sod > watering guide

• Water Gauge Tip • Mowing Tip • Establish New Sod in the Shade • Tips for Growing New Sod in the Shade

Water Gauge Tip

1. To gauge watering, simply place an empty straight edge can or container about 6 feet away from sprinkler.
2. When there is an inch of water in the can, it is time to move the sprinkler to the next area.
3. Reflected heat along buildings dries sod quickly, be sure to water such areas more often.
4. Important: Check wind pattern to be sure desired area, is in fact, being watered.

Mowing Tip

1. Your new living carpet generally needs mowing 6-7 days after installation.
2. The basic mowing rule is never remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade during a single mowing.
3. Set your mower at a cutting height of approximately 2 1/4".
4. For best appearance and better resistance to disease be sure to keep your mower blades sharp.

Caution: The most common and disastrous installation mistake is NOT mowing 6–7 days after installation.

Establishing New Sod In Shade

We often get asked if we sell sod and grass seed for the shade. Grass does not grow naturally in shade - have you ever seen grass growing in a forest? However, fescue grass is sometimes sold as a "shade" grass because it performs best out of all other varieties of grass available, but it's still not a solution for shaded areas. Sod can be established in the shade if managed properly, but keep in mind that sod in shade will naturally get thinner and thinner. Over-seeding will then need to be done. Greenhorizons wants your lawn to be a success, so here are some tips from the professionals on how to grow and maintain grass in the shade.

Tips for Growing Sod in Shade
Warning: If there is moss in the area you are sodding, DO NOT sod until shade is decreased. Moss is a sure sign that grass will not grow in that area. You can decrease shade and increase air movement by pruning back growth or removing some trees or bushes.

1. Prepare the area according to Greenhorizons' 7 Easy Steps to an Instant Lawn (page 16). Be sure that tree roots are not exposed. Cover them with topsoil.
2. Watering sod in the shade will be different than watering sod in direct sunlight. A shady environment has less air movement and less sunlight. Both of these factors result in less water evaporation and therefore shady areas need less water. The sod should not be saturated for long periods of time to avoid diseases such as powdery mildew.
3. Even though you don't have to water sod in shade as often as sod in sunlight, you still need to water all sod, whether shade or sun, within 15 minutes of laying the first roll. Important: Water freshly laid sod with at least 1 inch of water or until the area is too wet to walk on (water is noticeable on the surface or it squishes up to the surface when stepped on.)
4. Check the ground every time before you water. If the area is still too wet to walk on, DO NOT water until the next day or until water doesn't squish up to the surface when stepped on.
5. After 10-14 days your sod should be rooting and watering may be reduced. Check for roots by pulling up a corner of sod. It should be slightly firm to pull and showing new white roots.

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