Water…..Water…...Water. Your new lawn needs lots of water for its roots to “take root” and to keep it from drying out. It is essential to begin watering new sod within a half hour after it is laid on the soil. Apply at least 1 inch of water so that the soil beneath the turf is very wet. Ideally, the soil 3 to 4 inches below the surface will be moist. Water once daily or more, keeping turf moist until it is firmly rooted. (about 2 weeks) After 2 weeks less frequent and deeper watering should begin. Your lawn now needs one inch of water each week for the roots to reach deeper in the soil.
Watering Tip #1: Pull back a corner of the turf and push a screwdriver or other sharp tool into the soil. It should push in easily and have moisture along the first 3 to 4 inches. If not, you need to apply more water.
Watering Tip #2: Make absolutely certain that water is getting to all areas of your new lawn, regardless of the type of sprinkling system you use. Corners and edges are easily missed by many sprinklers and are particularly vulnerable to drying out faster than the center portion of your new lawn. Especially hot, dry or windy periods will necessitate increased watering amounts and frequency as well. Also, areas near buildings dry-out faster because of reflected heat and may require more water.
Watering Tip #3: Runoff may occur on some soils and sloped areas before the soil is adequately moist. To conserve water and insure adequate soak-in, turn off the water when runoff begins, wait 30 minutes to an hour and restart the watering on the same area. Repeat as needed.
Watering Tip #4: As the turf starts to knit its new roots into the soil, it will be difficult, and/or harmful to pull back a corner to check beneath the turf. (Watering Tip #1), but you can still use a sharp tool to check moisture depth by pushing it through the turf and into the soil.
Watering Tip #5: It's best to water early in the day. You won't waste water through evaporation, and watering at night puts your lawn at risk for developing mildew and fungus disease.
Watering Tip #6: Don't give your lawn a light sprinkling. This promotes shallow roots, and it may not even reach the soil, depending on how much you water.
How To Water Your Green Acres Sod
Proper watering techniques are a critical aspect of lawn watering, equal in importance to the issues of when to water and how much to water. Here are several key factors to proper technique:
Avoid hand sprinkling because it cannot provide the necessary uniformity as most people do not have the patience, time or "eye" to adequately measure what is being applied across any larger areas of lawn. The only possible exception to this guideline would be the need to syringe the surface of the grass to cool it, or to provide additional water near buildings or other heat-reflecting surfaces.
Understand the advantages of different sprinkler designs, because each type has its advantages and disadvantages and its proper use will be determined by the type of sprinkler you select.
 Read more about Selecting A Sprinkler
How Much Water Is Applied & Needed
ONE INCH A WEEK is a watering "rule of thumb" either by rain or watering suggested for most established lawns. There will be varying water requirements for seasonal changes and still more differences brought about because of different soil types.
LOOK AT YOUR LAWN to determine its water needs. Grass in need of water will have a gray-blue cast, rather than a blue-green or green color. Also, foot prints will still appear after a half-hour or more on a lawn in need of water, while on a well watered lawn, foot prints will completely disappear within a few minutes. Inspecting your lawn frequently will help you detect water requirements and to avoid over- or under- watering. |
