What better opportunity than a rainy day to remind everyone the importance of proper irrigation, both for new sod and established lawns!
New sod
Immediately after you install your sod, soak it until it is saturated 2 inches below the soil surface. In the next 10 days to 2 weeks, keep the sod and the soil underneath damp, but not soggy. Depending on your sprinklers and weather, you will need to water 10-15 minutes, once or twice a day, possibly even as many as four times a day. Be sure to keep an eye on it – a melted chocolate consistency is key.
After the sod roots at about 10 days to 2 weeks, you should work toward watering only once or twice a week, maybe three times. This transition can take a couple months while the root system establishes and grows deeper into the soil. Note that some soil types in the Treasure Valley will always require more frequent irrigation due to faster drainage. If your sod turns silver or brown, water more! If it turns yellow and mushrooms pop up, water less!
Established lawns
The best way to water established lawns is via deep irrigation – one long set per week if possible, though our hot weather months might dictate twice weekly. Deep irrigation drives roots farther down into the soil, protecting the turf from extreme temperatures and disease.
Depending on your soil and exposure, 2-3 inches of water per week is satisfactory. Just like new sod, if it turns silver or brown, water more – if it turns yellow, water less.
In addition to a drink, your lawn needs a bite to eat, too! We recommend Triple Pro 15, which is a great all-purpose, homogenized fertilizer that should be applied 4 times a year over the growing season. And, we sell it at our shop! If you ever have questions or concerns about sod, feel free to give us a call or stop on by!