New Sod Care Tips

[RedlineSi]

My wife and I will be moving into our new home on Nov 29th. They will be planting a new lawn with sod, and we will have an irrigation system. I'm looking for advice on how to care for a brand new lawn from day one. I've usually only fertilized twice in the fall at my previous house. Any tips or advice would be great!

 

[Clonehomer]

Water. If it’s not squishy 24/7 for the first month, it’s not enough. Granted, I’ve never had a lawn sodded in November, so your weather will have an impact as well.

 

[CyCrazy]

Water. If it’s not squishy 24/7 for the first month, it’s not enough. Granted, I’ve never had a lawn sodded in November, so your weather will have an impact as well.

Lol that is over kill and the root system wont spread. Water deep and infrequently that is how you grow a new sod lawn. Your suggestion is nonsense. I would apply a starter fert that you can get anywhere.

 

[Turn2]

Lol that is over kill and the root system wont spread. Water deep and infrequently that is how you grow a new sod lawn. Your suggestion is nonsense. I would apply a starter fert that you can get anywhere.

Nope, he’s right, though with typical November weather drying wind is more of a concern than heat. Job 1 is eliminating air pockets and getting the sod rooted to the soil. Fertilizing can wait until spring. Decent soil prep before sodding would also be a prudent move.

 

[CyCrazy]

Nope, he’s right, though with typical November weather drying wind is more of a concern than heat. Job 1 is eliminating air pockets and getting the sod rooted to the soil. Fertilizing can wait until spring. Decent soil prep before sodding would also be a prudent move.

No he is not. I might know what I am talking about with a Turfgrass degree. But you guys do what you want I dont care.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

Rip it out and put in clover

 

[CyCrazy]

Rip it out and put in clover

This is becoming somewhat popular in central Iowa.

 

[NWICY]

Rip it out and put in clover

Hey there is a thread about going to Cincy for FB wasn't that neck of the woods originally? hey were looking for recs.

 

[legi]

My wife and I will be moving into our new home on Nov 29th. They will be planting a new lawn with sod, and we will have an irrigation system. I'm looking for advice on how to care for a brand new lawn from day one. I've usually only fertilized twice in the fall at my previous house. Any tips or advice would be great!

When are they installing the sod?

Just make sure you water enough. When we moved into our new house 4 years ago the sod installer told us what to do. If I remember correctly it was twice a day for 20-30 mins for couple weeks or so and no mowing until the sod is rooted and can’t move.

Then next year paid a guy $300 for 5 applications and water 20-30 mins every other day depending on the weather.

This is in MN if it makes a difference.

 

[RedlineSi]

When are they installing the sod?

Just make sure you water enough. When we moved into our new house 4 years ago the sod installer told us what to do. If I remember correctly it was twice a day for 20-30 mins for couple weeks or so and no mowing until the sod is rooted and can’t move.

Then next year paid a guy $300 for 5 applications and water 20-30 mins every other day depending on the weather.

This is in MN if it makes a difference.

They're trying to get the sod in this month.

I obviously won't be there to water it, but I'll check with them to make sure they are running the irrigation system.

 

[Turn2]

They're trying to get the sod in this month.

I obviously won't be there to water it, but I'll check with them to make sure they are running the irrigation system.

Irrigations systems should usually be purged before the first freeze, which could be in a week for some locales in Iowa. I hope you're close enough to manage hoses and sprinklers for a while.

 

[cycloner29]

Depending where you are moving to, be careful of the soil type the sod is going on. Seen a lot of new houses where they have have really spotty stands even with sod. This is due clay that was dug out for the foundation and basement. A lot of times they will spread it out over the yard on top and put a thin layer of top soil on top of it. Definitely soil prep is must!!

 

[legi]

They're trying to get the sod in this month.

I obviously won't be there to water it, but I'll check with them to make sure they are running the irrigation system.

We moved in late November as well but they waited to put the sod in till next spring.

But for your situation sounds like they’ll take care of everything by the time you move in. You won’t even have to mow till next year.

 

[legi]

Depending where you are moving to, be careful of the soil type the sod is going on. Seen a lot of new houses where they have have really spotty stands even with sod. This is due clay that was dug out for the foundation and basement. A lot of times they will spread it out over the yard on top and put a thin layer of top soil on top of it. Definitely soil prep is must!!

I was concerned with this for our lawn because our yard is all clay and the builder refused to put in top soil. But it did work out just fine. Maybe we were just lucky.

 

[RedlineSi]

We moved in late November as well but they waited to put the sod in till next spring.

But for your situation sounds like they’ll take care of everything by the time you move in. You won’t even have to mow till next year.

We did not want to go through a winter into an early spring with no sod and our dog in our brand new custom home lol. My wife was about to have a heart attack at the thought.