Maintenance

Your sod will be mowed to 2-1/4 inches prior to harvesting and delivery.  The height you continue to maintain it at depends on your intended use for the grass.  For a home lawn, two to three inches is ideal.

You should set your mower at a cutting height of 2-1/2 inches initially.  You can begin mowing as soon as the grass reaches a height of three inches.  The sod should have roots knitting to the soil by this time.

Be sure the mower blade is sharp.  The grass plants should be cut clean, as if with a pair of scissors.  A dull blade will rip and tear the blades of grass injuring the grass plant and causing it to dehydrate and be more susceptible to disease.  

Maintain a mowing schedule so that no more than one-third of the grass plant height is removed at each mowing.  For instance, if you choose to maintain your lawn at 2-1/2 inches, mow before it reaches 3-1/2 inches in height.

Six weeks after installation you should use a four-step fertilizer program available at garden centers in your area or have fertilizer applications applied by professional lawn service providers.  The pH of your soil in the lawn should be tested annually and the proper amount of lime applied to maintain the pH as close to 6.5 as possible.  Fertilizer and lime applications should be watered into the soil with one-half inch of water immediately to be effective.

The amount of supplemental watering required to maintain your sodded lawn will be dependent upon the type of soil you have on your site, the amount of natural rainfall you receive, temperature, and your shade and direct sunlight conditions.  Generally, three-quarters of an inch of water per week during the growing season should be adequate. 

An efficient way to determine the amount of water you are applying to your lawn is to place a tuna-type can in various locations to collect the water being applied.  After you have watered, measure the depth of water in the can to see how much water is being applied to your lawn. 

The best way to maintain a beautiful lawn is to periodically walk through it visually inspecting it for dry areas, off-color, weeds and insect damage, and correcting as needed.

If your lawn is mowed properly, watered, fertilized, and the soil pH is maintained at 6.5, it will grow vigorously and continue to be dense and present a beautiful dark green appearance for many years.