So you’ve installed new sod, and your yard is looking better than ever. You’re itching to get out there and enjoy it, but before you plan a garden party or have the kids kicking a soccer ball around, you’re going to want to know how long to wait so that you don’t damage the new sod. There are a few factors that will determine when your new sod is ready for regular foot traffic. In this blog, we’ll go over how to make sure your new sod is safe to walk on and tips for keeping it healthy.
When Can You Walk On New Sod? (The Short Answer)
Even though your new sod looks lush and healthy from day one, it is recommended that you avoid walking on it as much as possible for the first two to three weeks. The first few weeks are critical for the new sod’s success as the root system takes hold. However, other factors may extend this waiting period, so it’s best to know what to look for to determine if the new sod is ready before regularly walking on it.
How to Tell When Your New Sod is “Safe” to Walk On
Going by looks alone can be deceiving when it comes to new sod. Just because it looks healthy doesn’t mean it’s ready for regular use. I’ve put together a couple of ways to test if your new sod is ready for foot traffic. Let’s dive in.
Check the Appearance of the New Sod
The first thing you want to look for in the initial weeks after the new sod installation is that it’s growing and looking healthy. It’s normal for the new sod to be in shock at first, but it should quickly recover with proper watering and sunshine.
So if the new sod is showing signs of growth and is green throughout a few weeks after installation, this is a good indication that it’s bedding well. However, if the new sod is showing signs of discoloration or general deterioration, then there’s a problem.
Check the Root System of the New Sod
Once you’re satisfied with the new sod’s appearance, you can move on to checking its root system. To do this, gently lift a corner of the lawn. If your new sod has bedded, then you should feel resistance when lifting it, and the root system should be visible. New sod roots are small and white.
I suggest you do this test in several areas of the new sod to make sure the root system has bedded throughout. Just make sure to do this test very gently since the new roots are weak. If there is no resistance when you lift a corner of the new sod, this means that your new sod is having a hard time taking root.
Factors that Can Influence How Long Before You Can Walk on Sod
How quickly your freshly installed sod takes root depends on several factors. Let’s see what you can do to ensure the success of your new sod so you can enjoy it as quickly as possible.
Quality and Health of the New Sod
If you install good, healthy new sod that has just been farmed, it will likely take quickly and be successful. On the other hand, if your new sod doesn’t look great the day it was installed, for example, it looks yellow and dried out, then this will be a problem, and it will take a lot more TLC to get it healthy.
Soil Health
Ideally, you should carry out a soil test before laying down new sod to make sure you have the right nutrient levels for it to bed successfully. In addition, you want to make sure that the right ground preparation has been carried out before planting the new sod. For example, if you’re laying sod over an area with heavy foot traffic and the soil is compacted, the roots are going to find it extremely difficult to penetrate the soil.
Watering
Watering is key to your new sod’s success. When watering, you need to make sure that the water is penetrating 3 to 4 inches down into the soil. It’s best to water twice a day for the first two weeks, then reduce it to once a day for the next couple of weeks.
After this period, you should be able to go back to your regular watering pattern, the same as the rest of your garden. Make sure to take into account any rainfall so that you don’t overwater and potentially harm the new sod.
Sunlight
Whether your new sod was planted in a sunny or shaded area makes a difference in how long it takes to bed. This is because the grass relies on sunlight to grow. Grass grown in shaded areas is going to take longer to root than sod that is laid out in a sunny area.
Weather
Local weather conditions will have an effect on your new sod. If you’re planting your new sod during the growing season, it should root pretty quickly. However, if you happen to be laying new sod during the dormant season, rooting will take longer than usual. My best advice is to avoid laying new sod during the dormant season.
What Happens if You Walk on New Sod Too Early
Your newly installed sod is very weak and prone to damage in the first few weeks. Walking on your new turf too soon can have a negative impact on its long-term success. Here are some things that could go wrong if you walk on your new sod too early.
Root Damage
If you walk on your new sod before the roots take hold, you’ll be breaking and redirecting the roots, lengthening the time it takes for them to set. New roots are very fragile, and every time you walk on the new sod, the roots will have to restart the bedding process. If you do this enough times, the damage may be irreparable.
Compacting Soil
When the sod was laid, there was preparation done to fluff up the surface in order for the roots to penetrate the soil. If you walk on the new sod too soon, you’ll be compacting the soil and making it much harder for the new roots to take hold.
Tips When You Do Start Walking on Your New Sod
Believe me; I know how hard it is to stay off your new sod. It may look inviting, but the best advice is to stay off it for as long as possible.
In the first couple of weeks, walk on it gently while watering and try to keep from walking over the same area too much.
Avoid heavy foot traffic for the first couple of months. So hold off on hosting barbeques and keep the kids and pets from tearing through the new lawn until you’re confident the new sod has taken root.
Trust me; the wait will be worth it in the long run. The longer you stay off your new sod, the better it will be.
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