If you want to establish a new lawn in Texas, you should have sod installed. While sod will look great the same day it is installed, it will require special care for the first month while it's establishing itself. Once your sod has been installed, the first thing you must do is water it right away to prevent the sod from drying out and getting damaged. During the first two weeks after installation, it's crucial to continue watering your lawn often to keep the sod moist. You can also mow your sod for the first time after two weeks as long as the roots have established themselves in the soil. 3-4 weeks after your sod has been installed, you can reduce the frequency of watering while increasing the minutes per watering to allow the roots to grow deeper. Keep reading to learn more about how to care for your newly installed sod!

Water your sod directly after it has been installed.

Homeowner watering newly installed sod in Seguin, TX.

After your sod has been installed, you'll want to water it right away. Don't put off this task because the sun can dry up your newly installed sod, which can result in your sod being severely damaged. On the same day your sod is installed, you should water it about 6 inches into the soil. This deep watering should be enough to keep your sod hydrated so that it can start to establish its roots in the soil.

During the first two weeks after your sod was installed, keep off of it and water it often.

Mower in newly installed sod after growth in New Braunfels, TX.

While your lawn will look like a normal, healthy lawn, your sod will still be very weak while it's trying to establish its roots. For the first two weeks after your sod was installed, you should stay off of it so you don't stress it out or damage it. You will also need to continue watering it frequently to ensure it doesn't dry out and to help it establish its roots. After about two weeks, it will be time to mow it for the first time. Before you mow it, cut back on watering it so that it can firm up, and then check to see if its roots are established. To do so, you can gently tug on the sod, if it lifts up, the roots are not established yet and you need to wait a little longer before mowing. But if it doesn't lift up and feels anchored to the soil, you can go ahead and mow it.

When mowing your sod, make sure that you never cut off more than 1/3 of the grass blade during a single mow so you don't stress out your grass.

How to care for your sod 3-4 weeks after it was installed.

3-4 weeks after your sod was installed, its roots should have developed and it should be anchored to the soil, so you can adjust how you care for it. During this time, you can change up the watering schedule. You should water your sod less often, but deeper which will allow the roots to grow deeper. After about a month, you should be able to use your lawn like normal!

Interested in getting an instantly green lawn? Call us today to schedule our sod installation service!

If you're looking for a way to get a beautiful new lawn almost instantly, it's time to sign up for our sod installation service. While the best time to install sod in our area is either from October to December or from February to April, you can schedule this service any time of the year, and we'll be right there to give you the instantly green lawn you want!

We offer this service to residential properties in New Braunfels, Buda, San Marcos, TX, and nearby areas. Give us a call today at (830) 515-2002 to schedule.