When to Start Walking on New Sod: How Long to Wait for You + Pets
The last thing you would expect is to ruin a newly installed sod on your lawn. But for how long will I have to wait before using your new sod lawn?
You can start enjoying your newly installed sods once they establish roots. New sod establishes roots within two weeks to handle light traffic. Give new sods two to six weeks to be fully established under normal conditions to handle heavy traffic. However, you still need to avoid trudging and pet urinating on it even after 6 weeks.
In this blog, we go through why you shouldn’t walk on new sod too early, when’s the right time to start walking on new sod, and how to properly water new sod without stepping on it.
Is it okay to walk on new sod?
The answer to this question depends on how recently your new sod was laid. For new sod that’s less than two weeks old and yet to establish shallow roots, you’ll generally want to avoid walking on it as much as possible. This is because, at this stage, the sod is most sensitive to pressure from factors like foot traffic.
However, after the formation of shallow roots (after the first two weeks), your new sod will typically be ready for light foot traffic. From the second to the sixth week, deeper roots form, after which your new sod will be ready for heavy foot traffic.
When can you start walking on new sod?
You can start walking on your new sod once shallow rooting occurs, typically after about 14 days. To check whether rooting has occurred, gently lift one of the edges of your sod and note the resistance as you lift. Sod that lifts easily with minimal resistance, it means that rooting is yet to occur, and you should avoid walking on your new sod at all costs. Conversely, if you’re met with significant resistance as you try to lift the sod, then it means that it has already developed stronger roots and can significantly withstand foot traffic.
Can dogs walk on new sod?
No, you want to keep your pet as far away from your newly-sodded lawn as possible. But does dog pee affect new sod? Since new sod has shallow roots, pet urine can easily seep into the soil and cause damage to such developing roots. You’ll want to keep dogs away from the new sod until deeper, stronger roots are established.
Why can’t you walk on new turf too early?
If you begin walking on your new sod before it establishes a strong anchorage system, your turfgrass is less likely to thrive, as the foot pressure causes wear to sections of the turf or even makes new sod turn brown. Therefore, the best thing to do is to wait for proper root establishment. The most you can do is to try and shorten the waiting duration by boosting the rate at which root establishment takes place. You can achieve this by:
- Ensure to irrigate the new sod frequently during the first fourteen days.
- Avoid overwatering your new sod, as excessive soil moisture inhibits rooting.
If, for one reason or the other- you have to walk on your new sod within the first six weeks of installation, avoid repeatedly trudging through the same path on the lawn and change your routes through the sod as much as possible. This will help minimize chances of wear on specific sections of the sod due to heavy foot traffic. For particularly heavy foot traffic, you can cover your new sod with plywood to protect it. However, you’ll want to avoid covering your new turf for too long as this prevents direct sunlight exposure. In addition its good to avoid human urine
How to water new sod without walking on it
Having to wait a few weeks for sod anchorage before you can walk on it doesn’t mean you won’t need to water it. The best way to water your newly-installed sod without walking on it is by using sprinklers. Otherwise, if you don’t have a sprinkler system and have to irrigate by hand, ensure to walk softly on the lawn by not scooting your feet to avoid sliding the sod.
When watering the new sod lawn, you’ll want to avoid stepping on it once it’s wet and the soil is soaked, as it’s more vulnerable to wear damage. To achieve this, begin watering from the farthest section of the lawn while working away from the lawn.
