How to Take Care of New Bermuda Sod
Bermuda grass is a warm-season variety that grows best in areas with mild winters. Although Bermuda grass can be planted from seed, you can establish it more quickly by installing sod. This should be done during warm, moist conditions so that the grass can establish properly and not become dormant. After you’ve laid the Bermuda sod, you will need to provide some special care to make sure that the sod roots readily and becomes established.
Water your Bermuda grass sod immediately after installation to thoroughly wet the soil beneath the sod layer. Keep the sod and soil moist to a depth of 4 to 6 inches by watering it daily during the first five to seven days following installation.
Reduce the frequency of your watering gradually as the Bermuda sod becomes established during the first two to three weeks. When new growth begins, cut back on watering the sod one or two days at a time until you’re watering the sod once or twice each week to provide 1 to 1¼ inches of water.
- Bermuda grass is a warm-season variety that grows best in areas with mild winters.
- Keep the sod and soil moist to a depth of 4 to 6 inches by watering it daily during the first five to seven days following installation.
Begin mowing the new grass once it has grown 2 to 2½ inches tall. Be sure that you don't start mowing until the grass has grown this high.
Mow your new Bermuda grass for the first time to remove no more than one-quarter of the total grass height. Continue mowing your new grass once or twice each week during the growing season, but never cut more than one-quarter to one-third of the grass.
Tip
When you’re laying the Bermuda grass sod, you should stagger the pieces so that the seams don’t align perfectly. This will hide the seams and create better stability. After installation, run a roller over the sod to smooth it out and compact it.
Warning
If you applied a starter fertilizer prior to laying the sod, don’t fertilize the new lawn until at least six weeks after installation. The starter fertilizer will provide all the nutrients that the Bermuda sod needs.
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Tips
- When you're laying the Bermuda grass sod, you should stagger the pieces so that the seams don't align perfectly. This will hide the seams and create better stability. After installation, run a roller over the sod to smooth it out and compact it.
Warnings
- If you applied a starter fertilizer prior to laying the sod, don't fertilize the new lawn until at least six weeks after installation. The starter fertilizer will provide all the nutrients that the Bermuda sod needs.
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Sarah Terry brings over 10 years of experience writing novels, business-to-business newsletters and a plethora of how-to articles. Terry has written articles and publications for a wide range of markets and subject matters, including Medicine & Health, Eli Financial, Dartnell Publications and Eli Journals.
