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Sod Care
How Often to Water New St. Augustine Sod in Florida
Exact watering schedule for new St. Augustine sod in Central Florida — week by week, from install day to fully rooted. Avoid the #1 reason new sod dies.
June 12, 2026 · 5 min read
New sod dies from one of two things in Florida: not enough water in week one, or too much water in week four. Here's the exact schedule we hand to every Lake County customer after install.
Week 1 — Days 1–7 (Soak Phase)
- Water twice a day — early morning and mid-afternoon.
- Each session: long enough that water reaches the soil under the sod (lift a corner and check — soil should be dark and wet).
- Goal: keep the sod and the soil beneath it constantly moist.
Week 2 — Days 8–14 (Root Phase)
- Drop to once a day, early morning.
- Longer run time per zone (about 20–30 min for rotors, 10–15 for spray heads).
- Tug-test: gently lift a corner. If it resists, roots are forming. Good.
Week 3 — Days 15–21 (Taper)
- Water every other day.
- Skip a day if it rained more than ½ inch.
Week 4+ — Maintenance Mode
- 2x per week, 45–60 min per zone, early morning.
- Follow Lake County / SJRWMD watering restrictions (typically 1–2 days per week, before 10am or after 4pm).
- Watch the lawn, not the calendar — footprints that stay visible = water now.
Common mistakes that kill new sod
- Watering at night. Florida humidity + wet blades all night = fungus.
- Light, frequent sprinkles. Trains roots to stay shallow.
- Skipping the afternoon water in week 1. Summer sun cooks the seams dry by 2pm.
- Mowing too early. Wait until day 14–21 and never cut more than 1/3 the blade.
Need help dialing in your sprinklers?
We tune zone run times, fix bad heads, and program your controller for Lake County's watering rules as part of every sod install. See sod & irrigation or get a free quote.