Traffic: Minimize foot traffic and play on newly planted lawns, including sodded lawns, for at least 3 weeks.

Watering: Plan for your watering needs before you plant your lawn not afterwards! Insufficient water is the leading cause for new lawn failure, and overwatering is not far behind. 

For newly seeded lawns, set sprinklers to mist the surface 4 times a day beginning at 7:00 am and finishing at 6:00 pm. The seedbed should be kept moist (not saturated) to a depth of 1 - 2 inches. As seedlings grow to a height of two inches, reduce the frequency but increase the depth of waterings.

For plugs, sprigs or sod, water at least twice a day, including one watering during midday. Keep the soil moist to a depth of 1 to 2 inches. Check, however, to be sure the soil does not stay saturated for long periods, or the plants may not root. Reduce watering frequency to every second or third day for a sodded, sprigged or plugged lawn once it has begun new root growth (about two weeks). After four weeks, a sodded lawn can survive longer periods without water.

Mowing: Begin mowing newly seeded, sprigged and plugged lawns after the grass has grown to a height of three or 4 inches. Cutting is best done with a reel-type mower because it is less likely to uproot seedlings and plants with the powerful vacuum action of today's mulching mowers. If you don't have a reel mower, use a rotary mower with the throttle set low. In your first mowing, just remove enough to give your lawn an even appearance (1/2 to 3/4 inches). Next time, cut to the maximum height recommended for your grass variety but not more than 30 percent of the leaf in any single mowing. 

Do not mow a sodded lawn for at least 10 days after installation and until the grass has begun to grow. Once again, if you are using a rotary mower set the throttle low to avoid lifting and chopping up pieces of sod. Once established, regular mowing will encourage lateral spreading of sprigs and plugs.

Mulches: If the weather is dry or warm, spread a layer of straw mulch over seeded areas. Choose clean mulching straw, such as wheat straw, that's as free as possible of seed. Evenly spread about 50 - 80 lb. (one or two bales) per 1000 square feet. In windy areas, stretch string over the mulch every few feet to keep it from blowing away. Avoid putting down a heavy layer; it will inhibit grass growth. Burlap or agricultural fleece (a textile mulch that admits water and sunlight) are other mulches that will protect the seed from drying sun and wind. They are particularly helpful in preventing erosion and seed run-off when staked over seeded slopes. You may remove mulches approximately 3 weeks after germination.

Fertilizing: Do not apply fertilizer to new lawns for at least 6 weeks. Then a light fertilization of 1/2 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet is recommended. Afterward, fertilize according to the recommendations given for established lawns in Reducing Lawn Maintenance.