How Long Will It Take Your Sod to Root?

Choosing sod for your lawn is an excellent way to achieve a yard of beautiful turf grass. However, the lush grass that you see can be a bit deceiving, because the sod does need to root into your soil to continue to flourish. Read on to learn how long it may take your sodding near Sunnyvale to root.

Ready Your Soil for Sod

The average species of turf grass loves soil that drains well and has a slightly acidic pH between 6 and 6.5. Before having your sod installed, till your soil to give the roots a better chance to penetrate the topsoil, and use this opportunity to add any soil amendments to the ground, such as lime, sulfur, or compost. Next, level your soil to ensure that your sod provides you with a lawn that looks smooth and even. When you take the right measures to prepare your soil, your new sod can root in as little as a couple of weeks.

Provide Plenty of Water

While your sod’s roots may make it into your topsoil in just 2 weeks, keep in mind that these are only shallow roots that are not fully established. To help encourage further root growth, be sure to water your sod every day for a month. Stressing the root system during this time by failing to provide it with enough water is a sure way to delay the rooting process. However, you can take a different approach by watering the lawn daily for the first week, and then watering it deeply but less frequently. This method is a great way to stimulate full root establishment within a month or so.

Give the Roots Extra Help

There are a few additional steps that you can take to encourage your sod to root. Rolling a lawn roller across your lawn immediately following the installation will remove any air pockets and help the sod’s roots adhere to your topsoil. Lastly, use a slow-release fertilizer about 6 weeks after installation to provide your sod with the nutrients that it needs to help it root quickly.