Can You Mow New Sod With a Riding Mower?

Timing

• It's best to wait until your sod is firmly rooted and established before you attempt to mow your new sod lawn. With regular deep watering, your sod should be rooted and ready in about two to six weeks, depending on the grass variety and weather conditions. Check for establishment by tugging on a piece of sod; if it stays put, the sod has rooted into the soil, and if it comes up a little bit, it's not established and shouldn't be mowed. Proper establishment is especially important before you mow your new sod lawn with a heavy riding lawnmover.

Considerations

• Although new sod lawns require much more water than normal, avoid mowing the new sod lawn when the grass blades are wet or damp. Mowing a wet lawn can damage grass blades and prohibit growth. Mow the lawn during the driest point in the week, or between waterings.

Tips

• Take care with mowing the first few times on your new sod because the roots are shallower than in a traditional, established lawn, notes the All About Lawns website. Move slowly across the lawn on your riding lawnmower, especially when turning corners, to avoid tearing up the grass or moving any loose pieces of sod.

Height

• Never remove more than one-third of the height of your grass blades at one time. Removing too much of the blade at one time can expose the grass to too much heat and sun all at once, and may cause shock. If your sod has grown especially tall, this may require you to increase the height of the cutting blades on your mower and then remow the lawn a few days later.