Water/Care for New Sod (Celebration)

6 years ago

Thought I'd move a few questions to a new thread since they got buried at the bottom of my reno pictures that no one is probably reading anymore:-) Refresh...put down 7 pallets of Celebration in my backyard last Thur/Fri. Everything is looking pretty good.

1) I got the sod in two separate loads on two days (3.5 pallets each day). We noticed after installing on day 2, a distinct color difference between the two days shipment. I guess I'm looking for some reassurance that I didn't get two different types of bermuda (say one day they actually loaded me up with tif, then celebration). I don't know how much variation in color there can be amongst Celebration between different lots, especially when it's freshly cut and probably undergoing rapid change in chlorophyll levels. See picture below...I think it should be pretty clear the area I'm talking about.

2) I'm currently watering 2x per day (down from 3x the first few days), keeping the bottom of the sod moist (checking by peeling up a corner). When should I back off from 2x per day and move toward the recommended deep and infrequent schedule?

3) I put down Dr. Earth Lawn Fertilizer (https://drearth.com/products/lawn-food/super-natural-lawn-fertilizer/) before laying. What should my fertilization schedule look like from here on out for this summer (I'm zone 7b)? When should my next application be and of what (soybean meal, alfalfa, etc)? For reference, the sod folks recommend a 13-13-13 at any time.

4) I plugged a small-ish area (5x25) in the back corner of the yard b/c I was a little short of sod. How should I handle weeds that pop up here? Just spot spray with a selective herbicide? The weed that I know is going to pop up is wild violet. They're everywhere in my neighborhood (and I have struggled with them in my yard for years).

Now a random question...I have a chipmunk issue. Anyone have any effective way to get rid of chipmunks besides starting to shoot them?:-) Tired of them burrowing in the yard.

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Comments (7)

dchall_san_antonio
6 years ago
Defs looks like 2 lots. Could be different farms. Once everything is growing into your soil, the colors should adjust.

I would not walk on it to do anything until roots are in the soil. The chance of pieces shifting is too great before that. I would not back off on the frequent watering until then.

Your fertilizer is still sitting in soil that the roots have not grown into yet. Assuming Dr Earth is organic, then the goodness is still there. No need to fertilize again until you have mowed new growth for the second time.

Spot spray weeds with Weed-b-Gon Chickweed, Clover, and Oxalis Killer. Violets need the extra oomph from the WBGCCO. Keep after them. Seeds will continue to sprout new plants. Eventually they will run out of seeds.

Check YouTube for chipmunk traps. There should be some that lure them up and into a 5-gallon bucket of water.
Matt Rigney
Original Author
6 years ago
@dchall Thanks for the advice here. How often should I be spot spraying the violets? Honestly I want to get out there and spray them every day. I know that's probably not particularly useful. Haha.

Also, I know the triclopyr in the WBGCCO says not to use on bermuda. I assume spot spraying around my plugs will be ok? Can I spot spray the few violets I see coming up through small seams in the sod? The more I read about eradicating wild violets, the more depressed I get. Sounds like it's going to be a long battle for me.
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It's time to really back off the watering. How much you need to water is largely dependent on the weather. The warmer and drier it is, the more water your grass will transpire, and the more you need to water. When it cools off, it will need less water to stay green. However, the only time that kind of breaks down is when, like in the fall, you want to boost your grass some for recovery from the summer - then even though, it's transpiring less, you will still water a fair amount. Go out and pull up on your sod. If it's rooted, it shouldn't be possible. I think you should probably work the lawn back to about an hour per week. Start by 1 hour per day, then every other day and so on. When you laid the sod, did you put starter fertilizer? If not, you should apply it right away. And yes, in November timeframe, (before snow, but as it's basically done growing) you will apply fertilizer.
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reeljake
6 years ago
Sulfentrazone has been shown highly effective on wild violets & is safe on bermuda, why risk it with triclopyr?
Matt Rigney
Original Author
6 years ago
I'd prefer not to risk it...thus the question. I was going off of dchall's rec...read the label, though, with it's warning against using on bermudagrass. Hadn't heard of sulfentrazone.

Something like Bonide's Sedge Ender woudl be effective? It's 1.36% sulfentrazone, 2.73% prodiamine.

Then you have other stuff like Dismiss (http://store.doyourownpestcontrol.com/fmc-dismiss-herbicide). Results from the manufacturer's website treating violet look great (http://fmcturfwire.com/2012/06/sulfentrazone-turf-protection-that-gets-to-the-root-of-the-problem/).

Have a recommendation?
reeljake
6 years ago
DC is correct that CCO will work, its just not the right product for your turf, especially when newly sodded.

Anything sulfentrazone based will work, but sedge ender has the prodiamine included & is my favorite, but it may slow rooting. Ortho nutsedge killer is pure sulfentrazone but still works great & won't inhibit rooting on the new sod. Dismiss & other FMC products are professional grade so I haven't used them personally but they get rave reviews on turfnet for whatever that's worth.
Matt Rigney
Original Author
6 years ago
I might just grab some Ortho Nutsedge killer to start with then since I know I can pick it up at Lowe's/Home Depot (or at least I think i've seen it) on my way home from work today. Maybe I'll try out the FMC products next year for fun:-)

Would you still just spot spray the violets (and some nutsedge that has poked through)? Or would you do a hose end sprayer and spray the yard? Or both (spot spray now and then spray the entire lawn after a few cuttings)?

Thanks for all the help!
reeljake
6 years ago
I would not spray the whole yard until next summer at the earliest, just spot spray until it's well established.

Water/Care for New Sod (Celebration)

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dchall_san_antonio

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Water/Care for New Sod (Celebration)

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