New turf (also called sod) is essentially living grass that has been cut with a thin layer of soil and transplanted to your garden. Unlike established lawns, its root system hasn’t yet grown into the soil below, so it’s very delicate in the first few weeks.
Typical Timeline After Turfing
📅 First 10–14 Days — Very Limited Foot Traffic
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Turf is establishing initial shallow roots into the soil.
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Avoid walking on it as much as possible.
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If you must access an area (e.g., to water), try to evenly distribute your weight by stepping on a board or wide plank rather than directly on the grass.
📅 2–3 Weeks — Light Walking Only
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Roots are beginning to knit into the soil.
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You can walk on it lightly — gentle foot traffic like crossing the lawn — but don’t drag feet, turn sharply, or let pets run repeatedly over the same patch.
📅 3–4 Weeks — Moderate Use Possible
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Most lawns in good conditions can handle normal, everyday walking.
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You may also be able to do your first very light mow if the turf has put on enough growth (cut at a high setting).
📅 4–6 Weeks — Full Use and Play
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The turf should now have a well-established root system.
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It’s generally safe for family use, furniture, and playful pets. Heavy activities (like football or wheelbarrows) should still be avoided until this stage.
Why You Need to Wait
Walking too soon can:
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Damage fragile roots before they’ve grown into the soil.
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Compact the soil, making it harder for roots to penetrate deeply.
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Lead to uneven patches, bare spots or depressions where footprints press the grass down.
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Delay proper establishment and make the lawn more prone to weeds or stress.
Practical Tips for Early Weeks
✔ Use walking boards if you need to cross the lawn before 2–3 weeks — they spread your weight.
✔ Water properly: daily in dry weather at first, then gradually reduce as roots develop.
✔ Wait for the tug test: you can test rooting by gently lifting a corner of the turf — if it resists, it’s starting to take root.
✔ Delay heavy play and mowing: protect the young lawn until it’s strong enough.
