Yes. In a couple of weeks, your sod will be ready for full use. It creates the perfect surface for lawn games and family outdoor living. With today’s various blends of hardy grasses, sod can also be used for parks, golf courses and athletic fields, as well as homes and business parks.

Yes, a professional sod lawn needs no special care because it is a healthy, mature lawn when installed, whereas a sprigged or seeded lawn requires months of nurturing to reach maturity. After it has been installed, just water, mow and fertilize your sod lawn as needed; and it will remain a healthy, green carpet of grass, requiring very little maintenance.

New sod should ideally be around 4 inches tall before it is cut for the first time. While this may sound like too long of a length, it ensures that the grass has rooted fully. We advise lowering the height of the grass blades incrementally over the next few mow sessions until you are mowing at your ideal grass height. 

Another way to test if the sod is ready to be mown is to give a tug at one corner of a laid section. The sod should hold firm and not start to pull away from the soil beneath. If this is the case, it means the roots are well-established and that the grass should hold up to being mown. 

We recommend not letting the grass get too much taller than 4 inches after you have confirmed that the rooting process is complete. Regular mowing will strengthen the grass, encourage growth and keeps your lawn looking vibrantly green and full. 

With the proper care and attention, you can lay sod all year-round. However, it is recommended that you don’t lay sod in freezing conditions as this can inhibit root growth. In fact, both fall and spring are ideal times to lay a new lawn. We advise that you make sure you keep your new lawn moist but not soaking, which encourages root growth and helps your lawn flourish as quickly as possible. 

Hot Georgia summers can be hard on lawns and require lots of extra watering or irrigation. As a result, laying a sod lawn is actually easier to do when the weather is a little cooler. 

With that being said, Georgia’s temperatures during the fall rarely drop below 52 degrees, even in November. 

If you are unable to install your lawn until late in the year, feel free to ask us about our grass varieties that are resistant to colder weather. 

The answer: a surprisingly long time, though this varies dramatically depending on the level of temperature and humidity. When it is very hot, you might only be able to keep unlaid sod in good condition for approximately 12 hours. However, if the temperatures are cooler and the sod is kept in the shade, it can last up to five days. 

Sod is living grass in soil, cut carefully from our acres of fields and rolled up in order to be delivered to you. Preparing your lawn to receive the new grass can be a lengthy task, which means that if you haven’t finished by the time we arrive, the grass might sit on the pallet while you work. 

The life of the sod can be extended if you are able to unroll the turf and lightly water it. The sod will continue growing while it is on the pallet, which is not good for rolled grass. The quicker you can lay the grass out, the better.

Top 3 tips to prevent sod from drying out

• Don’t buy your sod ahead of time — plan to be ready for its arrival
• Plant the sod in fall or spring for cooler (but not cold) temperatures
• Keep the sod in the shade wherever possible

It largely depends on the type of grass, the temperature and other ambient conditions. A healthy root system will develop in anything from two to six weeks. However, the following things can make it more difficult for sod to take root: 

• Heavy foot traffic or pet activity on the new lawn 
• Lack of water 
• Too much water 
• Freezing temperatures (though these are very unlikely in fall or spring) 
• Hot temperatures (planting in summer is more difficult, even with additional watering) 

As you can see, all of these factors are easily preventable. We recommend laying down sod in moderate temperatures, in addition to keeping kids, pets and yourself from running across your beautiful new grass until the sod has properly taken root. We also advise watering the grass well once it is laid to keep it moist from that point forward. 

Don’t worry – If you’ve ever asked this question, you’re not alone. While sod does continue to grow while it is on its way to you, it doesn’t become an established part of your lawn until the roots attach themselves to the existing soil under the turf. 

It is essential to water your new lawn within 20 minutes of laying the new sod. This water moistens the soil below the turf, encourages the roots to grow downwards and seek out the water. It is essential not to let the soil dry out, hence why summer is not the best time to lay a new lawn. 

If you have more questions about sod lawns, contact us at 1 (866) 658-9324. We’d love to talk to you about sod. It’s what we do.