Too much water on your sod could make it soggy, which prevents it from establishing a strong root system. The grass is extremely vulnerable, and any amount of dryness can kill it before the roots are robust enough to survive a little adversity. Check out the latest deals from Niemeyer's Landscape Supply. Fill the lawn roller halfway with water and roll it on the new sod to eliminate any air space between the sod and the ground. Run a sprinkler or water manually by hand at least twice a day, or as needed to keep the soil perpetually moist to the touch to a depth of 1 inch. If they show signs of rotting, you may be using too much water or watering too frequently. After your lawn has endured four mowings and appears lush and healthy, you can apply your first weed control product. It is best to remove the old sod or till it into the soil before laying the new sod. At the same time, check the health of the roots by lifting a corner of the sod. Touch the soil and sod with your finger. Water your new sod immediately after it’s installed. You can determine how much water you have applied by placing a small, low-sided can (such as an … In situations where the weather is hot and dry, you may choose to irrigate the completed areas before the whole site is … Grass seed can be overwatered resulting in a few different undesirable outcomes. Once you spot the signs of excessive watering, skip one or two watering sessions so the sod and soil underneath are only moist. How long can you wait before rolling it to make sure the roots have good contact with the soil? New sod requires plenty of water to take root and become established, but giving it too much water can be as bad as giving it too little. Step Three. This is also when you should mow your new lawn for the first time after laying sod. Today is Monday and he still has not rolled it and isn't committed to coming today. It requires some planning and care, however, to maintain a fresh and healthy grass bed in your home. Conversely, if the weather's hot and windy, new sod might require irrigation two or three times per day. During the first week after laying new sod, look under the sod at the roots. If it does, you are over watering. Sign up & receive a coupon good for $10 OFF your next purchase of $50 or more. On the other hand, if the grass hasn't taken root a few weeks after the sod was laid, the roots may have drowned. For watering, go through the section 'Watering new Bermuda Sod'. The sod installer or provider will tell you how much to do on the first day, but most of them will say that the water should penetrate from six to eight inches. The sod should quickly take root in your soil, adhering to the existing lawn after just a few weeks. Ideally, the soil 3 to 4 inches below the surface will be moist. Begin watering new grass sod within a half hour after it is laid on the soil. New roll on Saint Augustine sod will arrive at its new home freshly harvested from the turf farm, ... we must simply water the new Saint Augustine lawn as often as is required until it becomes established with its own root system. Remember the key is to Keep the soil moist and not soaked. When cooler temperatures and more frequent rains return, a well-managed lawn will make a complete recovery. On the second day, reduce this amount by one inch. It needs much more water than the other already established areas of your lawn. (In the meantime, I hope there is a spot off the new lawn you can take them out to.) During the first couple of weeks following installation, each watering session should last approximately 15-20 minutes at … Most sod vendors recommend soaking the ground where it will be installed to a depth of 3 inches, which may mean you'll have to water 24 to 48 hours before the sod is delivered. Apply one inch of water immediately after the sod is laid. It should be moist to a depth of about 1 inch. This is usually 1 inch per week. Water your new sod lawn twice a day for the first 3 days if temperatures exceed 80 degrees F or water twice daily for the first 2 days if the temperature is under 70 F. Water using a sprinkler and water for 20 minutes or until you have applied approximately 1/2 inch of water to the lawn. Top Answer (87% of 16 votes): Yes. The grass roots on the sod should begin to knit with the underlying soil after one to three weeks. Start watering at this frequency immediately after laying new St. Augustine sod until the sod has been in place for 1 to 1 1/2 weeks. Now that you’ve got your new sod established, it’s time to keep it free from weeds. If your weather is or becomes very cold day and night (below freezing) in that time, don't let them keep watering, but as long as that doesn't happen, let them do it. On day 1, water zone one. They drown and rot, and the grass blades wilt and die. Get Free Quotes Today! It means the new sod is growing. Overwatering new sod is an expensive mistake to make when installing a new lawn. Water Is it possible to overwater my new sod? After 2 weeks, you can till the ground and lay your sod. Does Fertilizer Help Revive Dried-Up Grass? Seedland: Climate Maps, Grass Type Chart & More, University of California Integrated Pest Management Program: Establishing a Lawn From Sod, University of California Integrated Pest Management Program: Irrigating New Lawns, Superior Sod: Signs You Are Overwatering Your New Sod. If you live in an area with water restrictions, make sure that you can do this before purchasing the sod. Grab your lawn equipment, tend to your sod, and soon you'll have the backyard of your dreams. Watering New Dormant Sod. Overwatered sod will come right up because its roots are dying or dead. Both should feel damp, but neither should be muddy. Using the best type of grass for your area can save hundreds of dollars a year in water expense if you have a good heat and drought tollerant variety. If you spot either of these signs, you could be overwatering. Purdue University Cooperative Extension: Irrigation Practices for Homelawns, ©2020 All rights reserved. Doing this will also remove air pockets that will inhibit root growth. New sod needs more water during the early days because the roots must grow and establish themselves in the soil. If you were overly generous with water, start fixing an overwatered lawn as soon as possible. Keep the lawn moist at all times. So it's not late. Day 2, water zone two. After the sod is installed, the initial watering should soak the sod and hydrate the soil. To check that you're supplying the appropriate amount of water, lift up a corner of the sod after you've finished watering, and push your finger into the soil. If it is difficult to move, the roots are beginning to grow into the soil, but if you can still pick it up with gentle force three weeks after laying it, you may be over watering. It’s nearly impossible to over water new sod! UPDATE You've said the sod was put down the day you asked the question, which means they'll be back to water it on a regular basis for the next two weeks. If your lawn appears to be holding water, or if you’re seeing evidence of puddles in your lawn, you need to stop watering and give it time to dry out. Killing the old sold also creates all type of organic matter that will feed the new lawn instead of hinder (croud) it from getting established. If they show signs of rotting, you may be using too much water or watering too frequently. Once the sod has begun to establish itself in the soil, reduce the number of times you water, but with each watering session, you need to make the soil damp down to 6 inches below the surface. Water your sod every day to a depth … Once you’ve laid it, you’ll need to water it once a day for the first week. Finally, when the roots have taken hold, reduce watering frequency to twice per week and water until the soil is moist 6 inches deep. As a general rule, keep sod and soil moist all throughout the day.As much as 2 to 6 sprinklings during the day (morning and afternoon) are required until sod begins to root. An easier way to figure that out is to water it until the soil can’t hold more and it’s running out into the street or onto the driveway. Healthy sod that gets the right amount of water will resist the pull because the roots are healthy and growing. Continue to reduce until you hit the appropriate amount of water and the right number of days. If you spot signs that new turfgrass is receiving too much water, reduce the amount you apply to prevent a minor issue from turning into a muddy disaster. Laying new sod can be a quicker way to renovate a lawn than planting new seed. Click here for information on overwatered grass, and tips on how to repair an overwatered lawn. Always look for weed control products that are built for your breed of lawn and your growing zone. You can make sure you’ve watered enough by lifting a corner of your sod and checking to ensure the water has penetrated the sod and made the underlying soil moist. How Often You Should Water Water your new sod at least three times a day the first two weeks for at least 15 to 20 minutes in every area of your lawn. Remove all rocks or other debris. If puddles form when you water your grass or the soil becomes soggy and waterlogged, you're over-watering and your new grass may pay the price. But if you can't lift the grass because the roots have grown into the soil, that's a good sign. Remember the key is to Keep the soil moist and not soaked. New Sod Care Week 1 - Keep Sod Wet It is essential to keep newly installed sod wet the first week. The grass blades may also have wilted and turned yellow or brown. If your gardener already applied fertilizer, I wouldn’t suggest applying more. Push a screwdriver into the soil to check. Keep the lawn moist at all times. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. During the first month of new lawn maintenance, you want to be very careful about watering. Paying attention to soil moisture levels and the condition of the turf is one way to avoid overwatering new sod. Sod should not feel like a sponge full of water. 2. Begin watering new grass sod within a half hour after it is laid on the soil. Paying attention to soil moisture levels and the condition of the turf is one way to avoid overwatering new sod. Yet prolonged overwatering will destroy it. New sod does need to be watered more often than established grass to ensure that it will take root, but it is possible to put too much water on the sod. You need to water new sod often to ensure it takes root, but watering it too much is possible. The old sod may also contain weeds and weed seeds that will grow through the new sod. Too much water will prevent the roots from growing into the soil beneath. Once you are sure your sod has taken root, you can finally scale back your watering, although you should still monitor it carefully until your lawn has been in for a few months to a full year. ON THE DAY OF SOD INSTALLATION: It is essential to begin watering new turf within a half hour after it is laid on the soil.Apply at least 1 inch of water so that the soil beneath the turf is very wet. A layer of old sod will prevent the new sod from developing roots. Answer: Yes Explanation: Yes most definitely. The faster you get water on the sod… During hot weather, you may have to water the sod … When the roots get too much water, they soften, rot and die from lack of oxygen. If the overwatering stops at the first signs of a problem, the surviving roots will grow into the soil and the turfgrass will begin growing. The Best Time of Day to Water New Sod. While most people are concerned about not watering their lawns enough, the fact is that more lawns are damaged or destroyed by over-watering. After the sod has rooted, keep it watered enough to promote healthy growth. Let’s go over the basics of caring for new sod. While it is true that new sod needs a lot more watering than mature turf it is also possible to over water. How Often Should You Water New Sod There can be nothing as good as looking at and walking through the lush green grass in your lawn during the sunrise. Water heavy the first irrigation cycle to wet the new sod and the soil profile to a depth of four to six inches. 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