New sod can be an absolute game-changer for your yard and add immense curb appeal to your home. While installing new sod will add beauty to your yard, it is typically a large investment and knowing how to care for it properly is crucial. It is important to know how much to water your new sod so you can have a healthy-looking yard in no time.
After you have taken the time to sod your entire yard, it is crucial to know how often to water so you can keep your sod alive. When it comes to watering your new sod, you should water it twice a day for the first two weeks. Watering in the morning and the afternoon will ensure it has time to absorb the moisture and not sit in it as it would if you water at night.
In this article, we will dive into the important steps to take to ensure you keep your sod looking happy and healthy. Also, we will cover how to know what signs to look for to keep from overwatering or underwatering your sod.
How Much Should I Water New Sod
Once you sod your yard, you have a major responsibility to keep it alive and give it a solid foundation to establish well. Many people often wonder how much they should water their new sod because it is very easy to forget to do each day.
Many people say to water your new sod twice a day in the morning and afternoon, never at night. When you water twice a day, you can also set a timer for twenty minutes each time to make sure the sod is saturated enough.
Instead of standing outside with a handheld sprinkler, you can invest in a few sprinklers or have a sprinkler system installed. Using a sprinkler can cover more area quickly and keep you from having to stand outside all day.
The one downside of having a sprinkler is that they can often miss parts of the yard, and that can easily cause some of your sod to not survive. Paying close attention to the different areas of your yard will allow you to hand water any sod that isn’t getting watered or rotating your sprinklers throughout the day.
One sure-fire way to know if part of your sod is not being watered enough is by seeing the corners start to come up. If your sod’s corners are starting to roll up, you can narrow it down to not having enough water and adjust accordingly.
Can You Overwater Sod
Yes, you can absolutely overwater sod. After you get new sod placed it is so easy to overwater because you are wanting everything to take well.
The good thing is that there are a few sure sizes that will alert you that you can hold off on watering until things dry up. One is that if you begin to see puddles form in your yard, you should stop watering and let the yard dry. If the grass squishes when you walk on it, hold off on watering.
Besides the more obvious signs, you can also watch out for signs of rot. Overwatering your yard can lead to rot in your sod and cause big issues. The good thing is that if you catch your overwatering issue early, your sod should bounce back quickly because it is hardy and made to withstand change well.
When Should I Water New Sod
New sod should be watered during the morning and afternoon, but never at night.
Watering at night can keep your sod damp for far too long overnight and cause a plethora of issues.
Another thing to be aware of is the amount of rainfall in your area. You can know exactly how often you should water after a rainstorm by installing a rain gauge in your yard.
By having a rain gauge installed, you can know exactly how much water your new sod has got as well as how many days you should wait to let your solid dry back out.
How Long Should You Stay Off Sod
After you have laid sod, it needs time to take root and establish before you should walk across it. Walking on your sod way too soon will cause an immense amount of shock and stress to your sod.
It is often recommended to stay off your sod for at least two weeks before you walk across it. Doing so will ensure that the roots have time to take and your sod becomes strong enough to withstand daily pressure.
How Long Does It Take Sod to Root
If new sod is watered and positioned properly, it will typically take between ten and fourteen days to take root. After these fourteen days is when you can first mow and get your new sod exactly how you want it. Mowing too early can cause shock to your sod and may delay the roots taking nearly as quickly.
When mowing, make sure you set your mower to the highest setting, so you don’t cut your new sod too short. If you cut your sod too short, you risk damaging the blades and putting your sod into shock where it doesn’t grow properly.
If you run into an issue and your sod dies, it will likely not grow back, so you will have to remove the dead grass and start the process early. That is another reason why it is important to take care of the new sod when you get it, so you don’t have to replace anything later.
Conclusion
Adding sod to your yard is a great choice to add curb appeal to your yard and can add beautiful greens to your outdoor space. After the time and money, it takes to install new sod, knowing how to help it will help narrow down the chances of having to buy new sod anytime soon.
There are a few steps you can take to make sure your sod receives just the right amount of water to thrive. One step is to water your sod twice a day for the first two weeks. When watering your sod, you should water for at least twenty minutes each time by utilizing a sprinkler or simply hand watering. You should also make sure to wait at least two weeks to begin mowing your sod, so it has time to take root and develop properly.
Two issues may arise when it comes to watering your sod. One is that you can easily over water your sod, especially if you are overly worried that it will dry out. You can tell that you may be putting too much water on your sod if you begin to see puddles form or the ground squishes when you walk.
The other is underwatering your sod. If you consistently underwater your sod you can risk losing it and having to start all over. You can tell that you may be underwatering your sod by looking for the sod beginning to curl up on edge.
When it comes to sodding your yard, the hard work doesn’t stop when you get everything laid out. Being consistent with your care and maintenance of your sod, especially the first two weeks, is crucial for its survival.
