Sod is often regarded as a fast way to get green grass, and many people in Austin, TX have seen fantastic results using sod to establish a new lawn. However, without the proper watering schedule, sod can easily dry out or have issues establishing a strong root system in your soil. Making sure your sod gets the water it needs to develop is the key to a successful installation. For starters, it needs to be watered directly after installation to ensure it doesn’t dry out. Then during its first two weeks, you should water it frequently to encourage root development. In weeks three and four, you can start cutting back on how often you water it while increasing how long it’s watered each time. This will encourage deeper root growth, which is integral to fostering healthy grass. Keep reading to learn more about the ideal watering schedule for your sod.

Water your sod directly after installation.

Homeowner watering newly installed sod in Bee Cave, TX.

Right after your sod has been installed, you need to make sure it’s properly watered. You don't want to wait until the following day to water your sod because the sun could dry it up and cause damage to it because it doesn’t have any established roots in your soil yet. When watering your sod directly after installation, it should be watered deeply. Ideally, you want to water about six inches down into the soil. When all is said and done, it should be soggy when you walk on it.

Water Your Lawn Frequently During the First Two Weeks After Installation

Push mower on new sod lawn in Dripping Springs, TX.

Your sod will require frequent watering during the first two weeks after it has been installed. It needs to stay moist throughout the day to help the roots develop. Be careful during hot, dry weather because sod can dry out quickly, so it may require more watering to stay moist. As you approach day fourteen, check to see how your sod is doing and if you need to decrease the frequency of watering. At this point, its roots should have penetrated the soil, and that means you can reduce the frequency of watering so that your soil can firm up before you start mowing.

On day fourteen, you can now mow your newly installed sod for the first time!

The Watering Schedule Three to Four Weeks After Installation

In weeks three and four, it’s time to adjust the watering schedule for your sod. Now that your sod has roots in your soil and has been freshly mowed for the first time, it's going to need adequate amounts of water to reach the root zone. What you need to do now to foster healthy sod development is reduce the frequency of watering while increasing how long you spend watering it each time. By providing more water each time, you’ll help your sod quickly establish a deep and healthy root system.

Looking to sod your lawn? Call us today to schedule our sod installation service!

Sod is a great way to quickly achieve a healthy and beautiful lawn, and it needs a proper watering schedule to encourage strong root development. At Century Lawn and Landscape, we’ll prepare your soil and create the perfect foundation to install sod on your lawn. Afterward, we can answer any questions you have about the watering schedule to ensure your sod will establish a deep root system so it can grow strong and healthy. We offer our sod installation service to residential property owners in Austin, TX, and surrounding cities like Bee Cave and Dripping Springs. Call us today at (512) 786-1694 to schedule our sod installation service! We look forward to working with you to help you get the beautiful, healthy lawn that you have always wanted!