Hand water sod as you are laying it down. No piece of sod should be down for more than 30 minutes without getting water. This is especially important during hot summer months, but don't neglect it when it's cooler out either.
We can't stress watering enough. New sod is highly perishable and will die if it dries out.
As soon as installation is complete (SAME DAY!), thoroughly water your new lawn to establish moisture through the soil layer of the sod and the ground underneath it.
If you are laying a lot of sod, water the area you've finished as you move on to the next area. Use common gardening sense: sod is perishable and will die if it dries out. Yes, we said it again!
For approximately 2-3 weeks after installation, keep your new sod wet like a sponge until new roots form.
We recommend watering at least once every morning (45 minutes to 1 hour is a good starting point), with possibly 1-3 more watering cycles throughout the day depending on grass type and climate. These supplemental, afternoon watering cycles are meant to keep your grass continually moist for the first 2-3 weeks until well rooted and will likely be more in the range of 15-20 minutes per cycle. You should be able to walk across your lawn feeling a slight “give.” If your lawn is squishy, you’re leaving footprints or you have water running out from underneath the sod, you’ll want to gradually reduce your watering times.
Read further about Watering New Sod
Read further about Watering Established Lawns