How to water new sod in Toronto

New sod arrives with very short roots, so for the first few weeks it depends completely on you for water. Get this part right and the lawn knits into the soil quickly. Get it wrong and the seams shrink, the edges brown and the sod can fail.

The first two weeks

Water every day unless there is a good soaking rain. The goal is to keep the sod and the soil just underneath it moist all the time. Early morning is best, because less water is lost to heat and wind, and the grass dries off during the day.

• Check by lifting a corner of a piece of sod. The soil underneath should be damp, not dry and not soggy.
• Pay extra attention to edges, seams and areas next to driveways and walkways, which dry out first.
• In a heat wave, a second short watering in the afternoon can help.

Weeks three and four

Once the sod resists when you gently tug it, the roots have started to grip. Begin watering less often but for longer, so roots are encouraged to grow deeper looking for moisture.

Mowing and foot traffic

Keep people and pets off the new lawn as much as possible for the first couple of weeks. Do the first mow once the sod is firmly rooted, with a sharp blade set high, and never remove more than a third of the blade at once.

Signs something is wrong

Gaps opening at the seams, grey or straw coloured patches and sod that lifts easily after two weeks usually mean it is not getting enough water. Spongy, squelching sod means too much. Adjust and it will usually recover.