Is it possible to overwater sod

The sod is more susceptible to insect, fungus and disease damage if it gets too much water. Once you spot the signs of excessive watering, skip one or two watering sessions so the sod and soil underneath are only moist. The grass roots on the sod should begin to knit with the underlying soil after one to three weeks. Test the sod each week, starting on the seventh day after it was laid. Gently lift a corner of the sod.

If it is difficult to move, the roots are beginning to grow into the soil, but if you can still pick it up with gentle force three weeks after laying it, you may be over watering. Over watering can cause the roots of the sod to rot.

During the first week after laying new sod, look under the sod at the roots. If they show signs of rotting, you may be using too much water or watering too frequently.

If you spot signs that new turfgrass is receiving too much water, reduce the amount you apply to prevent a minor issue from turning into a muddy disaster. Soggy soil, rotting grass roots and the failure of grass to take root are some of the symptoms of overwatered new sod. It takes one to three weeks for the roots of new sod to grow into the soil, and during that time the grass needs regular irrigation to stay alive.

However, applying too much water makes the soil muddy, and the sod itself feels spongy. If you spot either of these signs, you could be overwatering. At the same time, check the health of the roots by lifting a corner of the sod. If the roots are brown and soft, they're rotting, probably due to too much water.

But if you can't lift the grass because the roots have grown into the soil, that's a good sign. It means the new sod is growing. On the other hand, if the grass hasn't taken root a few weeks after the sod was laid, the roots may have drowned. The grass blades may also have wilted and turned yellow or brown.

Turfgrass is quite resilient, and with some care, overwatered sod may recover. If the roots appear to be rotting, you may be watering the sod too much.

The sod should feel sufficiently damp that it is not dry, but it should not be so full of water that it is muddy. If the sod begins to feel like it is heavy from the weight of the water, you may have overwatered it. When you water your sod, you want to make sure that you are providing enough moisture for the water to reach the first inch of the soil underneath.

Once the sod has begun knitting into the soil properly, you can reduce the frequency with which you water it. However, each time you water it, you want to make sure that the water is reaching six inches deep. Watering new sod can be tricky, but an expert can help you determine how to save your sod from overwatering. At Sod Depot, we can be that expert for you. We have an array of products and years of expertise to make sure that you receive the best customer care.

Skip to content. Roots Not Knitting into the Soil Under normal circumstances, grass should start to root and knit with the soil underneath the sod after one to three weeks. Root Rot Root rot is easy to check for.