New sod has almost no roots. Here is the watering schedule that gets it knitted into Illinois clay in about three weeks.
Why new sod needs so much water
Fresh sod arrives with a thin layer of soil and very short roots. Until those roots grow down into the soil beneath, the grass depends entirely on you for moisture. On a hot, windy June day in Sandwich, unrooted sod can dry out and turn brown in a single afternoon.
Week 1: keep it soaked
Water within 30 minutes of installation, then water every day so the soil underneath stays moist three to four inches down. Lift a corner of a piece: the soil under it should feel wet. In hot weather split the watering into a morning and an early-afternoon cycle. Stay off the lawn as much as possible.
Weeks 2 and 3: water deeper, less often
Once the sod resists a gentle tug, roots have started. Cut back to every other day, but water longer, about half an inch each time. This pushes roots deeper into the clay instead of keeping them at the surface.
Water early in the morning. Less water is lost to evaporation and the grass dries before night, which reduces fungus problems.
Pro tip
After week 3: switch to a normal schedule
Established sod needs about one inch of water per week, rain included, applied in two or three deep morning cycles. Mow for the first time when the grass reaches about four inches, with a sharp blade set high, and wait about six weeks before the first regular fertilizer application.
Need a hand? Around Sandwich we handle irrigation systems, yearly landscape maintenance, lawn fertilization and core aeration. Call (815) 555-0162 for a free estimate.
