Caring for your new lawn
Ensuring your lawn has enough water, especially for the first two weeks after installation, is essential to help stop the grass roots from drying out.
For the first few days after receiving your lawn, you will need to irrigate more frequently. This is because the grass roots won’t have had the chance to grow into the soil. The duration and number of times you need to water will depend on a few factors, including temperatures and wind. Note that you are only watering the roots of the new turf laid, no need for deep watering at this stage!.
#As a general guide, you want to ensure your grass roots stay damp.
Watering
Once the roots of your lawn have established into the soil, you can start reducing the number of times you need to irrigate. Once your lawn is fully established, you should only need to irrigate when there is not enough rainfall to meet the needs of your lawn, as a general rule of thumb 2 to 3 days per week consisting of 6 to 8mm of water. To establish this place a rain gauge in the vicinity of the sprinkler and take note of the time to allow the correct amount of water on your lawn.
Stay off the grass (for a bit)
It can be tempting to want to allow your dog to scamper across the lawn and to let your kids run free across its alluring surface. While it may seem like a long time, it’s better to wait to do this. Your grass needs to establish its roots before anyone can step on it. This is because trekking across newly laid sod can cause the grass to move and push any water down, creating dips and hollows in its surface. It can take two to three weeks for roots to develop under your grass depending on the variety you choose to install and the local climate.
Mowing
Feeling scissor-happy? Hold back. It’s best to let your grass grow longer before its first cut. Just like walking on it, mowing your new lawn before it can become well established at the root level can cause the grass to buckle and move.
Let your turf sit for two to three weeks at first. When you do mow your lawn for the first time, we recommend turning off the irrigation a day prior, so not to be ‘mushy’ and never cut more than ⅓ of the leaf in a single pass of your mower. Following this first cut you are able to reduce the height of cut (HOC) over the next few mows.
