Landscaping >> Maintaining The Sod Lawn

Established sod lawns should not be watered lightly at frequent intervals. They should be watered when the grass begins to show signs of wilting, and then shold be saturated to a depth of six inches. Do not wait too long to water.

New sod lawns should be watered for three full hours the day the sod is installed. Do not water the second day. On the third day, water for tow to three full hours. For the fourth day on, use regular watering procedures.

Established sod lawns should be mowed when the grass reaches a height of two and one-half to three inches. Use a mower on which the blade is sharp and adjusted to cut at one and one-half to two inches high. If the grass should ever grow above three inches, do not cut it back more than one-third its total height at one time.

New sod lawns should be examined on the fifth or sixth day after sodding to see if mowing is necessary.

Use limestone every other year after the sod is installed. It is recommended that the soil be tested to determine the proper amount of limestone needed. However, as a general rule, apply fifty pounds of ground limestone per thousand square feet. This could best be applied in late fall.

Established sod lawns should be fertilized in the spring, summer and fall. For timed release of nitrogen, it is important to use a fertilizer with a partly organic nitrogen source.