Help your new lawn take root

1. Day 1

   Lay it and water it right away

   Lay your sod within 24 hours of delivery or pickup. As soon as a section is down, water it until the soil underneath is wet. Lift a corner to check: the soil below should be damp, not just the grass on top.

2. Weeks 1–2

   Keep it moist every day

   Water daily on the days your local rules allow, early in the morning, so the sod never dries out. In hot weather, a second short watering in the late afternoon helps. Pay extra attention to edges and seams, which dry out first. Keep foot traffic, kids, and pets off as much as you can.

3. Weeks 3–4

   Water less often, but deeper

   Once the roots grab hold (a gentle tug on a corner won't lift it), start watering every other day, a little longer each time. Deeper, less frequent watering pushes roots down into the soil.

4. After 30 days

   Water only when it needs it

   Your lawn is established. Water when the grass shows it's thirsty: blades fold in half, the color turns blue-gray, or footprints stay visible. Then follow your county's regular watering days.

Mowing

Wait for your first mow until the sod has rooted and won't lift when you tug on it, usually about 2 to 3 weeks. Make sure the blade is sharp, and never cut off more than one-third of the grass blade at a time. Recommended mowing heights from the University of Florida:

Fertilizing

Hold off on fertilizer for the first 30 to 60 days while the roots establish. Many Southwest Florida counties and cities also restrict nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer during the summer rainy season, usually June through September, so check your local rules first.

Watering rules for new sod

New lawns usually get extra watering days for a short time. In unincorporated Lee County, new sod gets a 60-day establishment period:

• Days 1–30: water Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, before 9 AM or after 5 PM.
• Days 31–60: water Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, before 9 AM or after 5 PM.

Cities and Charlotte and Collier counties set their own rules, so check with your local utility before you start.

Common questions

The edges are turning brown. What should I do?

Edges and seams dry out fastest. Give them extra water by hand, and press the seams together so the pieces touch. Fill any gaps with a little soil.

Mushrooms popped up. Is that a problem?

No. Mushrooms are common after lots of watering and rain. They're harmless to the grass and disappear as the soil dries between waterings.

Can I walk on it?

Try to stay off it for the first two weeks. After that, light foot traffic is fine. Wait until it's fully rooted before heavy use.

Sources: UF/IFAS, Mowing Your Florida Lawn · Lee County Utilities, When Can I Water?