Choosing to have sod installed on your property in Florida is a great way to achieve a beautiful lawn almost instantly. However, just because it looks like a normal lawn the same day that it was installed, doesn't mean that you can treat it like a normal lawn. To ensure that you don't damage your sod when mowing it for the first time you should wait at least two weeks after it was installed to mow it, cut back on watering the day before the mow, and set your mower to its highest setting. By following these guidelines, you should be able to successfully mow your sod for the first time without damaging it!
Wait at least two weeks before mowing your sod for the first time.
After your sod is installed, it will look great right away. However, it will still be very fragile because the roots won't be established in the soil yet. You will not want to mow it right away because you could easily rip the sod from the ground causing extensive damage to it. To ensure that you don't cause any damage to your sod when you go to mow it for the first time, you should wait at least two weeks after it was installed so the roots can first establish themselves in the soil. After two weeks, you should gently tug on your sod to see if the roots are established. If it feels anchored to the soil, you can proceed with the mow. However, if it starts to lift up, it's not quite ready and you should wait a little longer before mowing it.
Don't water your sod the day before you plan on mowing it.
While it's important that you water your sod often during the first few weeks after it was installed to keep it hydrated and help it establish itself, you don't want to water it the day before you plan on mowing it for the first time. That's because you want the soil to be able to firm up so that you won't damage your sod when you mow it. If your soil is too soft, the sod could start to sink from the weight of the mower and the roots could up being ripped out of the ground, causing significant damage to the sod. However, if you allow the sod to firm up before you mow it, you shouldn't have any problems.
Set your mower to the highest setting when mowing your sod for the first time.
Before you mow your sod for the first time, it's important that you set your mower to the highest setting. That's because if you cut it too short, you can stress out the grass, which is something you will want to avoid while your sod is still in a fragile state. To ensure that you don't stress out your grass during the first mow, or during any other mow, you should always follow the 1/3 rule. This rule states that you should never cut more than 1/3 of your grass blades during a single mow. By following this rule, your grass should be able to endure the mow without getting too stressed out.
Always use sharp blades when mowing your lawn so that you don't rip and tear your grass.
Want sod installed on your property or need your lawn mowed? Give us a call today!
If you're looking to have sod installed on your property, we are the team to turn to. At Tropical Gardens Landscape, we have been helping property owners get a beautiful lawn through our sod installation service since 2007! What's more, we can also mow your lawn for you throughout the year if you sign up for our full-service property maintenance program. We offer our services to commercial, residential, and HOA property owners in Sarasota, FL, and throughout the surrounding areas including Siesta Key and Longboat Key. Give us a call today at (941) 993-2442 to schedule any of our services.
