surface. 

    ➢ 1 Maintenance Practices (0-10 days): 

    Water each day for at least 15-20 minutes in each area of lawn (according to how much water your sprinkler emits). Watering a second time each day is recommended if the temperatures are over 65° and sunny. It is important to get the water through the sod and into the soil below the sod. Check to make sure you are watering enough by pulling back the corner of the sod in several places throughout the lawn to make sure the soil below is moist. Full sun areas may require more water than shady areas. ▪ Do not fertilize or mow the lawn yet. 

    ➢ 2 Maintenance Practices (10-21 days): 

    Water every other day for approximately 30 minutes. By watering for longer periods of time, you are encouraging root growth deeper into the soil. Check to make sure you are watering enough by pulling back the corner of the sod in several places throughout the lawn to make sure the soil is moist. The sod should be difficult to pull up. Do NOT force it. Tug lightly to assure good rooting. If the lawn is not rooting,  you are not watering enough. 

    Before watering the lawn, cut the grass as needed. Do not remove more than a third of the grass while cutting. For example, if the grass is 5” tall, do not cut below 3.5”. Keep the lawn at 2.75”-3.5” in height. ▪ Do not apply fertilizer to the lawn yet. 

    ➢ 3 Maintenance Practices (3 weeks and on): 

    You may begin to cut the lawn as needed as the lawn should now be fairly well rooted and can take normal wear and tear. Water the lawn approximately twice per week, making sure to apply 1” of water each week. You may apply a balanced turf fertilizer 6 weeks after installation which we can take care of for you. If you are applying the product, follow the instructions carefully and use a rotary spreader. Look for a fertilizer that has a nutrient ratio of 3:1:2 which indicates the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK). 

    ▪ Avoid applying herbicides when it is hot and dry. Wait for cooler weather.

    Care for New Sod Lawns

    Water Mowing Fertilizer Additional 

    Applications

    Recommended Practices
    Keep non-essential foot traffic to an absolute minimum during the initial establishment period. If the edges between the sod pull  apart or are separating, the sod is shrinking which means you are not applying enough water. Make sure to water along  pavement surfaces when temperatures are warmer, as the sod will bake and become dry next to hot pavement surfaces such as  stone, gravel, concrete, asphalt, etc.
    0-10 Days15-20 minutes, 

    per day, per area

    No No  

    No 

    No
    10-21 Days30 minutes,  

    every other day,  per area

    First cut after  12-24 daysNo No No
    3–6 Weeks 1” of water per  

    week

    Cut to height  of 2.75” to  

    3.5”

    Fertilize at rate of  ¾ lb. slow release  nitrogen per 1,000  square feetNo No
    6 -7 weeks 1” a weekCut to height  of 2.75” to  

    3.5” 

    No No No
    7-10 Weeks 1” a weekCut to height  of 2.75” to  

    3.5” 

    No No No
    3 Months 1” a weekCut to height  of 2.75” to  

    3.5”

    Next regular  

    application

    First pesticide applicationNo
    6 Months 1” a weekCut to height  of 2.75” to  

    3.5” 

    Aerate
    1 Year 1” a weekCut to height  of 2.75” to  

    3.5” 

    Thatch
    Notes: Sod lawn  

    installation  

    required diligent  

    watering for longer  periods of time to  get roots to  

    establish in the  

    turf.  

    If water is running  out from under the  sod, the soil is  

    saturated.

    Do not water  

    the lawn one to  two days  

    preceding lawn  mowing.  

    Continue  

    watering cycle  after first cut. 

    Sharpen mower  blades  

    regularly.

    Apply fertilizer at  half the normal  

    rate in shady lawn  areas.

    Make spot  

    weed control  

    applications as  needed, no  

    sooner than 10  weeks from  

    installation  

    date. Use  

    pesticides  

    sparingly and  

    only as needed.

    Aerate at least once  per year, twice is  

    preferable.

    Landscaping award
    Lynch Landscape & Tree Service Inc.
    110 Old Sudbury Rd.
    Wayland, MA 01778
    office@lynchlandscape.com
    978-443-2626
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