The First 30 Days
Establishment of any plant material always requires more water and more caution than once the plant is established. Tahoma 31 is no different and the establishment watering looks much different than once it is established.
Day 1: Water your new Tahoma 31 sod immediately after installation. This first watering must be immediate and should be very deep. This irrigation should be about .75 inches (this can be measured with rain gauge or small cup) Water 2 more times this day to ensure that the entire soil profile is thoroughly wet.
Day 2-4: Water your lawn frequently (2 times per day) Lift a section of sod periodically to check for soil moisture.
Day 5-14: Water your lawn 1 time per day. Continue to check soil moisture.
Day 15-24: Water your lawn every other day and continue to check for soil moisture.
Day 25-October 15: Water your Tahoma 31 in accordance with current water restrictions e.g. 3 times per week. While the grass has not fully established in the first year it may be possible to begin to reduce frequency of irrigation during this period. Whenever you do make an irrigation change closely monitor the Tahoma 31 for changes.
Day 25: Go ahead and mow your Tahoma 31 at 2” mowing height. Taking more than 1/3 of the blade with any single mowing may cause scalping and a brown appearance. Tahoma 31 generally recovers well from this if it does happen.
Day 30: Apply a light application of a balanced fertilizer like our 20-20-10. Apply at a rate of 5lb. Of product per 1000 square feet of grass. Follow the fertilization with an irrigation.
Established Tahoma 31 Maintenance (year 2+)
Irrigation
Superior Turf Quality Irrigation Schedule
12.4 inches/year = 7.73 gal/sqft
| Month | In. of water per month | Every 3 days Inches per irrigation | Every 4 days Inches per irrigation | Every 7 days Inches per irrigation |
| Apr | .5 | |||
| May | 1.6 | .16 | .21 | .37 |
| Jun | 2.75 | .275 | .37 | .64 |
| Jul | 2.75 | .275 | .37 | .64 |
| Aug | 2.6 | .26 | .35 | .60 |
| Sept | 2.2 | .22 | .29 | .51 |
Acceptable Turf Quality Irrigation Schedule
8 inches/year = 5 gal/sqft
| Month | In. of water per month | Every 4 days Inches per irrigation | Every 7 days Inches per irrigation |
| Apr | 0 | ||
| May | .90 | .12 | .21 |
| Jun | 2.0 | .27 | .47 |
| Jul | 1.9 | .25 | .44 |
| Aug | 1.7 | .23 | .40 |
| Sept | 1.5 | .20 | .35 |
Typical sprinkler precipitation assumptions
Mowing:
Scenario 1 Natural look:
Produces a pillowy
Mow once at beginning of April to .75 inch to allow for sunlight to heat soil and start spring green-up
No more mowing required.
Scenario 2 2 inch cutting height:
Mow once at beginning of April to .75 inch to allow for sunlight to heat soil and start spring green-up
Mow every 14-21 days as needed at 2 inch mowing height
Scenario 3 .75-1.25 in mowing height
Mow once at beginning of April to .75 inch to allow for sunlight to heat soil and start spring green-up
Mow every 4-7 days at .75 in to 1.25 in.
Be consistent within the season to not scalp the grass.
Fertilization:
Fertilize two times per year with a balanced fertilizer like our 20-20-10.
June 1 application: 5 lb of fertilizer/1000 sqft =1 lb. of N per 1000/sqft
August 15 application: 5 lb of fertilizer/1000 sqft =1 lb. of N per 1000/sqft
Aeration:
Aerate when the grass is green and growing in the late spring or early summer to reduce compaction and thatch development.