A new lawn is a fresh investment in your home’s curb appeal and long-term landscape health. Whether you’ve chosen seed or sod, proper aftercare in the first weeks is critical to long-term success.

• Begin watering immediately after seeding.
• Keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged, until germination.
• Water lightly 2–3 times per day for the first 2–3 weeks.
• Once seedlings reach 2 inches, reduce to deeper watering every 2–3 days.

• Do not mow until grass is at least 3.5 inches tall.
• Use sharp mower blades and mow no more than one-third of the blade height.
• Avoid heavy traffic until after 2–3 mowings.

• Starter fertilizer is usually applied during installation.
• Apply a follow-up fertilizer after 6–8 weeks.
• Avoid weed control products for 60–90 days to prevent seedling damage.

• It is normal for weeds to appear in a newly seeded lawn.
• Soil contains dormant weed seeds that germinate with grass during watering.
• Most weeds are temporary and fade once grass thickens.
• Weed control should only be applied after 60–90 days, once the lawn is established.

• Water sod immediately after installation until soil beneath is moist 4–6 inches deep.
• Water daily for the first 2 weeks. In hot weather, 2–3 times daily may be needed.
• After 2 weeks, switch to deep watering 2–3 times per week.

• Sod begins rooting within 10–14 days.
• Check progress by gently tugging sod after 2–3 weeks.
• Stay off the sod until roots are firmly established.

• Do not mow until sod is rooted (usually 2–3 weeks).
• Set mower height to 3–3.5 inches and only remove one-third of grass height.

• Starter fertilizer is applied at installation.
• Follow up with balanced fertilizer 4–6 weeks later.
• Avoid weed control for 30 days after installation.

• Avoid walking or playing on sod until it has rooted.
• Heavy traffic too soon may prevent rooting and cause seams to lift.

• Consistency is key—irregular watering is the main cause of lawn failure.
• Patience is essential—seed takes 14–21 days to germinate; sod takes weeks to root.
• Spring and early fall are the best times to establish new lawns in Northern Ohio.
• Long-term care such as overseeding, aeration, and fertilization improves durability.

Blades of Grass Landscaping prepares soil and installs seed/sod for the best chance of success. However, establishment depends on proper watering and homeowner care. Germination rates vary, and supplemental overseeding may be required at an additional cost.