Spring and Summertime Sod Watering

Consistent and adequate watering is the key to ensuring new sod is able to grow strong roots.

If sod is installed during the Spring or Summer months, it should be watered heavily everyday in order to prevent shrinking, drying, browning, and grass dormancy. The new sod should be watered for a minimum of 90 minutes immediately after installation to allow both lawn and soil to gather moisture, which will help with the rooting process and remove air pockets.

If you have installed sod in early Spring such as March or April, these watering recommendations should be followed as the heated summer months approach. The newly installed sod requires assistance getting through the heated summer months and into the cooler temperatures of Fall so full establishment of the root system can continue. It is possible, depending how established your early Spring sod installation is, that a modified variation of these watering recommendations is necessary so that overwatering does not occur.

During the heated summer months, the sod should be watered daily by your outside watering system, even if it rains. The water must be cool or cold in order to stimulate the root growth. Rainwater is typically warm in the summertime and will not provide the cold-water root stimulation that your outside watering system will offer.

The goal is to keep the sod cool, the soil moist, and stimulate root growth. We recommend watering the sod early in the morning as well as late in the afternoon as only watering during the daytime in the summertime heat can burn the grass. Ideally, all areas of the sod should be watered twice a day. The morning watering should be anywhere from 45 minutes to 90 minutes depending on your irrigation system’s gallons per minute. The afternoon watering should be long enough to combat dryness and cool the soil and sod temperature down.

It is important to ensure the edges of the sod are irrigated as well. The edges can dry and become brittle very quickly. The entire sodded area requires equal distribution of daily irrigation. The morning watering should be a long soaking irrigation. The afternoon irrigation is to combat dryness and cool down the sod, as necessary.

In addition to the recommendations above, when the outside temperature is above 85 degrees, you will want to perform short bursts of watering throughout the day in order to keep the soil moist and the grass cool.

Throughout the summer months, the goal is to keep the sod and soil cool and moist until the season gets to the cooler temperatures of the Fall and mother nature can take over.

Typically, this extra watering is necessary for new sod installations during the months of May, June, July, August, and September. In general, the weather and any droughts will dictate the watering requirements of the sod. Outside temperatures are a significant indicator regarding the necessary watering of the sod.

Key indicators that the sod is not adequately irrigated are: shrinking, drying, browning, and grass dormancy. If you notice this occurring, immediately start following the recommendations above as grass is very resilient.

It is important that the sod is monitored because over watering can also harm the sod. The sod needs to stay cool and the soil moist but the soil should not be muddy. Key indicators regarding too much watering is excessive sogginess three to four hours after the irrigation or muddy soil. In some cases, this could cause fungus or root rot.

Too little watering is harmful to the sod and too much watering is harmful to the sod. Therefore, the goal is finding the middle ground for proper irrigation techniques.

Initial Watering Outside of Summer Months

Watering must be started immediately when your new sod is installed. Ideally, you should start watering the sod immediately after a section is large enough to water; if this is done correctly the finished area will get a good drink while you are still installing the rest of your sod.

You must water enough in the initial watering to thoroughly soak the sod and the soil under the sod. You can check to make sure you are watering sufficiently by lifting up the freshly laid sod and sticking your finger into the soil. You should be able to feel completely wet soil 2 inches down. By correctly watering the sod for the first time you will release the air pockets which could harmfully dry out the sod. In order to cover a large area of sod, sprinklers must run for at least 45 to 90 minutes in each area depending on your irrigation system’s gallons per minute.

Pay close attention to the corners and edges of freshly sodded areas as they will dry out quicker than other areas. Hand watering is something that can work better in these areas. If an area does turn brown it does not necessarily mean your sod is dead. Sod is very resilient, add more water in these areas as needed until green up can be seen.

After the initial watering, water enough to keep the sod wet up to 2 inches deep in the soil; make sure the soil is not muddy. Water application is also variable based on weather. In cool weather, sod may require less water. In hot weather, sod will require more.

If there are any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.