• Sod gives you an established lawn in a matter of weeks.grass,lawn image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
  
  High-quality sod is light but does not tear easily. It is easier to transport and to install than lower-quality products and will quickly put roots down into properly prepared soil. Select sod of certified seed that is suitable for your climate and growing conditions. Sod is perishable. For best results, install it as soon as you get it. Then follow some basic care guidelines to help your new sod become well established.
  
  

Watering

• On a hot day, cool the soil by watering it prior to laying sod. Water the sod immediately after installation. If you have a crew working on placing the sod, one member should begin watering while others are still installing sod.
  
  Water the sod as needed during the first three weeks to keep sod and the soil below it moist. Watering frequency will vary depending on the weather. If it is cool, watering every two to three days will be sufficient, while extremely hot, dry and windy conditions may require more than one watering per day. Keep the sod from drying out until the roots have grown down into the soil.
  
  After the sod has knitted or rooted to the soil, switch to deeper, less frequent watering. Water once or twice a week until the root zone, the top 4 to 5 inches of soil, is moistened. This is equivalent to about an inch of water per watering.
  
  

Fertilizing

• Fertilize the lawn four to six weeks after installation, according to the Rhode Island Cooperative Extension. Apply a complete lawn fertilizer at the rate of 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Then water the lawn to encourage the fertilizer to move down into the root zone.
  
  

Mowing

• Cut grass to its optimal growing height, which varies by grass type. For example, the optimal growing height for common Bermudagrass is 1.5 inches, for Kentucky bluegrass it is 2 inches, and for tall fescue it is 2.5 inches. Proper mowing will keep a lawn healthy and dense, which is the best form of weed control. Cut as frequently as needed in order to remove no more than a third of the leaf blade in any one mowing, advises Texas A&M. You will not need to remove grass clippings if you mow as frequently as needed. Keep the lawn mower blade sharp to achieve a nice clean cut.