Get matched with top lawn fertilization and treatment specialists in West Point, IA

When your sod is new, you should keep an eye on it to prevent dehydration. As new sod plants its roots into the soil beneath it, it can easily get dehydrated and start to turn brown. Keeping a consistent watering schedule for your new sod will help prevent this issue and will help it thrive as it roots into your yard.

Once your sod is about six weeks old, you can start to establish a regular lawn maintenance routine, complete with mowing, edging, and fertilizing.  

Fertilizing is optional after dethatching. However, the period immediately after dethatching is generally considered the best time to fertilize your lawn because the thick debris is now gone. As a result, applying water and fertilizer as the final steps of dethatching can help to spur incredible growth.

In most municipalities, landscaping companies require a business license to operate legally, and some require additional licenses, like general contractor licenses. You can use Angi's our contractor licensing tool to confirm if a company in your area holds the necessary licensing. Equally as important as the license is insurance. Before hiring any lawn care company, you should confirm that it is fully insured. This measure protects you from lawsuits, and it also protects the employees in the case of an injury or unemployment.

Clover lawns stand up better against dog and cat urine than traditional turfgrass. If your pets love to hang out on the lawn on a sunny day—or if you find yourself with a lot of visiting neighborhood dogs—you could save yourself from yellow and brown patches by making the switch to a clover lawn.