Every homeowner has a clear picture of the lawn they desire when installing sod. They want the greenest, most outstanding, and best-maintained grass. But here is the catch: to have such an appealing lawn, following the correct watering procedure is vital. So, how often do you water new sod?
Water new sod within 30 minutes of installation and twice daily for the next two weeks. Once the sod begins to root, reduce the watering frequency to encourage the roots to grow deeper in search of moisture. From the fifth or sixth week after installation, the sod becomes well-established. So, irrigate 3 to 4 inches each watering session to strengthen the grass enough to tolerate drought.
New Sod Watering Schedule
Watering your new sod is vital for root development. Therefore, water your lawn 3 to 4 inches deep within thirty minutes after planting. Alternatively, moisten for at least 20 minutes to ensure the soil beneath your new sod is wet.
After that, continue watering at least twice daily, regardless of the weather conditions. This moisture will help boost root development. Irrigate only in the morning and afternoon. Watering in the evening is not ideal, as the sod stays wet all night, thus encouraging fungal diseases.
Reduce the watering frequency after two weeks or when the grass starts rooting. In this case, sprinkle your turf only in the morning, as that’s the period less water evaporates into the air. However, if the temperatures are incredibly high, check the soil every afternoon to see if it needs watering.
Once your turf is well established, water twice or once weekly, depending on the weather conditions. This will encourage roots to grow deeper in search of nutrients and moisture.
How Often to Water Sod After 3 Weeks
Now that you have installed new sod and weeks have passed, you need to water it twice daily for about 20 minutes. Keep doing this for two months until your lawn is thicker, fuller, and greener.
It’s worth noting;
- Applying less water, especially during hot weather, makes your sod vulnerable to overheating and drying out.
- Too much water will make the ground soggy and encourage fungal attacks.
- Check whether the soil is wet or fairly moist before watering grass growing under shade.
- Irrigating your sod after 6 pm promotes fungal diseases.
- Shallow watering is not helpful to new sod.
Conclusion
Watering new sod is vital for greener, more attractive, and better-maintained grass. Irrigate your newly laid sod within the first 30 minutes for at least 20 minutes, or 3–4 inches down. Continue watering twice daily for two weeks, in the morning and afternoon. Reduce the watering frequency from there to encourage deeper root development. For each watering session, apply water 3-4 inches down. Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
