How to water new sod

How much water does new sod need to root properly?

new sod care & watering chart

DAY 1

With the installation of new sod, the objective is to establish it quickly and support a robust root system.

On the first day, it is crucial to water the new sod immediately after installation. A thorough soaking within the first hour is significantly more advantageous than applying three times the amount of water later in the evening. The optimal times for watering sod are early morning or evening. If possible, refrain from watering during midday when the sun is at its peak.

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THE FOLLOWING 3 DAYS

Your newly installed lawn requires the soil to be irrigated to a depth of 3″ to 5″. To verify the watering depth, you may lift a small corner of your new sod and dig down to assess how far the water has infiltrated.

Alternatively, you can utilize a pencil or screwdriver to push through the new sod. When you extract it, moist soil will adhere to it at the depth to which the water has penetrated.

ON DAY 5

You may reduce the water quantity by approximately 20%.

Watering for 30 minutes per zone, twice daily, typically brings you close to the ideal water amount. If it is mid-summer, consider adding a third watering session to compensate for evaporation and prolonged sun exposure.

A simple method to identify under-watering is to observe for gaps between the sod. If such gaps appear, it indicates that the sod has contracted, and you might need to add soil to restore the lawn’s smoothness.

Generally, sod is quite resilient and more difficult to damage than most trees and plants. Do not be overly concerned if you fall behind on your watering schedule or miss a watering cycle; it may simply require additional time to become fully established.

TIPS: Avoid walking on your new lawn while it is wet to prevent leaving footprints in the fresh loam beneath. If you have any inquiries, please reach out to us.

AFTER 5 DAYS

We will now allow the new roots to dry out and commence training them to seek a deeper water source. Water will be provided on days 7, 8, and 9, and then we will cease watering on day 10 to allow for drying once more.

Follow the watering schedule for the remaining days until the conclusion of week 2. At this juncture, you may mow your new lawn and subsequently water it again on the same day after mowing.

Upon reaching the end of week 3, you can reduce the watering frequency to twice a week. Additionally, the duration of watering for each area should be modified accordingly.

Each yard varies in terms of sun exposure, rainfall, and slope; therefore, you will need to adjust your watering schedule to accommodate the specific characteristics of your property over time.

Keep in mind that maintaining your lawn can be crucial for reducing maintenance and water expenses.

TIPS: Refrain from frequent light watering, as this leads to shallow root development. The lawn requires thorough soaking followed by a drying period. This practice encourages the roots to penetrate deeply into the soil, fostering a healthy lawn that minimizes weed proliferation.

Long-term over-watering will saturate the soil and hinder air from reaching the root zone, which is essential. Water should be applied evenly and slowly enough to ensure it penetrates the soil without causing runoff.

If you possess an irrigation system, you will need to modify your watering schedule using your smartphone or tablet. Familiarize yourself with your Wi-Fi residential irrigation controller.