If you want to establish a new lawn on your property in Alabama or Tennessee, sod is the way to go. Sod is pre-grown grass, so it'll give you an instantly beautiful lawn. However, it will take some time for it to grow roots and become established in your soil. After about two weeks, the sod will have developed shallow roots, but you should still avoid foot and machine traffic during this time. Then, after about 4-6 weeks, it will have established a solid root system and will be fully settled in your soil. However, it's important to note that proper watering is crucial to helping the sod develop roots and establish successfully. Continue reading this blog to learn more about how long it will take for sod to grow roots and how to help it do so!

After about 2 weeks, your sod will have developed shallow roots.

Green sod along a walkway and around a tree in Huntsville, AL.

When sod is installed on your property, it will give you an instantly beautiful lawn. However, it's still fragile because it hasn't yet grown a solid root system, which will take some time. You can expect your sod to develop shallow roots after about two weeks. During this time, you'll want to avoid walking on or mowing your lawn because the roots won't be strong enough to handle it. It's best to wait to use it so you don't add unnecessary stress while it's still establishing.

When you mow your sod for the first time, set your mower deck height to the highest setting so that you don't harm it!

After about 4-6 weeks, your sod will have developed a solid root system.

After about 4-6 weeks, your sod will have developed a solid root system and will be fully established in your soil. This is enough time for it to become as durable as it is lush and green. At this point, you can start using your lawn normally, as it'll be able to tolerate foot and machine traffic. With sod, not only will you have a new, beautiful lawn immediately following installation, but it also won't take too long until you can enjoy it!

Proper Watering Is Crucial to Helping Your Sod Develop Roots

One of the most important things that you can do to help your sod develop roots and establish successfully in your soil is to water it properly. You'll want to follow a strict watering schedule to ensure it gets the hydration it needs. Immediately after the sod has been installed, you'll want to water it thoroughly to help it start developing roots. For the first two weeks afterward, you should water it lightly multiple times a day to keep the soil moist. Then, for weeks 3-4, you can reduce the frequency but extend the amount per session; this deeper watering will encourage the roots to grow further into the ground. After a month has passed, you can return to your normal watering schedule.

Call Us Today to Schedule Our Sod Installation Service

Boast a new, green lawn instantly with our sod installation service! Our team at Five Star Lawn and Landscaping follows a meticulous process when installing sod to ensure it looks great and has optimal conditions for root development. We've been establishing new lawns via sod since 2012, so you can trust that we have the skills and experience to get the job done right. That way, you get a lawn you can be proud of.

We offer our sod installation service to residential and commercial property owners, as well as HOAs, in Huntsville, AL, and throughout the surrounding areas, such as Owens Cross Roads and Madison. We also serve those in and around Winchester, TN. Call us at (256) 975-0529 to schedule this service today!