Watering

• During the first two weeks after laying the sod, the new sod requires daily watering in warm temperatures or every other day in cooler temperatures. During this time, the roots are growing down into the soil below the sod. If you don't water the sod enough, the roots won't grow deep enough into the soil below to establish a good hold.
  
  

Established Roots

• Before you can mow the sod during the third week after the sod has grown and rooted, you must check to make sure the sod is established in the soil below. By gently lifting up on one corner of a piece of sod, you can test whether the sod is established. If the sod gives and lifts up, wait until the fourth week to mow the sod. If the sod doesn't give, it can be mowed during the third week. Never cut sod until the pieces are established or the sod will lift up and rip the roots.
  
  

Length

• After determining that the sod is established in the soil below, you need to look at the length of the grass blades. The blades of grass should be longer than 4 inches. If the grass blades are only 3 inches long or shorter, wait until the blades grow 4 inches long or longer.
  
  

Mowing

• When the sod is established and the grass blades are 4 inches long or longer, the sod is ready to cut. Use a lawn mower with sharp blades so you don't rip the grass blades. Only remove 1/3 inch off the top of the grass blades. Never remove any more than 1/3 inch when cutting sod or seed grass. If you need to make the grass shorter, wait three days and remove another 1/3 inch from the grass blades. You can continue this until the grass blades are no shorter than 2 inches, which is a healthy length for sod grass.