In today’s society, many consumers are constantly on the hunt for the “fast food” version of a mature turfgrass stand. In an effort to find the quickest way to obtain a beautiful, high-quality lawn, most consumers request turfgrass sod.

Turfgrass sod is raised to maturity on a farm, and then cut into small movable squares for establishment. The process of cutting, moving and then laying the sod can be very stressful for the turfgrass. Couple that stress with inadequate site conditions—such as dry or poor soil—and you can quickly see your new investment wither away.

Moisture is the Key to Successful Sod Establishment

The most important part of successful sod establishment is keeping the sod and soil moist. Large amounts of overhead watering can help to keep the site moist, but can also create issues like disease and wasteful runoff. Therefore, management tools that can help keep soil moisture consistent between waterings are the silver bullet in successful sod establishment.

AquaSmart PRO is a super absorbent polymer coated microsand. A single particle of this product can hold up to 12 times its weight in water! Depending on your soil conditions, AquaSmart PRO has demonstrated water savings ranging from 50 percent for sandy soils, all the way up to 70 percent for clay soils. Talk about a powerful weapon for your battle against moisture management!

Prior to laying sod, apply AquaSmart PRO at 40 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Spread AquaSmart PRO evenly across the area where the sod will be installed, and scratch the product into the soil with a rake or similar implement. Lay sod and apply one heavy watering (generally double the standard irrigation run time) to fully hydrate the product.

For more information on how AquaSmart PRO can help save you time and water, visit your local Ewing Irrigation branch.