Love Your Lawn: Tips to Keep Your Sod Healthy and Vibrant Year-Round

Choosing sod over seeding offers numerous advantages, especially for Florida homeowners. Sod provides an instant, lush lawn without the lengthy wait or risk of topsoil erosion caused by storms. Florida’s sod farms produce some of the nation’s most vibrant and resilient turf, such as Bahia, Floratam, Zoysia, and St. Augustine varieties.

Once your grass is installed, proper care is essential to maintain its beauty.

Whether you’re a hands-on DIYer or working with a professional landscaper, these tips from Duda Sod can help keep your sod healthy year-round.

Tips on How To Take Care of New Sod

Newly installed sod is particularly vulnerable to dehydration, as its roots have not yet established themselves in the soil. Follow these tips to give your sod the best start:

Prepare the Soil: Wet the soil before laying down your sod to provide immediate moisture to the roots. Dry soil can pull water away from the sod.
Timing the Installation: Install sod during cooler times of day, such as early morning or late afternoon, to minimize stress from the sun. Winter installations can also reduce the risk of root shock.
Watering Guidelines: Water consistently to keep the sod hydrated. In hotter months, water frequently in shorter intervals to avoid oversaturation. During cooler months, watering needs will decrease.

New sod benefits from regular, light watering until its roots penetrate deeper into the ground. Overwatering can lead to issues like root rot, so monitor soil moisture carefully.

How to Care for Established Sod

Established sod provides environmental benefits, such as carbon sequestration, oxygen production, reduced runoff, and pollutant filtration.

To keep your sod healthy throughout the year, adjust your care routine to the seasons:

Spring: Growth accelerates in spring, so water early in the morning or at dusk to reduce evaporation.
Summer: Deep watering is critical to combat the heat. Be mindful of local water restrictions and aim to water in the evening.
Fall: Help your lawn recover from summer stress by establishing a regular watering schedule. Gradually reduce watering as temperatures cool.
Winter: Sod goes dormant in winter, requiring minimal watering. Avoid soaking the lawn if freezing temperatures are expected.

Mowing: For new sod, cut no more than one-third of the grass blade, leaving it at 2.5–3 inches tall. Once the sod is established, you can mow lower based on the grass type. For example, Zoysia can be mowed to 2.5 inches. During spring, let your grass grow to 5–6 inches before the first cut.
Fertilizing: Wait at least a month before fertilizing new sod. Begin treatments in spring and continue 3–4 times throughout the growing season to maintain a healthy lawn.

Contact the Florida Sod Experts

At Duda Sod, we provide a wide range of sod solutions that are suitable for Florida lawns. We have Zoysia, Bahia, St. Augustine, and others available through our Lake Placid, Oviedo, and Melbourne, FL locations. Contact us today, and let’s get the process started.