Thank you for your choice of Outdoor Traditions in your Landscape project.  We have created this information sheet, to help you with the care and expectations of your new lawn.

Fresh Sod

Sod is a great way to get an instant thick full deep green lawn.  It does have some warnings or precautions that come with it.  Grading has been done to improve the “level or smoothness” of your property.  These changes have loosened the soil and in turn when this loose soil gets wet it turns a soupy like consistency.  This makes the grade very susceptible to change or depressions if disturbed in any way, like walking on or driving on or even cutting with the lawnmower.  It is our recommendation that you rope off or mark out the area sodded to prevent people passing by from disturbing your fresh sod.

Watering

Watering is the single most important thing to do for your new Lawn.

When sod is cut from the field they separate the grass from the root zone leaving only a small amount of roots for the grass to grow from.  This root zone is only ½” thick at most.  So that means once the surface ground is dry, the roots cannot draw any more water for the plant.  Leaving the plant susceptible to drought, drought symptoms are; first a purplish colour can be seen, then the grass looks wilty (if you step on it, it does not spring back up), then it will turn a light green colour and be very flat (lies flat under its own weight), then death occurs.
We recommend as much water as possible without runoff.  This means the first time you water the lawn the sod should float.  You need to have the water penetrate a couple of inches into the ground.  This allows the soil to start its compaction process (no more soupy consistency), and allow the sod itself to soak up water to become wet and healthy again.  The sooner this first watering is done the better it is for the grass.

After the first watering it only needs to be maintained or kept wet.

Watering Schedule

  • First watering 1-2 hours in each spot the sprinkler sits, making sure to cover all of the sodded areas. So if you have to move the sprinkler 3 times to cover the area you should be watering 3-6hours of total time
  • Maintenance watering should be done at least once a day, but twice is better. Same as above with reguards to method but time should be 30 – 60 minutes
  • For the first week you should do the “first watering” on the first day and then “maintenance watering” every day for the rest of the 7 day period.
  • For the second week you should do a “maintenance watering” every other day of the 7 day cycle.
  • For the third week you should do a “maintenance watering” every third day of the 7 day cycle
  • After the third week ground should be hard and you should maintain a good watering practice of 2 to 3 waterings a week depending on the season.

Cutting for the first time

You should cut the grass for the first time towards the end of the second week just before the next watering is due.  We recommend a height of 3” for this first few cuts, then bring it down one step at a time to no lower then 2 ½” in height.

Fertilizer and Care

Fertilizer is always a recommended practice.  Doing at least 3 per year tailor to the season you are in, for example Spring, Summer, Fall.  We at Outdoor Traditions have a program that does 6 feedings in a year with each application tailored for the season.

Weeds

Weeds are going to invade your lawn.  It is going to happen.  Our best suggestion is to pull out 5 weeds a week.  You will have difficulty finding 5 weeds a week to start but if you keep at it you should always have a hard time finding 5 weeds.  If you let this go or do nothing they will come and bring all their friends.

Download Our Sod/Lawn Projects PDF Info Card

Questions or concerns

If you have any questions or concerns that we have not answered here please call, email, or any method of contact you choose and we will be happy to help.

Thank you again for choosing Outdoor Traditions and we look forward to serving you again in the future with your next project.

Outdoor Traditions Limited