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Do I Need to Add Soil Nutrients When I Put Down Sod?

Although expensive, laying cut sod creates an immediate carpet of grass when compared to starting a lawn from seed or tiny plant sprigs. The key to getting a newly laid sod lawn off to a good start is preparation of the planting site. Start with a soil analysis to learn of the soil's structure, nutritive value and pH. Not all soils need an application of fertilizer before fresh sod is laid. Results from the soil analysis inform your decision to apply organic matter, granular fertilizers and other amendments such as lime.

  1. Growth Considerations

    • Whether the sod is a cool-season or warm-season grass, the planting site needs to provide basic growing conditions. The top 4 to 6 inches of soil needs to be fertile, porous, evenly graded and in the appropriate pH range. The soil layer also needs to be evenly moist and retain enough water to remain moist--neither drying too quickly nor draining too slowly. A soil test or analysis conducted two to four weeks before the arrival of the sod provides ample time for test results and preparing the soil. Often, tilling in 1 or 2 inches of organic matter is sufficient to prepare the area to receive fresh sod.

    Fertilizer Need

    • Scattering fertilizer atop the soil is only needed if the soil test results reveal that the soil lacks important nutrients. Once established, regular fertilizer applications and watering will provide the boost of nutrients needed to sustain a lush, green lawn. At installation, only a mild formulation such as lawn starter fertilizer is needed. Follow label directions for dosage and application, as the granules need to be raked into the top 1 to 2 inches of soil. The salts in the fertilizer can burn and kill the tender roots in the sod, so don't lay sod directly on top of a field of exposed fertilizer pellets.

    Getting Roots to Grow

    • Lay sod on tamped, level soil that is evenly moist. Irrigating the sod lawn keeps the roots moist and cool. During the sod's first four to six weeks, the most important event is the movement of roots from the sod layer downward into the soil, an event called knitting. Knit sod will not pull up if lifted.

    Post-Establishment

    • Apply the first fertilizer about a month after laying the sod and the sod has knitted. With an actively growing root system growing deeper into the soil profile, the sod is now prepared for regular, more substantial growth. About five week after installation, apply a lawn fertilizer that supplies 1 lb. of nitrogen to every 1,000 square feet. Water in the fertilizer granules after application. Follow product label instructions for any specific dosages or application procedures.

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Lawn Basics
  1. When to Put Down Crabgrass
  2. Do I Need to Put Lime on My Coastal Grass?
  3. How to Lay Down Sod Mesh
  4. Should You Put Lime Down Before Sod If the pH Is High?
  5. When Is a Good Time to Sod?
  6. When to Water New Sod?
  7. When to Plant Zoysia Sod
  8. Do I Need to Add Top Soil Before Laying New Sod Down?
  9. When Should You Put Down a High Potassium Fertilizer in Georgia?
  10. How Late in the Year Can You Put Sod Down?
  11. When to Add Vermiculite to Soil
  12. How Much Topsoil Do I Add for New Sod?

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