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Establishment of Your Newly Sodded Lawn

Thank you for using MR. LAWNS to install your new sod grass. Please follow this guide on establishing your new sodded lawn.

While following these sod watering guidelines, keep in mind that each yard is different, and even each section of yard is different. So we recommend that you check each section daily for the first month to more accurately determine if you need to water or not.

The best way to check the sod is to use your finger or a screwdriver to stick into the ground to check for moisture before watering. Keep in mind that more lawns and plants are killed by overwatering than under watering!

1^st week:

Water every other day for 45-60 minutes depending on the type of delivery method. Check soil each day and water more in sunnier, drier areas if necessary.

2^nd week:

Water every third day, still checking soil each day for moisture and watering more if required.

3^rd week:

Continue to water every third day

4^th week:

Water the lawn 1 inch per week. Adjust this if you receive rainfall. Keep checking moisture levels by probing the ground, and water more in the sunnier, drier areas if grass shows signs of heat stress.

You can start mowing the lawn in the third week, if the grass is fully rooted to the soil below. Check this by pulling on the grass in several different areas, if it does not pull away from the soil, you are ready to mow. For the very first mowing, set your mower on a high setting and make sure you have very sharp mower blades. Four days later, you may mow a little lower if desired.

A note about Weeds: You may have weeds sprouting in the cracks between the sod pieces. This is not a concern. You may hand pull the weeds if you want, or wait until after the fourth mowing and apply a post emergent weed treatment. Always read the instructions on the label before applying any treatment to new sod!

Fescue lawns need to be watched carefully for any signs of fungus brown patches.

We recommend following U.G.A. guidelines for Lawn Maintenance.

Watering Instructions for New Plantings

Newly planted beds and/or seasonal color beds watering needs vary from property to property, as well as, in different areas within a property. Therefore, it is always best to monitor your plants everywhere on a weekly basis, rather than just setting your irrigation system on auto pilot. Look for droopy, shriveled or burnt leaves, then check the soil around those plants with a moisture meter or probing the soil with your finger. Burned and yellowing leaves usually indicate over watering.

According to the plants and turf guide of the University of Georgia, it is recommended to water established plants 1 inch per week. Use the link below for information on caring for your ornamental plants.

http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.cfm?number=B1065

Run irrigation systems manually for the first month to make sure new plants are being watered properly. It is easier to bring a plant back that was under watered, than one that suffers from root rot due to over watering.

We strongly recommend performing an irrigation evaluation of your system. Use the following method:

Take five empty tuna cans and mark the inside at ½ inch.

Set the cans out in all four corners of a zone and one in the middle. If a zone is divided into several beds, then do one bed at a time. Run the system and check the cans every 5-10 minutes until the water level reaches the ½ inch mark. Note the minutes it took to hit the mark and multiply this number by 2, then set the system to water that amount of time, twice a week. You should still do a weekly walk about to manually check the soil moisture, and make adjustments if necessary.  

Remember, it is easier to bring a plant back that was under watered, than one that suffers from root rot due to over watering.

Watering Schedule for New Plants and Trees

1^st week:

Water 1 inch to saturate the soil and insure that moisture reaches to a depth of 8-10 inches. If it is summer, water again three days later, ½ inch. In winter or if temperatures are below 60 degrees F, you may wait a week before watering again.

An effective way to water trees, is to place a slow drip garden hose or soaker hose on the root ball for 4-8 hours and saturate the surrounding soil. Do this once a week.  

2^nd week:

Summer: water ½ inch every 3-4 days, always checking the soil moisture with the finger test, in between waterings. Winter: monitor soil moisture and water as needed. Usually Mother Nature can take over at this time of the year, due to plants’ dormancy and cooler temperatures.

3^rd and 4^th week:

Continue same settings and instructions according to the season.

Of course, always monitor any rainfall that occurs and adjust your watering schedule accordingly.

Remember, it is easier to bring a plant back that was under watered, than one that suffers from root rot due to over watering.