How to Keep New Sod From Turning Yellow
When you make the investment in new sod, you’re making an investment in your home. So you’ll want to do everything you can to keep that investment lush, healthy, and green. Taking proper care of new sod requires care and attention. Each care component must achieve a delicate balance so that your sod roots can establish securely and thrive. In this post, we’ll discuss what is required to care for new sod and prevent yellow discoloration.
Prep the Soil
The first step to laying new sod is always preparing your soil. Existing sod or grass must be completely removed, and the ground should be completely leveled. Test the soil and make amendments as needed to achieve the ideal measurements.
Treat it Right
New sod is delicate and should be treated with the utmost care. Never just let sod sit around drying out waiting to be laid. Sod should be laid immediately upon receipt to promote the most thorough root establishment. Once laid, sod should be gently rolled to flatten out any air pockets and really adhere the sod roots to the underlying ground. Other than rolling, nothing should put any pressure on your new sod until fully established, which can take up to 8 weeks.
Water Properly
One of the biggest areas for error with new sod is watering. New sod needs ample water to grow and root in the soil below, but many people underwater fear that they will drown it with too much. Here at Council Growers Sod, we recommend ½” to ¾” of uniform water coverage over the entire lawn daily for the first four weeks. Then you can back down to just every other day for the following four weeks before assuming a regular watering schedule.
Hold the Fertilizer
New sod does not need fertilizer during the initial 3 weeks after installation. . Even if the fertilizer claims to be for new sod, we only recommend Milorganite (a soil conditioner) be applied on new sod.
Apply a Fungicide
The most crucial step next to irrigating is to apply a premium turf fungicide such as Heritage to your new sod within a few days of installation to avoid disease issues caused by the stress of sod installation.
Check the Weather
Finally, it is crucial that you be aware of the weather expectations during the establishment period for your new sod. The ambient temperature should be warm but not too hot, so avoid laying new sod in the dead heat of summer. The ground temperature should also be warm enough to encourage root growth. Periods, where heavy rain is expected, should also be avoided as this could overwater the new sod and also lead to yellowing and eventually death.
The Healthiest Sod in Tampa Bay
Council Growers Sod is located right here in southern Hillsborough County, so you know that it’s fresh when it hits your Tampa Bay doorstep. We deliver direct from our farms to your job site and guarantee that your sod will arrive fresh and ready to lay. To find the perfect sod variety for your project, call us at (813) 633-8665, contact us via our website, or place your order online.