Watering new sod can be a little tricky because they’re so many variables that hinder your best efforts to generalize watering for both new sod and existing turf. The general rule is to water for 2-3 weeks regularly to avoid drying. This can be daily if you have an area that is in full sun

Here Are a Few Variables to Consider

Sod Quality: The sod we use is cut the night before at a local sod farm and shipped fresh to the sod broker for pick up. It is moist when installed and watered at the time of installation. Watch for lower quality sod (seconds) that can be purchase for less and is often used by to cut cost. Beware of the true good to be true price.

Shade: The more shade you have the less you have to water. We are all busy people but if you invested the money in your new sod –be vigilant those first two weeks. Be careful not to over-water as it can be as equally harmful as not watering. You want to keep your sod moist for those crucial first 2-3 weeks.

Hint: if you are sloshing around your yard–you over watered.

Sprinklers: If half your sod is in shade and the other is in sun and they share 1 zone you have a bit of a problem. Your going to have to hand water the sunnier side to compensate for the drying. Do not over water the shade side.

Lack of sprinklers: Install your grass in the fall or when it’s dormant in the winter so that the need for water is less. Nobody wants to be out there in 105 degree heat running around moving their portable sprinkler.

Sprinkler run-off: Save water by following these tips. Turn on the zone and watch for the point of run off or over saturation . It is usually somewhere around 6-10 minutes. Set your sprinklers for that time and water daily. You may water 2x in one day for half as many days (watch for dryness). This is only for new sod.

Continued watering: While you’re out there getting wet set out your tuna fish cans or purchase inexpensive water catch cans from us and use them to see how long it takes to get an inch of water.  If it takes 20 minutes and you can only water for 10 minutes before  run-off then apply water 2x at 10mins on the same day. Do not water during restricted hours. Check your local municipalities ordinances for approved times. Most of our grasses only need 1 inch every 5-10 days. Include rainfall in your calculations.

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Waterwise Landscaping

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