Planting new sod and cultivating a lush green lawn requires an investment of both time and money. A nice yard can improve your home’s exterior and your family’s life.
Laying new sod will instantly transform your yard’s landscaping. After the sod is laid, you’ll need to look after it correctly to ensure it becomes well established. New sod should be watered regularly. Let’s look at how often to water new sod.
When to water new sod?
After installing new sod, you should water it well as the water is vital to keep your sod alive and allow it to establish itself. Your new sod should be watered daily so that it can establish a strong root system. Water your new sod well on the day it’s installed as it will die if it’s given too little water. It’s crucial not to waterlog your soil as newly installed sod requires the right amount of water to thrive.
It’s also worth noting that each variety of grass has slightly different watering requirements. You should research the type of grass you’re planning to install and ask the installer or your local garden center for advice if you’re unsure.
The First Day of Watering
When watering new sod for the first time, it’s best to water with a sprinkler for about an hour. The exact time you water your grass will depend on the size of your yard and the reach of the sprinkler. You should also provide water according to the weather conditions. Please take into account whether it’s a cool or hot day.
You can water your new sod twice on the day it’s installed. The second time you water it, reduce the time to about fifteen or twenty minutes. This will help ensure that your lawn is fully watered and able to absorb the water and nutrients in the soil.
Day Two to Fifteen of Watering
Your newly lain sod should then be kept moist for two weeks after it’s been installed. You can turn on your sprinkler for a couple of hours during the day or water your grass for shorter amounts of time four or five times during the day. How much water your lawn needs will depend on the grass type, season, and climate. Plenty of water during the first two weeks will help the grassroots become established.
Week Three and Four of watering
After the first fifteen days, your lawn will have started to develop a robust root system and will require less water. You can now water your lawn once a day for between fifteen and twenty minutes at a time.
If you want to check whether your new sod has established roots, you can gently pull at the corner of your sod. If you feel resistance, the roots have grown, and you can limit the aggregation time.
Tips for Watering New Sod
When watering your yard, you should ensure that the new sod is watered right up to the corners. Sometimes corners can remain dry if the sprinkler doesn’t reach the corners. This can affect growth.
It’s also worth noting that if you have a slope in your yard, the water may run off before the soil and grass have become adequately watered. To ensure that your lawn gets enough water, you can turn off your sprinkler system when you notice runoff; wait for approximately half an hour for the water to soak in and then resume watering. This will help you achieve adequate moisture in the soil.
You may need to give your lawn more water if you live in a very hot or windy climate as these weather conditions cause evaporation and can you’re your lawn dry out. It’s best to water your lawn in the early morning and again in the evening to avoid the hottest part of the day. This will reduce the amount of water that’s evaporated and will stop grass blades from becoming scorched due to moisture on their leaves.
Conclusion
New sod requires enough water to help it establish roots. Ensure that your lawn is kept moist for the first two weeks and then continue to provide water for a month after planting. If you live in a very hot climate, you may like to continue watering your lawn regularly. The best time to water your yard is in the early morning or evening. You should avoid the hottest parts of the day when watering your grass.
Sod also requires it’s own special fertilizer. The fertilizer will need be gentler on it than what’s typically offered. Here are some good fertilizer for sod choices, as well as the best practices for fertilizing it.