Lawn problems ›

New sod: getting it rooted and keeping it clean

New sod needs water above everything else for its first weeks. Fertilizer and weed control can wait, and putting weed control down too early can hurt it. We don't install sod, but we take care of new lawns once they're down.

How should I water new sod?

Clemson says to water new sod to a depth of 4 inches right after it goes down, then daily or as often as needed through the first week if it doesn't rain. NC State's guidance is to keep the top inch and a half moist with light watering two or three times a day for one to three weeks, then switch to deeper, less frequent watering as the roots take hold. Don't mow until the sod is firmly rooted and won't lift.

When should new sod be fertilized?

The two extension services differ. Clemson says fertilizer right after sodding shouldn't be needed if the soil was prepared and fertilized based on a soil test before the sod went down. NC State fertilizes every three to four weeks through the first growing season to speed spreading. A soil test settles which applies to your yard.

When is it safe to put weed control on new sod?

Neither Clemson nor NC State gives a fixed number of weeks. Clemson says to delay atrazine on new sod until it is well established and actively growing, and to hold off herbicides as long as possible on newly seeded lawns. NC State considers a new lawn established after about three mowings. Every product label has its own rules for new turf, and those govern.

When is the best time to lay warm-season sod?

Late spring to early summer is the safest window. Clemson says sod can go down almost any time of year in South Carolina, but it also warns that fall renovation of warm-season grass often ends in winter injury.

Does Spring Green install sod?

No. We treat lawns; we don't install sod.

Last updated 2026-09-25. Spring Green is owned by Stockton Wells.