Watering New Sod: Your Complete Guide
Watering a new sod watering chart is an important step in establishing a lawn. Before you start, you should know a few things. This article walks you through each stage to ensure your new lawn has the best possible start!
Watering recommendations and basic guidelines for the first two weeks after lawn installation
Planting new sod is easy, but requires the right amount of water and an optimal watering schedule.
The sod should be on your floor the day it arrives.
When the temperature is above 95°, lay the sod as soon as possible and pour it evenly over the entire surface.
Water more the first time you water. After the first watering, the water depth should be 3-4 inches.
The first watering must be more, because the soil was dry when we first watered. The soil requires the first application of heavy water to saturate the soil. Once the underlying soil becomes saturated, frequent, lesser watering is required to keep the soil/turf moist.
Don't let the turf dry out. Most of the problems we saw in the first 14 days were due to the fresh turf not getting enough moisture to keep the turf alive!
Use an irrigation system to water the turf evenly for best results. Sprinklers provide the most even and efficient watering than manual watering with a hose.
Remember that after the first watering, it is important to stay moist and not soggy. Too much water can lead to fungus and other diseases.
Before laying new sod
Before laying your lawn, you should do a few basic things to prepare the soil.
For installers, whether you are yourself or a paying professional, all sprinklers must be marked with paint, sprinkler flags, or stakes.
If your lawn does not have mowed curbs or other types of physical obstructions (such as sidewalks), use soil paint to mark areas where the lawn should be cut. This gives the installer a line to mow and shape the turf.
We strongly recommend fertilizing the soil before installing lawn sod. This provides extra nutrients to the turf and helps it develop new root systems.
Day 1 of new turf
After laying your new lawn, water it vigorously! The first watering takes 30-80 minutes, depending on the following factors:
how hot it is outside
Sprinkler system type/output in gallons per minute (GPM)
Soil type
wind
Additionally, sprinkler uniformity is key to even coverage.
lots of turf
If you are laying a lot of lawn in one day, we recommend that you start watering the lawn extensively. So your first roll won't be dry at the end of the day.
This is especially useful when it's really hot outside. If you have time the day after planting the sod, you will need to water it once or twice on the first day.
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Day 2 and the next two weeks
You will water the installed lawn/new roots 2-4 times a day to keep the lawn moist. Our recommended watering start times are spread evenly between 7:00am and 2:00pm.
The amount and frequency of daily watering depends on your sprinklers and soil type. We didn't submerge it, we just wanted to keep it evenly moist. May overwater the lawn. This can lead to root rot or fungal growth.
After 12-13 days, turn off the water for 1-2 days. You want your soil to dry out a bit so you can walk on it. We don't want you to sink into the ground.
Once the ground is walkable, mow your new lawn for the first time.
Mow your lawn
Always keep your lawn dry enough for you to walk and mow on it. Whenever possible, we recommend mowing the lawn with a mower that collects or collects grass clippings.
If you don't wrap the clippings, you can leave a lot of grass clippings on the lawn, which can clump and smother the grass below if they get wet from watering once a day.
Each type of turf has a different mowing height, so check the blade mowing height for the type of grass you ordered. If you have purchased turf from us, you can find the level of care on the product page of the turf you purchased.
Water your new sod after the first two weeks
Water once a day after the first mowing next week.
Watering in the morning is most effective. A 2am to 4am start time is great when the sun and heat don't cause excessive evaporation.
After your lawn is established, it usually needs about 1.5 inches of water per week during the summer heat. Be sure to check the water needs of your lawn type.
Depending on weather conditions, less water is required in spring, winter and fall.
Reduce watering in winter. Sometimes your lawn only needs to be watered once or twice a month, depending on rainfall and evaporation.
The water should penetrate up to 4-6 inches into the soil to ensure deep rooting. When your lawn needs water, it will turn from light green to blue or gray-green.
Week 4 of New Turf
After the third cut, you can now water the lawn every other day or less depending on the weather. Unless you have really sandy soil, you will most likely only need to water 3-4 days a week during the summer months.
The key to a happy lawn after good soil preparation is regular and consistent watering, mowing, and fertilizing! These three elements will give your rooting business the best chance of delivering a healthy and happy lawn for years to come.
Watering and mowing will keep changing with your local weather patterns. The above guidelines are for the warmer summer months. Make routine adjustments as needed for your specific climate and time of year.
For ongoing maintenance, consider using technology to help keep your lawn healthy. Soil moisture sensors are especially helpful in perfecting lawn watering schedules at different times of the year.
in conclusion
Having a sprinkler system makes it easy to follow proper watering recommendations for newly laid turf, as you can spread out watering times throughout the day - ensuring your turf gets the ideal amount of water and doesn't dry out.
The new sod watering chart system also ensures that you don't miss a day of watering that could cause your turf to dry out prematurely. After the first month of watering, you can easily adjust the watering schedule of your irrigation system to match the rest of your existing lawn.
Commercial Lawn Irrigation provides professional irrigation system installations in southern Illinois. If you are interested in a free estimate, click the button below to fill out the contact form!
