Installation

• Sod's root systems can easily dry out before the sod has been installed. Plan to install sod as soon as it has been delivered. The soil should be moist, and each piece of sod should be sprayed with water before laying. But sod that is dripping wet will have a hard time making adequate sod-to-soil contact. Feel the bottom of the sod to ensure that it is moist but not saturated with water.
  
  

Overwatering Problems

• Gardeners who overwater their sod can see a host of problems. If the sod's root system gets too wet, it can start to rot or contract a fungal disease. You can tell that your sod has contracted a fungal disease if it discolors or turns brown. By lifting the sod up and looking at the roots, you can tell if the roots are healthy or mushy. Mushy roots can mean that the sod has contracted root rot.
  
  

Amount

• According to Rhode Island University, sod should be watered with 1 inch of water every two to three days. Generally, lawns receive water from the rain, so it is important to know how much natural irrigation you sod has received before watering. You can lay out several 2-inch-tall tuna cans in the lawn. If your tuna can is one-quarter full after two or three days, apply 3/4 of an inch of water to the sod.
  
  

Rooted Sod

• After one to three weeks, your sod should have rooted in the soil. Sod that has rooted to the soil has begun to establish a strong root system. You should change the frequency of your watering, because the sod is now able to absorb soil moisture. Water your sod with 1 inch of water every four to seven days if it has not received that much from the rain. Continue your sod-watering schedule for two weeks. Provide at least 1 inch of water throughout the growing season or whatever amount is recommended for your grass type.