Laying down a new instant turf can be a daunting task. But with the right preparation and irrigation plan, it can be a breeze. Water is one of the most crucial ingredients to turf installation, so it's important to get your watering plan right from the start. In this article, we'll take you through everything you need to know about watering your brand new Turf from Wallington's WRG.
Check Your Watering System
To ensure uniform soaking and constant moisture, a built-in irrigation system is essential for large areas of fresh turf. You need to check your system on a regular basis to ensure that the outlets aren't clogged or damaged. You'll also need to keep an eye out for any leaks. Wallington's WRG recommends investing in a digital tap timer so water can only be released at selected times of the day.
It can be tricky with moveable sprinkler systems to achieve an even water coverage so you should supplement this method with hosing and divide the space into a few areas that you rotate between. When it comes to manual hose watering, a spray nozzle with a control jet is essential. Be sure to water the area in segments so as to not over-saturate the lawn.
Create A Watering Schedule
Whether you have an internal irrigation system for your instant turf or a basic sprinkler system, you may water your lawn by hand. It's a good idea to create a watering plan for at least the first two months after laying turf. The foundations of your lawn's root system will be laid during the first eight to twelve weeks after laying. 
Follow This General Watering Schedule
You may notice that most garden experts advise a good soaking before dawn. This is because once the morning sun has penetrated the grass blades, they become warm. If water hits hot grass blades, they may burn or the water drops might act like a magnifying glass and burn holes in your lawn.
A typical watering session should allow for 10mm to 15mm across the lawn. Large lawns are likely to take longer than smaller turfed yards. From Week 4 onwards, more water per session is recommended.
Week 1 – Water new turf 3 times per day; before dawn, before midday and before dusk
Week 2 – Water turf 2-3 times per day; before dawn and noon (before dusk as well if possible)
Week 3 – Water turf 2 times per day; before dawn and noon
Week 4 – Water daily before dawn
Weeks 5-8 – Water turf every second day; before dawn
Weeks 8-12 – Water turf 2 times per week before dawn/morning
Weeks 12 onwards – Weekly watering is recommended. During heat waves, water more frequently to avoid sun damage. During heavy rains pause the watering schedule to avoid pooling.
Regularly Monitor Your Lawn
The instant lawn takes on a life of its own, much like any living thing. Its health may vary considerably. It is important to keep an eye on your lawn. Is there pooling in certain areas? Do some parts of your lawn look yellow or off-colour? Are the edges growing differently to the centre of your lawn? The earlier you detect a problem with your grass, the simpler it is to fix any difficulties.
Water + Food Is The Ideal Recipe For A Lovely Lawn
Of course, watering is the number one key to a healthy lawn but adding fertiliser at different times during the year is highly recommended as well. Fertiliser and lawn boosters act like vitamins and the right lawn fertiliser will provide your grass with a combination of nutrients to endure the upcoming season. Check out our other article on Lawn Fertiliser here
For practical advice and the best lawn fertiliser products, Wallington's WRG is one click away. Feel free to browse our helpful articles or shop online for lawn products today. You can even visit us at 370 Grubb Road, Wallington.