Long Island Sod Maintenance

New Sod Maintenance Guide

Watering Your New Sod Lawn

• The First Week of Watering is Critical.
• Your New Sod Lawn should not be allowed to dry out.
• Water Thoroughly The First Week
• After the first week maintain a moist but unsaturated soil condition, watering as necessary.
• After sod knits to the soil, (usually within 1 to 3 weeks) change watering frequency to achieve a moist and thorough watering of the new turf, allowing for natural rainfall and cool or hot weather.
• Continued over saturation is harmful and can cause root rot and ultimate surface damage.

Mowing Your New Sod Lawn...

• Your New Sod Lawn should be Mowed as soon as needed, usually 7 to 10   days after installation or before blades exceed 3".
• Be sure your lawn mower blades are sharp.
• Never cut more than 1/3 of the plant leaf at one mowing.

Fertilizing Your New Sod Lawn...

• You may want to fertilize your new sod lawn 4 - 6 weeks after the time of   installation.
• Popular brands of lawn food are satisfactory as long as 35 to 50% of the   nitrogen is from a slow release form.
• Apply the recommended rates as indiccated on the product you use.
• Fertilizing 3 to 4 times a year can supply 2 to 4lbs of nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. annually.

Follow This Fertilization & Maintenance Schedule Recommendation to
Help Maintain Your Lawns Health and Appearance 

Early Spring / April

Apply to Your Lawn....

• Lime
• Gypsum
• Overseeding lawn area
• Fertilizer 20-8-8 or Pre plant for lawn renovation work
• Crabgrass Pre-Emergent / Tenacity or Tupersan are the only types of   crabgrass pre-emergents that can be used for Overseeding.

Spring / Early Summer / May - June

Apply to Your Lawn....

• Second Application of crabgrass pre-emergent
• Second application of fertilizer 20-8-8 or 16-2-3
• Post emergence weed control
• Insecticide to control surface insects
• Fungicide to prevent lawn fungus

Mid-Late Summer / July - August

Apply to Your Lawn....

• Third Application of Fertilizer 20-8-8 or 16-2-3
• Post Emergence Weed Control
• Insecticide to Prevent Surface Insects
• Granular or Liquid Fungicide

Early - Late Fall / September - October

Apply to Your Lawn....

• Fourth Application of Fertilizer, either 20-8-8 or 16-2-3 or Starter Fall Fertilizer for Lawn Renovation Work.
• Lime
• Gypsum
• Overseed Lawn Area