It’s an exciting time for you and your new sod when it rains, as that ensures your lawn receives sufficient moisture to facilitate growth and eases your job of watering the grass.
However, you must ask yourself, can too much rain hurt new sod?
Yes, if sod is subjected to heavy rainfall shortly after you’ve laid it, it could be detrimental to the grass since it will inhibit the formation of well-established roots. Water-floods frequently cause soil erosion that occurs when water wears away the topsoil.
Resource personnel advises you to install fresh turf on a relatively dry day to provide your new grass with the opportunity for a strong start.
Can Too Much Rain Hurt New Sod?
Yes, too much rain can hurt your new sod. The excess water could cause the roots of the grass to rot. Heavy rains will convert your lawn into a mud puddle; hence, trampling the yard prepared for sodding would create mud dents on the surface.
It results in an uneven surface that can make mowing problematic and contribute to the production of air pockets.
Planting new turf in rainy conditions would also cause sod to slide around, resulting in spaces between rolls and overlapping rolls.
Employing a roller during sodding is critical for eradicating air pockets and leveling out of the area. The exercise is strenuous in wet weather since you will end up moving the sod farther out of place and spreading mud around-creating unevenness while preserving the air pockets.
Also Read: Why Does Sod Have Plastic Mesh?
Is It OK If It Rains After Laying Sod?
Your sod needs water after installation, and rainwater could meet that demand. Nevertheless, heavy rain after laying sod would hinder the development of a strong root system-and that could make your sod to die.
Prolonged heavy rain can be damaging because the turf may fail to interlock with the topsoil.
Rainwater infiltrates the sod and pool on the topsoil, making parts of the laid grass separate from the soil. Even though it will not float away, new sod roots would have difficulties adhering to the topsoil.
You can consult the firm installing your turf on the best way to navigate this challenge. Doing so will give your lawn the best chance to thrive.
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How Do You Protect New Grass From Heavy Rain?
If you are a plant-obsessed homeowner, chances are you are always looking forward to rainy seasons. The rains cut down costs incurred on water bills while saving you time and hassle to get out the sprinklers.
However, it would infuriate you to watch all of your hard work drown in floodwater. When it rains, the earth becomes wet, and the puddles that form can drown your vegetation.
The issues are avoidable since you can incorporate a few measures to protect your newly sodded lawn from severe rain.
To keep your lawn safe from floods, follow the guidelines below.
1) Proper Lawn Aeration
The ideal way to provide your grass with all the help it craves once the rainy season kicks in is to give room for aeration. The earth beneath your turf becomes increasingly compacted with time, and it could cause flooding and pooling.
Compacted soils impede proper drainage because of fewer air pockets and escape channels.
Aeration helps in mitigating the effects of heavy rains. Pricking three-inch holes in your yard with a rake or a fork can make it drain better. Thick soils would need an aerator machine or a tiller.
Aerating the soil well boosts grass growth by allowing water, air, and nutrients to reach the plant, resulting in robust root development. Therefore, proper lawn aeration could spell the difference between your sod survival and its death.
2) Change The Soil Composition
Loam soil is ideal for lawns thanks to its ability to keep moisture and drain effectively during flooding. It also holds nutrients in place while allowing enough air to circulate.
The primary components of loam soil are:
a) Sand– It has an excellent drainage system, heats rapidly, and is easy to till because of its large particle size.
Related: Laying Sod over Sand
b) Silt-It contains medium-sized particles that help to keep air and water.
c) Clay– It features finer particles than sand and silt. When wet, it becomes sticky, holds a lot of water, and is nutrient-rich.
Clay-rich loam soils could pose challenges during downpours because of poor drainage. Adding silt or sand would enhance the layer where you intend to lay new sod.
3) Level Your Turf
The most crucial component in preventing floods and water accumulation is the slope of your lawn. It dictates where and how the water drains.
You can level your lawn by filling in low-lying spots with soil or adopting a new drainage system for areas with massive slopes.
4) Check Your Gutters
Drainage systems demand proper maintenance to work effectively. The more twigs, fallen leaves, and other debris clog your gutters, the more rainwater will accumulate and run over the edges and onto your yard- rather than flowing down the drains.
Before the rainy season sets in, check your gutters or drains and clear them of any debris or leaves that could result in water accumulation.
5) Install Sufficient Drainage
Installing new grass drainage is a long-lasting solution to frequent floods. If your turf lies in a low-lying terrain, an excellent drainage system will transfer excess floodwater to another site.
Establishing a proper drainage system takes time and money, but it is worth it. Examples of conventional drainage systems include:
a) French Drain
If you do not wish to change your lawn aesthetics, French drains got you covered. It is an underground inlet featuring a drainpipe that channels water to other locations.
b) Swale
A swale is a depression in the ground that directs surplus water to a specific location. Pebbles and deep-rooted plants line their bottom to reduce the speed of the water.
c) Sump Pump System
They are electric devices responsible for pumping away pooled water. Even though it is more effective than a swale and a French drain, it attracts extra costs in maintenance.
6) Using Protective Covering
a) Mulching
Several people prefer this approach because it is affordable, effective, and eco-friendly.
A thin mulch layer shields your lawn from the rain while allowing moisture, sunshine, and air to nourish your sod pallets. Once fully decayed, it can enhance soil quality by releasing nutrients.
However, examine the mulch for weeds before placing them in your yard.
b) Straw
Sometimes, straws can take the structure of “erosion blankets” designed to shield your sod from adverse weather. They also decompose with time, releasing nutrients to the soil.
Should you still water new sod if it rains?
No, it’s not advisable to water new sod if it has been raining heavy. Watering your lawn even once a day when it is heavily raining would be detrimental to your grass. On the other hand, new sod planted in hot and windy weather demand two to three irrigations per day.
One technique to minimize overwatering lawn is to monitor the condition and the level of moisture in the soil. Experts recommend watering the turf daily for three to four weeks after planting.
Can you lay sod while it’s raining?
Rainy conditions are not ideal for laying sod. If it is raining hard, the soil surface will be muddy. Footprints will create divots in the surface.
Can you leave a pallet of sod in rain?
Yes, you can leave sod on pallet in rain as the rain water will help keep it moist.
If rain falls on the very day of sod planting, install plywood sheets to prevent lodging of footprints in the soil. Plywood spreads your weight similar to how snowshoes help you tread on snow.
Additionally, you can employ plastic to keep your sod pallets from the rain.
Why is my grass dying after the rain?
The main reason your grass is dying from too much rain is overwatering, meaning it has a shorter anchorage. It further implies that your sod is vulnerable to weeds, insects, and diseases, culminating in brown areas throughout your lawn.
Also Read: New Sod Turning Brown
Another concern is fungal infections and decaying grass. Heavy rains would cause grass bundling together, leading to severe fungal problems.
The clumping together would break down the grass.
Finally, excessive rain could speed up weed growth that can override anything in their path. Different weeds would deprive your grass of essential growth requirements-leading to your grass dying.
Conclusion
To wrap things up.
Can Too Much Rain Hurt New Sod?
Yes, if sod is subjected to heavy rain shortly after you’ve laid it, it could be detrimental to the grass since it will inhibit the formation of well-established roots.
From the article, freshly laid sod needs water to grow. But surplus water from excess rain could dim your dream of having a lush lawn by interfering with the establishment of a healthy root system.
Proper soil preparation and installation of efficient drainage systems prevent flooding and pooling, culminating in your new sod maturing- and giving your yard an aesthetic appeal.
Hey there, I’m Derek Schew, a writer for Lawnholic.com, where we cover everything and anything related to lawns. As someone who’s spent countless hours tending to my own lawn, I’m passionate about sharing my knowledge and helping others achieve the perfect yard. From lawn care tips to product reviews, I’m committed to providing our readers with the most accurate and up-to-date information available. So whether you’re a seasoned lawn enthusiast or just getting started, I invite you to join our community and discover the joys of a lush, green lawn.