How Many Years Will Grass Last Before You Need to Resod?

Average Lifespan

• In general, grass lasts about 14 years before it shows obvious signs of die-back, though the time period depends on the grass species. The long lifespan applies when starting a lawn from seed, but sod patches are already close to 2 years old when installed as lawn. As a result, your newly sodded lawn may have only another 12 years of life. This lifespan is greatly influenced by care practices, from mowing to watering, especially after the first one-half of the grass' life. Turf tends to weaken from age and weathering after year seven.

Original Installation

• Your sod's lifespan depends on its initial handling between the grower and your yard. The living plant cannot stand being out of soil more than 24 hours. Using a garden hose with a spray nozzle or sprinkler system, irrigate your bare yard before sod touches the ground, especially if it is a warm day. Note the main grass species in your sod mixture when you choose your sod installation time. Cool-season grasses establish faster during fall, whereas warm-season species prefer the warm, late spring. Apply a turf roller across newly laid sod to press the roots gently into the damp soil. Grass roots respond to a nutrient-rich and moist habitat by spreading widely for long-lived turf.

Aeration

• Over the years, turf soil slowly compacts, and grass creates a thick decomposing layer called thatch. Aerate your turf periodically to give it a long lifespan. Aeration is the process of pulling 1- to 2-inch-long cores from the turf by using a hollow-tine aerator machine. Core removal provides critical air to the lower soil layers while reducing the thatch layer; excessively thick thatch forms a barrier to soil moisture absorption by roots. Allow the cores to lay on the turf's surface. As they break down through time and mowing, nutrients return to the turf's soil, which encourages microorganism activity. For example, earthworms consume soil and expel nutrients that can be absorbed by grass roots and produce vigorous growth.

Mowing and Watering Effects

• In order for grass to have a long life, constant photosynthesis is necessary at the grass blade level. Allow your grass to grow tall, such as 2 inches, so it can have the best energy production. Scalping a lawn robs it of its ability to produce energy for growth and disease-resistance. Irrigate your lawn about once each week to a maximum soil depth of 6 inches. Grass roots search for moisture deep in the ground when this watering strategy is used, and the result is strong sod adhesion. With deep roots and long grass blades, your turf can last its full 14 years and have a beautiful hue