New Sod Info
First Two Weeks following sod installation
New sod has small roots, so it can only absorb so much water at a time. Thus, you should irrigate the sod multiple times a day for short periods of time. Schedule watering in the morning and afternoon hours. If you water it in the late evening or at night, there is more chance of a fungus problem arising.
Depending on the temperature, you should water it 2 to 6 times a day for 4 to 6 minutes at a time. The hotter it is, the more you should water it. The goal is to keep the sod and soil underneath moist, but no longer soggy, throughout the day.
Try to stay off the sod for the first two weeks. The roots need time to take hold and dig in. It will not be ready to mow until around the 14-day mark. Ease up on the watering schedule the day before you plan to mow, as this will allow the soil to firm up. Set your mower’s cutting level to high. You do not want to cut more than the top one-third of the blades of grass.
Troubleshooting Tips:
If the sod does not take root within 14 days, gradually adjust the watering schedule. Water the sod less frequently, but for longer periods. Keep in mind that shady areas may take longer to root.
If the sod begins to turn brown or shrink to where you can see gaps at the seams, it needs more water! Increase the frequency of watering cycles or the length of each cycle. Also, make sure that the sprinklers are reaching that area. It is also a good idea to hand-water the problematic areas until its health status improves. If any edges are raised, press down on them with your foot after watering.
After Two Weeks
After your first mow, gradually decrease the number of times you water per day but increase the length of time for each cycle.
Now that the roots are well established, they can handle larger quantities of water. Keep repeating this process of reducing the frequency of watering gradually over the next few weeks until you are irrigating the grass once per day and eventually only one to three times per week, depending on the season.