St. Augustine Sod Watering: Judge by Soil, Not Calendar

Orlando, 2000 sq ft St. Augustine sod laid daily, watering 5 AM 1 hr daily. Rain today — water tomorrow?

Decision Rule

Check soil, not sky. Probe 2-3": if moist, skip. If dry, water. Soggy/standing water = skip (roots drown).

Critical Principle

Never let new sod dry out first 2 weeks. But constant saturation = root rot. Target: consistently moist like wrung sponge.

Your Schedule

• 5 AM 1 hr = good baseline
• Adjust daily: rain = skip; hot/windy = add 4 PM cycle
• Week 3+: transition to deeper, less frequent

Bad Back Accommodation

Laying sod daily = smart. Consider hiring final watering checks. Your sod farm's 5 AM 1 hr is solid starting point — customize to actual conditions.