Water new sod within 30 minutes of laying it, enough to soak the sod and the top inch of soil underneath (about ¼ to ½ inch of water). After that, water lightly every day for about two weeks, and twice a day in hot weather, until the roots grow into the soil and the pieces no longer lift at the corners. Then water less often and more deeply. The schedule below is based on extension guidance from Georgia, Purdue, Nebraska and Iowa State.
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Watering schedule for new sod
| When | How often | How much |
|---|---|---|
| Day of installation | Within 30 minutes of laying, section by section on large lawns | About ¼ to ½ in: wet the sod and 1 in of soil below it |
| First 7 to 10 days | Every day, usually in the morning; add a light afternoon watering in hot weather | Enough to keep the sod and the soil surface under it moist, not saturated |
| Once rooted, about day 10 to 14 | Once a day | About 0.25 to 0.3 in per day |
| By the end of the first month | Weekly or twice a week | Deeper, less frequent watering |
| After that | As for an established lawn | Deep and infrequent |
The first watering
New sod has a thin layer of soil and roots that dries out fast. The University of Georgia recommends applying ¼ to ½ inch of water within 30 minutes of installation, and on a large lawn that means watering each finished section rather than waiting until the whole lawn is laid. Purdue gives the target as wetting the full thickness of the sod plus the top inch of soil beneath it, without saturating the soil deeper down.
To check, fold back a corner of a piece: the soil underneath should be moist. If it is dry, water more; if it is muddy and standing water collects, water less.
Weeks one and two: keep it moist
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln says sod needs daily watering during the first two weeks, and Iowa State suggests daily morning watering for the first 7 to 10 days, with an extra afternoon watering in warm weather. The goal is to keep the sod and the soil surface moist so new roots can grow down into it. Pay attention to edges and seams, which dry out first and show as brown lines.
When has sod rooted?
From about day 7 to 10, gently tug on a piece. Once it resists and you can no longer lift a corner, the roots have grown into the soil, which usually takes 10 to 14 days. The University of Georgia gives about two weeks. Rooting is slower in cool weather and on compacted or dry soil.
After rooting: water deeper and less often
Once the sod has knitted, cut back on frequency so roots follow the water down. A University of Nebraska turf specialist suggests about 0.25 to 0.3 inch of water per day once you cannot lift a corner, and Iowa State notes that the special watering routine can usually stop after about three weeks. By the end of the first month, a Dallas extension turfgrass specialist suggests watering weekly or twice a week, the deep, infrequent watering you would use for an established lawn. Sod that is kept soaked for weeks roots poorly, so do not keep the first-week schedule going longer than needed.
Measuring how much water you apply
Set a few straight-sided cans or rain gauges on the lawn, run the sprinkler for 15 minutes and measure the depth in each. That tells you how long to run it to apply ¼ or ½ inch and shows whether some areas get much less water than others.
The first mowing
Mow once the grass has rooted and grown above its normal height. The University of Georgia suggests mowing at about 1.5 times the recommended height for your grass the first time, and not when the sod is wet; Nebraska suggests a walk-behind mower rather than a riding mower for the first few mowings so the sod is not pushed out of place.
Frequently asked questions
Is morning or evening better?
Morning is usually best, because less water evaporates and the grass dries during the day. In hot weather, a light extra watering in the afternoon keeps new sod from drying out.
Can I walk on new sod?
Keep foot traffic to a minimum until it has rooted, about two weeks, apart from moving sprinklers. Wet sod is easy to dent and pull apart.
Why are the seams turning brown?
Seams and edges dry out first. Water them by hand, check that the pieces are butted tightly together, and fill any gaps with soil.
Laying sod rather than seeding? See how much sod covers and the best time to plant grass seed to compare.
Sources
- University of Georgia B1533-2: Lawns in Georgia: Establishment (seeding dates, soil temperature, first watering and mowing of sod)
- Purdue Extension AY-7: Irrigation Practices for Homelawns (watering newly laid sod)
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Establishing Lawns From Sod (daily watering, rooting test, first mowing)
- Iowa State University Extension: How should I water a newly sodded lawn? (morning watering for the first 7 to 10 days)
- Sports Turf Managers Association: Watering New Sod (Bill Kreuser, University of Nebraska) (watering rate once sod has rooted)
- Plant Answers: Watering new sod (Jim McAfee, Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Dallas) (cutting back watering during the first month)
