Your Guide for New Sod or Seed: When to Begin Watering, Mowing and Fertilizing in Northeast OH

As a homeowner, some home improvements are easier to figure out than others. For instance, finding tips on painting the walls of your bedroom is easy with a YouTube search. But other important tasks like taking care of your new seed or sod lawn, may be harder to figure out. 

Since your grass is a front-facing part of your home exterior, you certainly don’t want to be the only one on the block with a brown lawn speckled with weeds that makes the neighborhood look bad and makes you look like a negligent homeowner. 

There are some things to keep in mind when it comes to caring for your new Ohio lawn. From watering your new grass to mowing, let’s answer some frequently asked questions about new seed or sod maintenance and weigh in on techniques that can help your yard stay beautiful for years to come. 

How to Get a Great Lawn in Northeast Ohio 

Nothing can make your home stand out more than having it framed by the best looking lawn on the block. 

And, guess what? Your Ohio lawn isn’t just pretty; it’s functional, too. 

In fact, some of your favorite moments may be spent in your yard with family and friends, playing games, sipping cool beverages, tossing a frisbee to the dog, or just relaxing in a lawn chair. Your lawn can also deliver a nice big boost in home value if you take care of it properly. 

Here are some tips on Ohio lawn care that you need to know to tend to your new asset and keep your lawn in great shape.  

New Seed or Sod Watering Schedule 

Water is a crucial element in the health of your Ohio lawn. Consistently watering new grass is the key to ensuring the growth of strong roots.

When installed in summer, water seed sod throughout the day to prevent drying or shrinking (with sod). Water enough to ensure consistent moisture for the first two weeks post installation. Then continue watering for another two weeks to prevent any drying out. 

After that, maintain a watering schedule where you water long and deep a few times each week to ensure moisture reaches the lawn roots. Remember to water your lawn in the morning or late evening. Watering your lawn in the afternoon during the warmest part of the day can lead to evaporation versus absorption. 

When to Mow New Seed or Sod

Another big question that comes up when taking care of a new Ohio lawn involves when to mow. 

It should take your new seed or sod approximately 10 to 14 days to germinate or root. That’s when you should mow your new grass for the first time. Use the highest mower setting.

When you mow, you never want to remove more than one-third of the grass blade at any one time so as not to negatively impact your lawn’s health. Mowing like this ensures your grass stays fuller, thicker, and fights drought and weeds better during the hottest, driest times of the year. 

When to Fertilize Grass in OH

New seed or sod care can be amplified with organic fertilizer from a professional lawn care company that knows what these new Ohio lawns need. 

A quality fertilizer can help create and maintain a more sustainable root system. A professional will have a fertilizer program recommendation for a Ohio lawn care schedule that will fit your new lawn’s needs best to ensure healthy growth. 

Aeration Is Important, Too

Aerating your new seed or sod lawn after one year of installation and then annually after that can also help improve its growth. 

Aerating your lawn with an aerator creates small holes in the soil that allow water, fertilizer, oxygen, and other nutrients to better reach the roots of the grass. Regular aeration as part of your Ohio lawn care schedule will also prevent soil from becoming compacted, which can prevent moisture and nutrient absorption.

Enlist the Help of a Lawn Care Professional 

When you hire a lawn care professional for your new Ohio lawn, you don’t need to scour the home improvement stores looking at all of the products or waste time learning about proper lawn care. 

In fact, hiring the right Northeast Ohio lawn care service professional can mean you receive all the new lawn care tips you need, in addition to properly timed and targeted, organic lawn care treatments to ensure your grass stays in great shape all year long. A professional can take away all of your concerns about fertilization, weed management, or insect control, so you have an educated partner in your corner if you have questions, or your lawn requires attention. 

What’s more, when you bring in a lawn care expert, you can spend your time outside enjoying your lawn instead of working on it all the time. 

Turf Pride Can Help Make New Ohio Lawn Care Easier 

You want grass that looks good and boosts your home value in Northeast Ohio.  We get it. 

We hope these new Ohio lawn care tips help you do just that to get the lawn you love. 

As you tend to your grass, you might find yourself still confused over what to do. Stop worrying and give Turf Pride a call. We can assess your lawn and suggest a proper lawn care program to ensure you give your new yard the attention it needs. 

Ready to learn why Turf Pride could be your choice for lawn care services in Northeast Ohio? We’re excited to learn more about you and help you have the best lawn on the block. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we can prepare a customized plan that is perfect for you and your lawn.