I had sod installed at my home back in November and I think it’s doing pretty well (see photo). I am have now established a weekly cutting to limit the stress I put on it since it grows pretty quick. Now I’m trying to focus on watering and I am unsure if I need to change anything.
Currently the sprinklers come on at 11 am and 5 pm daily. I live near the coast in SoCal so the sun is warm but typically not super hot like the inland areas. Any help is greatly appreciated!
by rich_doe
1 Comment
At this point, if it’s growing quickly, more frequent mowings are actually going to impart less stress on your grass. With weekly mowings, you run the risk of taking off more than 1/3 of the blade length in one go, which can severely stress the grass. More mowing = healthier grass.
As for watering, you’re probably past the point where you need daily light watering – let alone twice per day. I’d recommend moving to deeper, less frequent watering. Watering light and frequent like you are risks a bad thatch problem and poor root development down the line.
1/2″ or so of water per watering, 2 times per week (3 if it’s super dry. Add an extra 1/4″ per watering if it’s *super* dry). If you don’t know how long it takes to put down 1/2 inch, mark a tuna can with a sharpie 1/2″ up, and use that as a guide (test multiple spots in your yard too).