How Much Do I Need to Water After Turf Install?
Good turf health is dependent on the water you give it at installation.
Did you know your turf health is largely influenced by how you water the new lawn when it’s first installed? Unfortunately, many people pay the money for new turf, but then mishandle the water procedure immediately after installation, leading to patches of poorly established grass roots that can dry out and wither away. Keeping your lawn well watered at installation is the key to deeply rooted, healthy turf.
Here’s an easy 3-step procedure to help you determine how much watering to do for optimal turf health at installation:
- The Pre-Installation Phase
Before you install your new turf, you’ll want to water your soil 24 hours ahead of time to keep the ground cool. This will prevent warm soil from “burning” the roots of your new turf and keep the soil moist enough to let the roots set in as early as possible.
2. The Post-Installation Phase
Once you’ve installed your new turf, make sure to water it evenly with at least 4 inches of water across the whole lawn, 3 to 5 times a day, for at least two weeks. You don’t want to skimp on water at this point. To ensure adequate watering, you can press down on the surface to make sure it feels spongy.
3. The 2-Week After Phase
After two weeks, you should be able to taper the watering down slowly to eventually reach a schedule of 1-2 deep watering cycles per day, every 2 to 3 days. With the right initial watering schedule, your turf will be healthy, deeply set, and green.
Our Modern Turf team is experienced in new lawn care and turf health. We’d be glad to help ensure that your new lawn is set well from the start. Contact us today and ask about our professional turf health care services.
