Best Ways to Grow Newly Planted Grass in Sioux City

You are just starting your new grass planting project and are excited about nurturing your lawn. You’ve even gathered the materials you need to make this project successful. However, there’s one thing missing—knowledge of how to do it. If it’s your first time growing a lawn, you may feel overwhelmed by the information you get from the internet. This can make it more complex, and you could end up in a trial-and-error phase.

Luckily, you don’t have to go through all that, as our team of professionals Sioux Land Sod is here to help. We can do the sod installation and maintenance until your grass is firmly attached to the soil. Your lawn needs special care. Here are a few steps to follow to grow newly planted grass.

Caring for New Sod

New sod is vulnerable. You must keep the first 1 or 2 inches of newly laid sod consistently moist but not soggy. That means watering it daily or twice a day during the hot season. If you notice the edges of the sod start to pull apart, you’re not watering enough. After two weeks, start watering longer to encourage in-depth root growth.

If you water correctly, the sod should have a well-established root system by the third week. That means the grass shouldn’t pull up from the soil when you give it a gentle tug. Once the grass has taken root in the soil, you can mow it as needed when it reaches a specific height. Don’t forget to fertilize it regularly.

Watering New Grass

After planting, you should regularly water your grass at a moist level, not soggy. You can mist it once or twice a day as needed. You may have to do this more often if the weather is hot and dry. Be careful about watering during hot weather. Remember, if the grass dries after sprouting, it will die. Keep the top two inches of the soil moist when it germinates until it reaches the mowing height. Once you start mowing, reduce watering to about twice weekly and soak the soil more deeply to encourage more substantial root growth.

Mowing New Grass

Avoid mowing your new grass until it has reached the mowing height. Be sure to use a sharp mower blade and cut the grass when dry. Don’t cut it too short. You can only mow as needed if you have overseeded your existing lawn.

Feeding New Grass

New grass requires feeding. Apply fertilizer designed for new grass about 2 to 4 weeks after seeding. It provides the right nutrients in the proper proportions that new grass plants need to grow and develop stronger roots. If you already applied the starter fertilizer when planting your lawn, you can feed it again about 6 to 8 weeks later.

Handling Weeds in Your New Grass

Weeds can show up anytime during grass growth. Dormant weeds may sprout after fertilizer and watering to compete with your grass for nutrients. If they happen to come out, don’t treat them immediately. Instead, wait until you mow the grass about four times before you treat the weeds.

Get Help from Lawn Experts When Needed

Need to learn more about caring for your new lawn? Jay-Lan Lawn Care Services is here to help. We are experts in lawn installation and maintenance.

Learn more about our sod installation process and request a FREE estimate!