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New Sod Care:
Your First Week With Fresh Sod

Your First Week With New Sod

All American Sod, Utah-grown since 1977

The first seven days decide whether new sod roots in strong. Sod is a living plant cut from the field, so right now it needs water, shade until it's laid, and to be left alone. Follow this new sod care guide and your Utah lawn will be established quickly. Whether you chose American Bluegrass or American Oasis, the steps are the same.

Delivery Day:

Lay Your Sod Quickly

  • Install your sod quickly, on the day it arrives. Rolls stacked on a pallet build up heat, especially in a Utah summer, and can yellow or die within 24 to 48 hours.

  • If you can't lay it right away, keep the pallets in the shade and keep the rolls from drying out.

  • Before you start, make sure the soil is graded, loosened, and lightly moist. Keep the soil about one inch below sidewalks and driveways so the sod sits flush. Dry soil pulls moisture out of the sod quickly, causing it to dry out and turn yellow or brown. Begin watering by hand right after installation to saturate the sod and the soil below.

  • Lay rolls in a staggered, brick-like pattern with tight seams. Don't overlap edges and don't stretch the sod.

  • Use a sharp knife to trim around sprinklers, trees, and beds. Our favorite tool for this is a linoleum knife with a hooked blade.

  • Roll the lawn lightly if you can. This presses the roots against the moist soil so they make good contact.

How to Water New Sod:

Day 1

Water as soon as each section is laid, and don't wait for the whole lawn to be finished. Soak it until the whole soilprofile is wet, about one half inch. Lift a corner and check: the soil under the sod should be damp and the sod should feel heavy and wet. The worst thing to do is let the sod sit on dry ground, this allows the dry dirt to pull water from the sod.

How to Water New Sod:

Days 2 to 7

  • Hot weather (summer): Water two to three short cycles a day, for example early morning, midday, and mid-afternoon. A cycle of about 10 to 15 minutes per zone is a common starting point, but adjust for your sprinklers and reduce as teh new sod matures.

  • Cool weather (spring and fall): Once or twice a day is usually enough to start with.

  • Slopes: Use shorter cycles with breaks in between so water soaks in instead of running off.

  • Edges and seams: These dry out first. Hand water them if they start to curl or pale.

  • The lift test: Check a few spots each day. Damp soil under the sod means you're on track. Dry soil means add water. Standing water or mushy soil means cut back.

What to Avoid

With New Sod

  • Don't mow. Wait until the sod has rooted, usually about 10 to 14 days.

  • Keep off it. No foot traffic, kids' play, or pets for the first two weeks if you can manage it. Walking on loose sod can leave dents, shift seams, and break new roots.

  • Use only starter fertilizer. Apply a light starter fertilizer at installation, ideally one with pre-emergent weed control or crabgrass preventer. Begin regular feeding in about four to six weeks.

  • Don't let it dry out. Even one hot, dry afternoon can set new sod back.

Signs

Your New Sod Needs Help

  • Too dry: Gray or blue-green color, curling edges, gaps opening at seams, sod that feels crisp or lifts easily. Water right away and deeper.

  • Too wet: Yellowing, a soft or spongy feel, standing puddles, mushrooms. Ease off the watering and let the surface firm up between cycles.

  • Gaps at seams: Fill small gaps with a little topsoil, or patch with a scrap of sod, and keep the area moist.

When to Mow New Sod:

The Tug Test

At about 10 to 14 days, gently tug a corner of the sod. If it resists, the roots have taken hold. Now you can:

  • Begin watering less often but more deeply, working toward 2 to 3 times a week as roots go deeper.

  • Make your first mow when the grass is around 3 to 4 inches tall. Set the mower high, keep the blade sharp, and never remove more than one-third of the height.

  • Allow normal foot traffic and pets again once the sod is firmly rooted and the soil beneath has firmed up.

New Sod Care

for Fall Installs

If your sod goes down in late fall or winter, keep watering as long as the ground isn't frozen. Roots keep growing in cool soil, and dry winter wind can damage lawns that went in dry.

Questions

About New Sod Care?

We're a family business and we're happy to help, whether your sod looks great or something seems off. Call 801-227-7800 (Northern Utah) or 435-896-4261 (Central and Southern Utah), or email allamericansod@gmail.com. A photo of the problem area helps us give you the right advice.

Ready to order? Request a free estimate for sod delivery in Utah, check our service areas, or compare American Bluegrass and American Oasis to find the right lawn for your yard.

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