Irrigation Systems: Watering Your Sod Lawn the Smart Way
Getting your grass turf from Western Turf Farms Ltd. already put you ahead when it comes to maintenance. While seeded lawns can take up to 2 years of watering and weeding to show well, your new grass lawn can look its best in just two weeks. That said, watering can be a big job – particularly for larger lawns, sports fields and golf courses. An irrigation system can help you care for your new grass sod lawn so it stays green, lush and healthy – without getting waterlogged.
Irrigation Systems for Your Sod Lawn
For people who are green thumbs and have a knack for sticking to schedules, an ordinary water sprinkler from the garden store could be just fine. On the other hand, if you’ve got a busy schedule or just don’t have the time to pay close attention to your lawn, an irrigation system of sprinklers installed under your sod and set on a timer is a wise investment. However, we all know someone who has forgotten to turn on the water – or even worse, left it running all day and all night until the lawn turns into a squishy mecca for mold and fungus. A smart irrigation system takes out the ‘human factor’ so the watering gets done right.
There are many irrigation systems on the market, which can be set up to ensure every square inch of a lawn gets exactly the right amount of moisture it needs. For a 200 square meter lawn in front and back of a big house, the cost of an introductory system plus installation can range between about $2,500 and $3,500 or more, depending on the particular vendor. While that up-front cost can be intimidating for some, the investment can eventually pay for itself over several years – certainly, through the lifetime of your healthy sod lawn.
Types of Irrigation Systems for Your Sod Lawn
Spray Head Sprinklers. Pop-up sprinklers literally pop up from the ground when the water is running; spray head shrub sprinklers discharge irrigation downward from a vertical pipe. Both types are popular for residential and commercial users.
Drip Sprinklers. Slightly more sophisticated, these systems help ensure that you don’t overwater, through a slow but steady drip. These are more commonly seen on agricultural land, not over sod lawns.
Gear-Driven Rotors Spray Sprinklers. “Click, click, click click…” These popular systems have a distinctive sound you’ve no doubt heard on golf courses, at public parks and occasionally on an ordinary residential property. Multiple rotating streams irrigate the sod effectively.
Watering Tips for After You Have Your Irrigation System in Place
• With a new sod lawn, you’ll want to set the system to start watering your new grass lawn within 30 minutes of installation.
• Give it just enough watering so the turf is moist down to the first 6 inches below the surface.
• Watering in the morning is best. Don’t water at night – it can promote diseases and fungus!
After the initial 2 week period is over, water your lawn as needed. Remember that overwatering can be as harmful as drought.
