Whether you want to install sod yourself or have Green Valley Turf handle the process for you, it is essential to understand the steps to ensure a beautiful lawn, from its installation and for years to come. To ensure you have a healthy, attractive lawn, following the five steps outlined below will give your Colorado lawn its best opportunity to thrive. The four stages we will discuss in turn include:
Assessment and Preparation
Installation
The First Few Weeks
Transition to Lawn Maintenance
The assessment and preparation stage is similar to preparing your home’s foundation. The most beautiful architectural plans and materials are for naught if your home’s foundation is not on solid ground, so the assessment and preparation phase is your opportunity to determine the soil condition, the presence of rocks, plant life, slopes, and holes, as well as shaded areas in your lawn. Equally important, you will want an irrigation system installed before sodding the area.
Generally, you will need to remove any existing plant life, enhance the soil as needed based on the testing, level the area needing sod, and apply starter fertilizer. In many cases, rototilling the soil, incorporating organic matter, and adding nutrient-rich topsoil gives your sod the best opportunity to establish the deep root system it needs. These steps also help ensure your lawn is level, which is visually appealing and eliminates the holes that can lead to unattractive brown spots.
We provide installation services for most customers but are happy to offer our best sods to those who want to install the sod themselves. We generally apply Green Valley Turf Co. Quick Feed 20-20-10 starter fertilizer before installation. While the installation process is not simple, it is relatively straightforward and involves ensuring the slabs are correctly aligned, staggered, and snug with each other. Regardless of who handles the installation, the steps should remain the same, as outlined by our How To Install Sod page.
You should water your new sod immediately after installation. If your installation is sizable, we recommend watering each area after you move on to the next part of the lawn.
Once your sod is installed, nothing is more important to your lawn’s long-term health than early and extensive watering. Based on our sixty years of experience in Colorado sod, we provide rules of thumb regarding watering frequency and amounts, but you will have the most success by listening to your lawn. Listening to your lawn means regularly assessing its condition and adjusting your watering, mowing, and activity schedule based on your lawn’s condition.
You must keep your new sod wet during its first week. Following installation, your sod needs extensive watering, thoroughly wetting the sod and soil to four to six inches. After your initial watering, you should lightly water the sod and soil three to five times per day to ensure the sod does not dry out.
To assess the water level, lift the corner of a sod slab to check the moisture depth, varying the location daily to help assess the moisture levels across the lawn. Your new sod should be spongy due to the first week’s heavy watering. Feel free to walk on the sod occasionally, but if you sink in or leave depressions, stay off that section and consider reducing watering.
The first week’s watering should keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Over the coming weeks, reduce watering frequency to encourage deeper root growth and drought resistance.
For the first week after installation, water your sod three to five times daily. However, you should reduce the duration of each cycle if you experience excess runoff or standing water. Week Two is an important period for your lawn since the sod slabs begin knitting together and establishing deeper root systems. You will know your lawn has not received enough water if it shrinks or turns brown.
On especially hot (90 degrees and over) or windy days, consider watering four times per day to avoid the sod drying out. Signs your lawn needs more watering include the grass taking on a purplish or gray tint, or gaps forming between the slabs.
Toward the end of Week Two, reduce your watering and allow the lawn to begin drying out. For the first mowing, set your mower at two to three inches and mow one-third of its height. Continue to mow at two inches or higher the first few times. If your new lawn reaches a height of 3 1/2 inches, mow it to three inches and mow a second time at a lower height. Gradually lower the height of your mowing every several days.
Your lawn begins transitioning to maintenance mode during Weeks Three and Four, as you reduce the watering cycle durations and extend the days between watering. You can reduce watering to 1 to 3 times per day during Week Three, skipping a day of watering if your lawn remains moist. In Week Four, water 1 to 2 times every other day, and after Week Four, you should be ready to water every 2 to 3 days unless you experience extreme heat or wind. As mentioned above, listen to your lawn and adjust your watering appropriately.
It is essential to avoid using the lawn during these first weeks. Walking on the lawn can create indentations, leading to potential damage. Also, keep pets off the lawn during this period since their urine and potential digging behavior can be damaging.
Listen to your lawn and settle into an appropriate watering schedule, adjusting as needed based on the weather. If you prepared the soil properly, your lawn should not require aerating for at least one year. Also, be aware that some cities require permits to install sod or to water newly installed sod during times of water restrictions. Check with your local authorities to confirm.
Our sod headquarters is your one-stop destination for front and backyard perfection.
Check out our sod inventory, shop our online store and take advantage of our services. Better yet, give us a call at (303) 798-6764 or contact us online to learn more.
Discover the best sod types for Colorado lawns and their unique benefits with expert local advice
Discover the benefits of Colorado-grown sod—explore varieties and expert tips in the article.
©2025 Green Valley Turf Company
