Lawn Maintenance & Lawn Care Landscape Design

When To Fertilize New Sod

November 15, 2023

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A potted plant situated in a wheelbarrow for easy fertilization.

If you want to beautify your lawn quickly, working with new sod might be the most suitable option for you. While it can be a challenging assignment to maintain grass, well-timed usage of fertilizers and a watering schedule will perform miracles for it.

This article will provide you with some valuable tips on fertilizing new sod so even first-time gardeners can give rise to a beautiful lawn.

Should I Apply Fertilizer On New Sod?

Your new lawn must get sufficient nutrients for a healthy and aesthetically appealing outcome. Newly installed sod flourishes with a premium soil conditioner which functions to help produce and support a robust root system that will maintain your yard and keep it green for the coming years. Liquid fertilizers are likely to perform best for new sod because they can seep through the soil’s surface to help prepare the site underneath the ground.

When Is An Ideal Time To Fertilize New Sod?

Among the various determinants and procedures, timing is among the most crucial factor to take into account. You must ensure you coincide with the suggested time frame to create a lush new lawn.

How Much Should You Water After Sod Installation?

Start watering new sod within 30 minutes following installation to enable both lawn and soil to store moisture, but make sure to water the sod deeply to dampen the soil underneath, preferably 3-4 inches below the surface. Just remember that turf is a living plant too that needs ground contact and moisture to flourish.

Before Sod Installation

Fertilizing the soil before sod is installed will significantly help speed up the growth of new roots. This has to be carried out utilizing a quality starter fertilizer for grass plus any other alterations depending on the soil conditions and its pH levels.

After Sod Installation

Most landscaping connoisseurs would advise you to wait for approximately four to six weeks following installation. Adding fertilizer promptly might lead to adverse effects like drying out and chemical reactions on the roots and nearby plants.

Before applying fertilizer, you need to ensure your new grass has become accustomed to its new environment during the installation stage. If the sod had a hard time getting settled and was sluggish to root, wait to fertilize the sod until about four weeks after new growth emerged or the sod rooted firmly.

Do not add fertilizers with large percentages of nitrogen content. Whether you use turf grass or not, incompatible organic matter particles may provoke abiding aftermaths on the lawn.

Choosing The Best Fertilizer

There are various kinds of fertilizers that you could use for your new sod. A fertilizer with an adequate amount of phosphorus is best. To promote a sustainable root system, most gardeners use a slow-release granular fertilizer called 10-10-10. This enricher for sod supplies potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus to the ground, all of which is needed for sod to irrigate properly and remain healthy.

Use A Spreader For Even Application

The best advice you can receive is to use a spreader. Do not to use the chicken feeding way of applying the fertilizer where you merely grab some from the bag with your hand and fling it around. This process may work for flower beds, but not for your grass. You need to disperse the fertilizer evenly and use a mild dose for that first fertilization.

When Not To Fertilize Sod

There are some instances where you shouldn’t add fertilizer. First, conduct a soil test to verify that it has an ample amount of phosphorus and nitrogen. A couple of inches of high-quality compost adapted into the soil before laying sod can deliver adequate nourishment for lawn establishment.

New Sod Care

Using A Lawn Roller

The solution to keeping a beautiful lawn is periodic watering, mowing, and fertilizing, second to adequate ground prep. These practices will offer your root system the best opportunity to deliver a healthy and aesthetically appealing lawn for the coming years.

Watering New Sod

Following installation on the first day, you need to retain an appropriate amount of moisture for at least 14 days for the best new sod care. To begin watering new sod, utilize a minimum of one inch of water to make the soil very wet. Water must seep through from 6-8 inches. A simple method to determine that is to drench it until the soil can’t absorb more and water flows onto the driveway.

Do not overwater your lawn which could submerge the grass and sweep away the essential nutrients outside of the root zone. A reasonable measure is to keep your lawn moist but not soggy. Watering your grass for 10-15 minutes thrice daily must allow you to supply enough moisture without overwatering.

The perfect watering schedule is early in the morning. Like so, you can benefit from the regular growing cycle of the grass and reduce the evaporation of water.

Mowing

Your new grass can be mowed when it appears as if it requires mowing; ideally, five weeks to mow your lawns following installation to prevent clipping the new sod very close to the root. You can also skimp watering sessions during the days leading up to mowing, but don’t forget to keep your yard moist to allow healthy root growth. Refrain from using a riding mower since it is cumbersome and its powered wheels can bulldoze the new sod.

Clippings are the smaller parts of the grass blade that fall on the lawn due to mowing. Except when the clippings are too long, leave them on the lawn because they recycle the nourishments back into the soil. Enrich your lawn with fertilizer 3-4 times during the growing season to guarantee that your turf stays blooming.

Wrap Up

Sod can almost instantly transform a landscape and fertilizing sod will make it thrive, which delivers stunning lawns, though it does require some effort and money. It will also continue to require your care to remain lush.

Colin Macmillan

Colin Macmillan is a seasoned entrepreneur and the CEO of Riverwood Landscape, a leading landscaping company based in Canada. He has been at the helm of the company since leaving high school, demonstrating his strong leadership skills and business acumen.

Colin’s expertise lies in various aspects of landscaping, including lawn care, interlocking, sod installation, and commercial maintenance. His hands-on approach and dedication to the craft have been instrumental in building Riverwood Landscape into a reputable brand.

One of his most notable achievements is the creation of a successful landscape franchise that services multiple locations. This accomplishment underscores his strategic thinking and ability to scale operations effectively.

Colin has also had the privilege of working with Guelph Hospital for landscaping and maintenance, a testament to the trust and reliability that his company has earned over the years.

His professional mission is to offer the best services and experiences for customers, a goal that he tirelessly pursues. Colin’s commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction continues to drive the growth and success of Riverwood Landscape.