When To Mow New Sod: What You Need to Know
Mow new sod when the timing is just right
Highlights
You should wait until sod is two weeks old to move for the first time.
Avoid watering new sod 24 hours before the first mowing session.
Hiring a professional for mowing can help ensure a healthy sod lawn.
Knowing when to mow new sod requires less guesswork than you may expect. There are correct and incorrect times to mow sod and simple tell-tale signs to look for so you know precisely the right time to mow your new sod for the first time. Mowing new sod in a timely fashion promotes a healthy lawn and strong growth. Here’s what you need to know about mowing your sod for the first time to help make the most of your sod investment.
When Is It Safe to Mow New Sod?
Mowing your new sod is safe after it's at least two weeks old. Your new sod will be fragile during the first two weeks after installation, so it’s important to wait until after the 14-day mark to mow it.
A common misconception is that sod takes at least a month to form this establishment. In reality, it can take place in around two weeks—and the sooner you can determine this establishment and start mowing, the healthier your new lawn will be in the long term. However, there are important factors to consider before mowing it for the first time. For mowing to be safe for new sod instead of detrimental, the sod needs to be well on its way to being established.
Why Is the First Time Mowing a New Sod Important?
Installing sod in your yard is a fast and effective method of creating a new lawn without the waiting and uncertainty of spreading grass seed. However, installing sod isn't a maintenance-free or hands-off solution either. Proper watering, monitoring, and knowing when and when not to mow it for the first time are crucial components of new sod care.
The first benefit of the first mowing session is that your new sod pieces can begin to grow together to form a unified lawn without grid-work seams. Secondly, cutting sod can start the process of thickening up your new lawn. Lawn thickening can help prevent weeds and improve its appearance and overall health.
How to Know When To Mow Sod
Knowing when to mow sod takes a slightly different approach than knowing when to mow new grass from seed. The visual cues are easier to see when mowing seed grass for the first time. Determining that your sod is ready for its first trim requires more investigation because its height may not tell you much about its health.
The first indicator that your sod may be ready to mow is that your new lawn is at least two weeks old. Two weeks of proper watering is usually enough time for the pieces to begin sprouting roots and establish new growth.
Before mowing, ensure the sod is starting to take root. Tug upwards on a few random sod pieces to see if they're sticking to the ground below. If they peel up easily, put the mower away and wait a few more days before checking again.
If the sod pieces feel secure in their places, peel up the corner of several pieces and look for small white roots extending from the underside of the pieces. These extensions are new roots, and their existence is a sure sign that your sod is ready to mow.
Before mowing your sod for the first time, skip a day of watering it. Allow the sod to dry out slightly for about 24 hours. This step will ensure the ground is firm enough to walk on and handle the mower's weight.
How to Mow Sod
Mowing sod for the first time is no different than mowing a regular lawn, so follow the same grass-cutting steps. Before starting, check for sharp mowing blades, set the mowing height appropriately, ensure your mower is tuned-up, and that your sod is ready for its big day.
While the best height to cut grass to is between two and three inches, mowing your sod for the first time may not be quite as straightforward. The most crucial rule for mowing your new sod is not to cut off more than ⅓ of its height, regardless of how tall it will be after cutting. Cutting off more than that can put too much stress on the lawn.
A general rule of thumb is to set your mower height to its tallest setting for the first mowing. When you mow the sod second and subsequent times, you can begin lowering the mowing deck to reach a three-inch height after a few times.
DIY Sod Mowing vs. Hiring a Pro
Knowing when to mow new sod requires advanced planning and some patience. If you DIY your first sod mowing session, you’ll need to carefully time out and test the lawn using the prep steps mentioned above.
To protect their investment, many homeowners opt to hire a local lawn mowing service to ensure their new lawn is in the best hands. A professional lawn mowing team will be able to test your sod to determine whether it’s ready to cut before starting your service. Hiring a lawn care company to help ensure your new lawn receives the best care in the long term is also an excellent idea. You can expect to pay $50 to $205 per session for lawn mowing services.