Sod Treatments

Preparation

• Local nurseries and suppliers provide guidance for choosing sod appropriate to local growing conditions. You'll want to select sod with the lowest watering and maintenance requirements for your locale and projected usage. Prepare the lawn bed before delivery by removing perennial weeds, stones and debris. Testing the soil and amending as required establishes a suitable base. Sunset Magazine recommends slightly sloping the lawn bed away from structures and patios to prevent water pooling and damage. Now is the time to install an automatic sprinkler system and work specially formulated starter fertilizer into the soil. The bed must be thoroughly soaked before delivery day and the sod laid within the day.

Fertilizer

• Over-fertilization during peak growing seasons results in excess growth and buildup of thatch, a spongy layer of roots and grass on the soil surface. Under-fertilization of high-maintenance grasses results in poor health. Complete, commercially prepared fertilizers are convenient and contain the nutrients that sod needs in balanced amounts while organic and natural fertilizers release slowly and are steadily available to the roots over time. Natural treatments also feed soil and encourage healthy microorganism and earthworm populations. Blood meal, bone meal, composted poultry or herbivore manures and alfalfa pellets are natural fertilizing products.

Weeds and Pests

• Natural or organic treatments are preferable to use whenever possible. According to the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, an established organic lawn requires reduced treatments such as watering, fertilizing and mowing. Natural treatments also contribute to the health of the underlying soil. Corn gluten applied early in the spring works as a natural weed suppressant. Beneficial nematodes to control grubs and other organic treatments are available from specialty nurseries and online sources. Healthy sod on well-nourished soil naturally resists weeds and pests.

Mechanical Treatments

• Allow newly laid sod to grow one-third taller than its optimum height before the first mowing. Mowing frequency depends on the sod variety and time of year. A minimum lawn height is 2 inches, and specialty drought-tolerant lawns are maintained at up to 3 inches. Sod mowed too short suffers heat stress and an increased exposure to insects, weeds and disease, so retain at least two-thirds of the grass height at each mowing. Leave the clippings on the sod surface to return beneficial nutrients to the soil. Keep mower blades sharp to avoid ripping rather than cutting the grass; sharpen them before every fifth mowing. Thatch interferes with water and nutrient delivery, so remove thatch when it is more than 1/2-inch thick using power raking or core aerating.