How Many Days to Water New Sod?

Timing

• New sod roots in approximately seven days. Until then, it must be kept moist at all times. This requires at least daily watering, though irrigation up to three times a day may be needed in especially hot or windy conditions. Once the sod becomes established, slowly cut back on watering, moving to deeper watering sessions every three to seven days. Check for establishment by pulling gently on the grass to see if the new sod has rooted to the soil underneath. This is the time to move to a deeper but less frequent watering schedule.

Amount

• Light, daily watering combined with deeper watering two to three times per week provides sufficient water to both the sod and the soil underneath it. Applying one inch of water to the lawn during deep watering sessions maintains adequate moisture levels, according to the University of Rhode Island. Coffee cans placed throughout the lawn offer accurate measurements.

Warning Signs

• New sod provides different signs than established grass that it is receiving improper amounts of water. If the grass takes on a bluish tint, it is not getting all the water it needs. Increased irrigation easily corrects this issue. On the other hand, saturating the soil beneath the new sod more often than once every two to three days keeps the sod from establishing deep roots. This results in weak grass with poor roots that succumbs more easily to drought, diseases and insect infestations. On the days when you water deeply, aim for a depth of 6 inches below the new sod.

Tips

• Using a soil probe to check the moisture depth helps ensure proper watering throughout the first one to two weeks while the sod becomes established. If you have no soil probe, pushing a screwdriver into the ground also provides a rough estimate of moisture depth, according to the University of California. Sod varies in thickness from approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Thinner sod requires more frequent watering.