Growers of Top Quality Turfgrass Since 1951
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Watering New Turfgrass Sod
When . . . How . . . How Much

Water is essential to all life . . . too little water and we die, too much and we drown.  The same is true of the grass in our lawns.  Water makes up 70% to 80% of the weight of our lawn grasses and the clippings alone are nearly 90% water.  While most people are concerned about not watering their lawns enough, the fact is that more lawns are damaged or destroyed by improper watering.

The first watering of newly installed turfgrass sod is the most important.  Begin watering immediately after installation of new turfgrass.  The first watering establishes how well the grass will perform for years to come.

WHEN  TO WATER NEW TURFGRASS SOD

It is essential to begin water new turf 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.

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 3-4 inches, or 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 sprinkler 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.  Also, areas near buildings dry out faster because of reflected heat.

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, repeating as needed.

For the next two weeks (or until the turf is well rooted), keep the below-turf soil surface moist with daily (or more frequent) waterings of approximately 1/4 inch each.  Especially hot, dry, or windy periods will necessitate increased watering amounts and frequency.

Watering Tip #4: As the turf starts to knit its new roots into the soil, it will be difficult, impossible, and/or harmful to pull back a corner to check beneath the turf, but you can still use a sharp tool to check moisture by pushing it through the turf and into the soil.

Watering Tip #5: Water as early in the morning as possible to take advantage of the daily start of the grass's normal growing cycle, usually lower wind speeds, and less loss of water by evaporation.

Watering Tip #6: If the temperature approaches 100 degrees F, or if high winds are constant for more than half of the day, reduce the temperature of the turf surface by lightly sprinkling the area.  This does not replace the need for longer, deeper watering.

During the remainder of the growing season, most lawns will do very well with a maximum of 1 inch of water a week, coming either from rain or applied water.  Soil conditions may dictate that the amount be applied in two settings, two to three days apart.  This amount of water, properly applied, is all that is required for the health of the grass, providing it is applied evenly and saturates the underlying soil to a depth of 4 to 6 in.

Watering Tip #7: Infrequent and deep watering is preferred to frequent and shallow watering because the roots will only grow as deeply as their most frequently available water supply.  Deeply rooted grass has a larger "soil-water bank" to draw moisture from and this will help the grass survive drought and hot weather that rapidly dries the upper soil layer.

HOW TO WATER YOUR TURF

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.  Most people do not have the patience, time, or "eye" to adequately measure what is being applied across any large areas of lawn.  The only possible exception to this guideline would be the need to sprinkle the surface of the grass to cool it, or to provide additional water near buildings or other heat-reflecting surfaces.  Note:  Hand watering can be used during initial installation of sod until a large enough area is installed to set up a sprinkler.

Understand the differences between sprinkler designs because each type has its advantages and disadvantages.  Its proper use will be determined by the type of sprinkler you select.

In-Ground systems require professional design and installation and they require routine adjustments and regular maintenance to be the most efficient and effective.  The greatest mistake made with most in-ground systems is the "set it and forget it" philosophy, because it fails to account for changes in seasonal water requirements.  Another frequent problem is when heads get out of alignment and apply water to the sidewalk, street, or house rather than to the lawn.

Hose-End Sprinklers range in complexity, cost, and durability, but are highly portable and can provide uniform and consistent coverage, when properly placed on the yard.

Sprinklers that do not throw water high into the air are generally more efficient, as are larger drop generators, because they will not be affected as much by wind and evaporation.  Plus, trees and shrubs will not block the pattern.

To check watering uniformity, arrange cans at varying distances from your sprinkler, but within the effective watering range of that sprinkler.  Run the sprinkler for a specific amount of time (say, a half-hour).  Measure the amount of water in each can, checking for uniformity.  Some variation is expected, but a difference of 25-30% or more between any two cans should be addressed by replacing or adjusting the sprinkler system.

HOW MUCH WATER IS NEEDED AND APPLIED

The amount of water your lawn requires and receives will determine its overall health, beauty, and ability to withstand use and drought.  Keep in mind that too much water can ruin a lawn just as fast as too little water.

One inch a week is a watering "rule of thumb" suggested for most lawns; however, this will vary between different turf species and even among cultivars within a specie.  It can also vary with season and soil type

Look at your lawn to determine its water needs.  Grass in need of water will have a grey-blue cast, rather than a green color.  The grass blades will shrivel up and appear needle-like.  Also, a lawn in need of water shows footprints for over 1/2 hour, while footprints disappear within a few minutes on a well-watered lawn.

Water timers can help provide consistency and even be programmed to turn on and off when no one is around.  Some timers measure just the amount of time that water is flowing through the device, while others measure the actual amount of water flowing through it.  Be sure to read the directions with your timer to determine how it operates.