As your highly trained professional Turf Specialists, we are here to help you as our customer to become more knowledgeable on your new sod installation, new aeration and overseeding, and new plants. You can count on us to be there to help you through this process with watering instructions on when to water and how much to water. Pennsylvania grass can be hard to take care of, so our information below lists some of the important tips and tricks on how to maintain the best-looking grass and plants.
Aeration and Overseeding
After your Aeration and Overseeding Service
WATER
Keep your newly seeded areas moist for 3 weeks. Water the lawn enough to keep the lawn moist to the touch at the base of the grass
blades, or up to 2 times a day for at least 10-15 minutes. You should water as early in the morning as possible.
Benefits:
- Virtually no water loss for the sun’s evaporation
- Watering at night or right before you can leave your lawn vulnerable to a fungus due to dark and damp conditions
- Turf is already cool so there is no shock from cool water on a lawn that has been in the shade all-day
Germination
Seed should begin to germinate in about 7-14 days. The seed will not all germinate at once. Maximum germination will not occur until mid-February of next year. BE PATIENT. Germination typically takes 14-21 days but can take longer depending on the weather. Seedlings are very susceptible to drying out and dying because they have not rooted properly in the soil
Keep leaves off
Fescue must have sunlight to do well next year. When the leaves are off the trees in the winter, fescue is busy using sunlight to build carbohydrate reserves through photosynthesis to get through the hot summer to come. Keep leaves off the seeded areas before and after germination. Using a blower is the best to accomplish this task until the seed is up and it has been mowed. Do not use a rake on the seed or new seedlings.
Leave clumps alone
Aeration and seeding will leave clumps of dirt on the lawn, it is best to leave them in place. The clump of dirt and the holes in the soil are seedbeds and they will dissolve and disappear with time.
Mowing
It is okay to mow after seeding. Try to mow carefully so the wheels are not gouging when turning.
Weeds will germinate as well
It is more important to establish the grass than to kill the weeds at this time. Winter annual weed germination, such as henbit, chickweed, wild garlic/onion, and bittercress, is normal. Weed control herbicides cannot be applied to new turf. New turf must have been mowed at least 2-3 times before we can apply such applications.
Sod installation Watering Instructions
Two Weeks After Installation
- Proper watering is crucial to the establishment (rooting) of your new sod.
- You should keep the sod and soil moist throughout the day, as much as 2 to 6 sprinkles during the day (morning and afternoon are recommended)
- The first mow should be completed approximately 14 days after installation. We suggest staying off the new sod and cutting back the frequency of irrigation before the mow is completed. Mowing on a high level is less stressful to the newly installed sod, but never mow more than one-third of the grass blade.
Three to Four Weeks After Installation
- Now it’s time to re-adjust your watering timer. Reduce the frequency of waterings gradually after each mow, but make sure to increase minutes per watering!
- The deeper yet less frequent soaking to your new sod will help roots grow down deeper and establish more quickly to the soil. We suggest pulling or tugging on the turf to check the rooting.
- Fertilize your new sod after one month to encourage rooting and establishment. We recommend Master Nursery Green Lawn Food or Mastery Nursery Formula 49.
Troubleshooting Tips
- Sod not rooting? Most sod varieties will begin to root within 10-14 days. Check your watering schedule and adjust to deeper, less frequent soaking. Excessive shade will slow down rooting.
- Bluish-grey spots on lawn or footprints show after being walked on? Drought-stressed spots in the lawn. Increase minutes per watering or adjust sprinkler coverage.
- Edges turning brown and/or gaps between rolls? Sod is shrinking or has pulled up at the corners which is usually caused by lack of water. Increase minutes per watering and frequency to minimize gaps. Press down edges with your foot after watering.
