Q&A for How to Take Care of Sod

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How do you add nutrients to soil?

Jeremy Yamaguchi
Lawn Care Specialist
Jeremy Yamaguchi is a Lawn Care Specialist and the Founder/CEO of Lawn Love, a digital marketplace for lawn care and gardening services. Jeremy provides instant satellite quotes and can coordinate service from a smartphone or web browser. The company has raised funding from notable investors like Y Combinator, Joe Montana, Alexis Ohanian, Barbara Corcoran and others.

Jeremy Yamaguchi

Lawn Care Specialist

Expert Answer

If possible, use natural lawn fertilizers, as they can help restore necessary nutrients to your lawn and are better for your family and the environment!

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Question

What is the best time for watering new sod?

Grant Wallace
Landscaper
Grant Wallace is a Landscaper and Owner of Grantlanta Lawn in Atlanta, Georgia. With over seven years of experience, he specializes in lawn maintenance and landscape installation. In 2012, he earned his BA from the University of West Georgia. Grant has been profiled in Shoutout Atlanta, Canvas Rebel, and Voyage ATL.

Grant Wallace

Landscaper

Expert Answer

It needs to be damped at the hottest part of the day, so definitely like mid afternoon. It might as well be a morning, afternoon, and evening thing, because if you go a day or two without watering it, that sod can brown up and get burned by the sun. If that happens, it's not going to come back.

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Question

Can I place potted plants on newly sodded earth?

Community Answer

You can, but you are defeating the purpose of the new sod. The pot will kill the grass underneath it if left for more than a day or two. You could remove a piece of sod and use the bare ground for the pots if you don't have a plant stand or a porch to place pots on.

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Question

How long can I leave it rolled up before planting?

Community Answer

Just a day, especially in hot weather.

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Question

Will walking on the sod hurt it?

Community Answer

It will affect its growth, as walking on it puts pressure on it.

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Question

When can I park cars on it?

Community Answer

Never. (Unless you just like wasting money by killing the sod you buy, in which case you can park on it whenever you like.)

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Question

How can I use sod to fill in bare spots left by my pets?

Community Answer

Use a sod cutting tool to cut pieces to the correct shape and place the sod over the bare spot. For best results, you should till the soil of the bare spot and mix some bagged topsoil with it. And of course, keep your pets away from it.

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Question

What should I do if my dog urinates on it?

Community Answer

Hose down the area to dilute it so the urine doesn't burn the roots. It is actually possible to use urine as a fertilizer if it is diluted to 10% strength. Keep your dog away from the sodded patches until the roots take hold.

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Question

Instead of tilling the yard, can I lay top soil and then plant sod?

Community Answer

This would work if you killed everything underneath. A better way of no tilling is to lay cardboard or newspaper down before you lay the top soil, then sod. This kills the weeds and adds nutrients.

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Question

I burned my sod with a chemical fertilizer. Is there some way to save it?

Sarah Battilana

Community Answer

This is one of those "wait and see" situations, but your best bet is to rinse away all the fertilizer that you can, keep the burned spots well-watered, and wait to see if new growth occurs. If after 3-4 weeks there isn't a sign of new growth, you may have to replace it.

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Question

Can I use sod on my balcony if I have a cat? Will it harm my cat?

Sarah Battilana

Community Answer

If your cat occasionally eats sod (or other types of grass), that is usually okay. If you notice that it is eating it every day and getting sick from it, though, it should be removed.

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Question

What is the best type of hose to water newly laid sod?

Sarah Battilana

Community Answer

Ideally, a sprinkler system will provide the most even output of water. If you don't have a sprinkler, use a hose with a wide spray rather than just a single stream.

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Question

What does it mean if there are brown spots on my sod?

Sarah Battilana

Community Answer

This most likely means that the soil is too dry. Other causes could be urination from pets or chemical burns from fertilizer.

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Question

Is it a good idea to apply 1/2-1 inch of sand to areas that are not completely rooted on my newly laid sod to help insulate through the winter?

Sarah Battilana

Community Answer

It won't hurt anything to use sand but as far as insulation goes, it doesn't actually provide much to your sod.

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