How to Water Newly Laid Sod

Water the newly laid sod as soon as you install it completely. Once you roll the lawn to remove air pockets, saturate the sod with a garden hose until you start to see runoff. If you have a sprinkler system, allow the sprinkler to water the sod until the water begins to run off the edges.

Add water two times a day for two weeks. Water the sod in the morning and early afternoon. If you have a sprinkler system, set the timer to water the lawn for 15 minutes.

Apply water a third time during the late morning or early afternoon when the weather is especially hot and dry. Newly laid sod requires saturation to help promote root growth.

Grab the grass blades near the sod with both hands seven days after the sod is laid. Gently attempt to lift up the sod. When the sod resists lifting, the roots are beginning to establish. Once the roots begin to establish, reduce watering frequency to once a day, preferably in the morning.

Cut the new sod once the grass is 3 inches tall. Cut the grass high to avoid burning the lawn. Reduce the sprinkler time to five minutes for three days before mowing to allow the soil to firm up before driving or pushing a mower across the sod. If watering with a garden hose, saturate the sod until it is moist 1 inch into the soil.