Sod Installation FAQs: How to Install & Water New Sod (2024)

FAQs

Sod Installation FAQs: How to Install & Water New Sod? ›

New sod should be watered for a minimum of 45 minutes immediately after installation to allow both lawn and soil to gather moisture, which will help with the rooting process. During the first couple of weeks following installation, each watering session should last approximately 15-20 minutes are a minimum of two days.

New sod requires one inch of water per day for the first three days. The total watering amount should be split up over three or four watering periods each day, if possible. After the first three days, water at a rate of a half inch every other day for the rest of the first week.

If you start to see large gaps forming between your rows of sod, or if it's pulling up at the corners, it's a good sign that you're not watering enough. This is a sign of shrinkage, and that means your new lawn is drying out.

The time to lay sod is early morning before it gets too hot. The soil in the planting area should be moist, not soggy or dry. Water thoroughly one or two days before the sod is delivered so that the top several inches of soil are wetted.

Waiting too long to install the sod

Once sod is harvested, it begins to decompose. The rate at which this happens is determined by the air temperature. Sod ordered in winter will last for up to a week on the pallet, but if you are installing in the hot summer it will only last for 24 hours or less.

Test if your sod is getting enough water by peeling back a corner and pressing a screwdriver into the soil. It should push in easily, and when removed, have moisture on the first 3-4 inches. Sod requires daily watering the first week after planting.

Although sodding is much faster than the natural lawn seeding and growing process, it isn't instantaneous. Technically, once it s been installed, sod should begin to take root within 10-14 days. And with the right balance of sun, air, and water, your sod will fully take root in 2-6 weeks.

The sod is more susceptible to insect, fungus and disease damage if it gets too much water. Once you spot the signs of excessive watering, skip one or two watering sessions so the sod and soil underneath are only moist.

First Two Weeks

Proper watering of sod is essential for root establishment. The day of installation, enough water should be applied to penetrate the sod and two inches of native soil. to six times during the day, for approximately five to six minutes each time, is required until the roots have been established.

The grass is wilting or turning yellow: This is a sign that the roots are not getting enough oxygen and are starting to suffocate. There is standing water on the surface of the soil: This can cause the roots to rot and lead to fungal diseases.

Is it good to water sod at night? ›

Some homeowners water their lawns based on a common misconception: that our hot summer days make daytime watering useless. If water evaporates before it gets to the roots, you would only assume you should change to night watering. The truth is: watering at night is a bad idea.

If you lay sod down without preparing the soil first, the new sod will be competing with the existing turf for water. This can lead to drainage problems and may eventually kill the new sod. To avoid this problem, you need to make sure that the soil is well-prepared before you lay down the new sod.

Be sure not to compress the soil so much while flattening that you push all the air out. Air in the base layer soil is essential for proper sod root establishment. If the soil becomes too compressed, use an aerator to fluff it back up a bit.

Your lawn should be watered enough to ensure moisture is always present for at least two weeks after installation, and you should continue to water it for an additional two weeks to prevent it from drying out.

Pro tip: If you're asking yourself, “can new sod be overwatered?” It can, and you need to be mindful that you aren't overwatering the lawn after the first two weeks. Provide any dry spots with a long, deep soak to keep the soil underneath moist.

Of all the tips we have for caring for new sod, the most important is not walking on it too early. You should keep pets, children, and everyone else off of newly plant sod until at least the first mowing.

That means you'll see the lines between each section. But not forever. How long does it take for sod lines to disappear? Those lines will disappear in 4-6 weeks as the roots take hold and the sections of grass grow together.

Typically, after installation, sod should start establishing roots within 10-14 days. With optimal conditions of sunlight, air, and watering, complete rooting of your sod can occur within 2-6 weeks.

If you are using a new sod, it will take about 10-14 days for the grass to develop root systems and fill the dead spots. Garden soil is usually friable but the new sod will be clumpy. During the first week you will need to water the grass more frequently, since you need to re-establish roots in the soil.

Failing to water the sod quickly enough after installation, or allowing it to dry out too much while it's stacked and waiting for installation, is the most common cause of yellowing. Whenever possible, stop and water the freshly laid sod after every few pieces so they don't dry out in the sun.