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When To Mow New Sod?

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When installing new sod onto your lawn, it is important to wait a few weeks before cutting the grass. If not done so and mowed when green shoot cuttings are still at their height, this can damage them by tearing off blades of grass. It also prevents water absorption.

All of you want to know “when to mow new sod” to maintain healthy plants with little initiative required. This post will provide tips on how long one should wait after installing sodding/seeding to get optimal results.

Best Time to Mow New Sod

New lawns need to be mowed for better turf health and an enhanced visual appearance. However, mowing at an inadequate time can damage your grass- so here’s when you should do it!

  • Once tufts of angelic green emerge after about 3 weeks
  • When plants are 16 inches tall, 4/5ths grown, but before seed heads appear
  • Cloudy weather will slow down growth, so wait until dry conditions prevail
  • After crop pests have finished ravaging
  • Early fall, when temperatures are still warm but not blazing, there’s little risk of frostbite or other dangerous weather conditions harming your plants
when to mow new sod with riding mower

Average Waiting Period To Mow New Sod

The new sod lawn needs time to establish a strong root system before you use it. So, when you finally get your hands on some beautiful new sod, what would be the right time to cut it?

We recommend waiting 13-15 days after installing your yard’s newest addition and then cutting at least 2 inches above ground level.

At this time, the grass is strong enough to survive being mowed regularly without dying from lack of nutrients or water retention capacity.

Also, the timeframe depends on what type of grass was chosen. Few grass types even take 60 days after installation before cutting the first blade.

Signs that Your New Sod is Ready For Mowing

Before mowing the new turf, you should check whether or not there are any signs that it needs more time for roots and grass blades to reach their full potential size (or just waiting).

If you want to find out how long you should wait before mowing after installing new turf, you need to look for the following signs.

Established Roots

The new grass has a narrow root system, so it will take some time to establish the roots in the soil. However, you can determine if these roots have been fully formed by lightly pulling at least one section of sod; if it shows resistance, it means it is ready for mowing!

Make sure to check all the sections, and if it doesn’t have enough hold to the soil, you should continue watering and let the roots develop.

Grass Blades Height

Lawn-care professionals recommend mowing new sod when it reaches a specific height that is different for different grasses.

For example, Kentucky bluegrass matures best when it’s between two and three inches high; Zoysia has less stringent requirements with at least an inch or two inches for good growth.

​Don’t just cut new sod only once to adjust the height of your grass. Instead, it’s best practice to mow the lawn several times a week. It is best to cut around 1/3 with each operation – this will allow for more rapid growth. Always use a sharp mower blade, especially for the initial cut, to prevent torn grass.


Care for New Sod

Now that you’ve gone through the expense and effort to lay new sod, it’s time to make sure your lawn has a decent root system before mowing. We have a few suggestions that will help you grow a healthy, green lawn.

Watering

Proper watering can be a challenge for new sod. Like any living thing, it needs water to survive and grow for the soil underneath it to do its job.

Balancing water is the crucial factor as too much water will foster fungus under the roots, which can cause your new sod to fail. Consider the following things while watering your newly installed grass:

  • Watering should happen in the early morning after 3:00 AM so sunlight cannot cause excessive runoff.
  • The new lawn needs watering twice a day for about 20 minutes per watering (solid six inches of watering per cycle).
  • The morning and late afternoon are the best times to water your lawn.
  • On average, an established lawn requires approximately 1 1⁄2 inches of water per week, 1⁄2 inch every other day during hot seasons.
  • Watering depends on weather conditions as well as soil types.

Fertilizing

Fertilizers are important if you want your yard to look healthy.

  • You should apply fertilizer to the sod before you lay it.
  • Once established, your lawn will need regular fertilizing every six weeks or so, depending on water and soil type.
  • Use organic fertilizer along with synthetic types.

Avoid foot traffic

A new layer of grass requires plenty of care before being able to withstand occasional foot traffic. Remember to stay off of your lawn for the first two weeks or until after your first mowing.

Weed Control

Weeds are likely to appear in your new lawn, and you need to control them to get a healthy turfgrass. When working with new sod, installers should wait 10 – 14 days before applying pesticides so that roots have enough time to grow strong enough.

Pre-emergent herbicides work by creating a protective barrier in the soil, and these can be used to keep crabgrass, spurge, and approximately 35 other weeds out of your yard. Apply “The Andersons Barricade Professional-Grade Granular Pre-Emergent Weed Control” to get the best results.

The Andersons Barricade Professional Grade Granular Pre Emergent Weed Control When To Mow New Sod

Conclusion

Mowing your lawn when it’s still in its dormant state can cause irreparable damage. You should know the best time to cut the newly installed grass. This article expands the detail about the following facts.

  • Mow new sod after 13-15 days after installation (few grass types even take 60 days)
  • Cut at least 2 inches above ground level to allow rapid growth
  • Mowing early causes damage

If you have any questions, feel free to leave them below. We’ll be glad to answer and share our experience with the lawn care tips you’re looking for!

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