Can I fertilize after laying sod?

New sod does not need fertilizer immediately after installation, although it does need a dose about three weeks afterward. Immediate fertilization is not needed, as commercial growers fertilize their sod products heavily as they grow.

Before new sod is installed, the area should be prepared by testing, as well as by the addition of lime, sulfur or phosphorus to the bed if necessary. These ingredients must be raked into the bed to prevent burning the sod roots. When the sod is ready for fertilizer, users should spread a complete mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and they should water the area thoroughly to prevent burning.