WateringDayShort answer. Water new sod right after it is laid until the soil underneath is soaked, then several short waterings a day for the first 10 days, once a day for the next three weeks, and then switch to your normal schedule of deep watering once or twice a week. Check by lifting a corner: the soil below should be moist, not soggy.
A 30-day schedule
This is the University of Florida (UF/IFAS) schedule that the City of Tampa recommends (City of Tampa — 30-day establishment schedule (UF/IFAS)). Times are per zone; spray heads put down water about three times faster than rotors.
| Days | How often | Spray heads | Rotor heads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 3 times, 6 hours apart | 6 min | 18 min |
| Days 2–10 | Twice a day, 12 hours apart | 8 min | 24 min |
| Days 11–15 | Once a day | 16 min | 48 min |
| Days 16–30 | Once a day | 20 min | 60 min |
After day 30 the roots have grown into the soil: go back to deep watering on your allowed days. Hold off the first mowing until the sod no longer lifts when you tug a corner.
St. Augustine, bermuda and zoysia
The same schedule works for the common warm-season sods. Whatever the grass, watch the first two weeks closely: curling edges, gaps opening between pieces or a grey-blue tint mean that spot is drying out — give it extra water by hand.
Do watering restrictions allow it?
New lawns are the main exception most utilities make — but the rules differ a lot, and some require you to apply before you lay the sod:
| Where | New sod / seed rule |
|---|---|
| Tampa | Follow the 30-day establishment schedule, any day of the week, but still never between 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. After 30 days, back to your one day a week. (City of Tampa — Watering Days and Hours) |
| Hillsborough County (unincorporated) | Days 1–30: any day, during allowed hours (midnight–4 a.m., 8 p.m.–midnight). Days 31–60: even addresses Tue/Thu/Sun, odd addresses Mon/Wed/Sat. The zone must be at least 50% new plants. (Hillsborough County — Find My Watering Days & Times) |
| Las Vegas (LVVWD) | Daily watering for up to 14 days, once per calendar year — call 702-822-8571 before planting so it is noted on your account. (LVVWD — watering days & group) |
| San Antonio (SAWS) | Only by variance, and mainly for new construction: up to five weeks of Monday–Friday watering in stage hours. Re-sodding an existing lawn does not qualify. Apply before you install. (SAWS — New Landscape Variance Request) |
| Austin | Only through an approved watering variance for a new landscape, applied for in the Austin Water Customer Portal; keep to your normal days until it is approved. (Austin Water — Watering Variances FAQ) |
| Dallas, Fort Worth, Los Angeles | No automatic new-lawn exception is published on the pages we track. Hand watering with a hose is allowed in Dallas and Fort Worth at any time, and in Los Angeles before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. — the practical way to keep new seed or sod moist. Ask your utility before installing a large area. |
| Northeast & Central Florida (SJRWMD) | New landscape may be watered any day for 30 days, then every other day for 30 days (one 60-day period). During the current Phase III shortage: daily for 15 days, up to 3 days a week for 30 days, then 2 days a week for 15 days. (St. Johns River Water Management District — watering restrictions) |
Find your watering day
Never miss your watering day. The WateringDay app reminds you the evening before and alerts you when your utility changes stage or season.