Yeah, definitely looks like she followed my watering instructions…..
Watering instructions: Give your new sod a thorough watering twice daily for 3-4 weeks until sod sets. Water dusk and dawn for about 40 minutes minimum, avoiding watering during full sun.
Like I don’t know what this lady expects but I am 100% not doing this for free. Honestly I don’t even want to give any type of discount, as she clearly did not follow my watering instructions lol
by Ya_Boy_Teds_Dead
36 Comments
Ignore. She didnt even water it
Clearly you’re in the industry. Find somebody you know to meet you there and have them explain. She’ll never believe you but may listen to an independent person.
LOL she obviously didn’t even water it.
This is 100% on her.
Why didn’t she just have her friend do it if they know so much?
Have a warranty? If not, sorry I cannot help you. Warranty is not offered due to inconsistent watering practices of various home owners.
Looks like the grass did well in the shaded areas near the fence line, although I wouldn’t point that out to her.
Bet she doesn’t even own a sprinkler.
Guarantee you can pull that sod up with one hand.
Ask for a copy of that water bill – she would see significant spike in water usage if she did it as instructed.
Not your fault she didn’t take care of her grass. If she had done what you said, she’d have a great yard.
You “may” respond with
“In my experience this is due to a deficiency in the amount of water applied to the grass evidenced
1. The rolls shrunk (large gaps)
2. The grass is completely dead (not dormant) in areas of full sun)
3. The grass is growing in areas that could/would receive runoff from other areas (neighboring fence/concrete
Please check the photos I have attached from when I completed the job there were no gaps between sod.
I would be more than happy to liaise a soil test to be performed for you and we can do this again at a later date but please know that watering is key.
Considering the only live parts are in what would be shaded areas, the very little she did water it was likely done at high noon so it could burn real good
Where the grass? Lol.
If someone didn’t have a sprinkler system we would offer to maintain the watering schedule for them at an hourly rate of 45/hr(guys this was a decade ago so bear with me) and provide a warranty or no warranty and they are in charge of watering on their own. No one actually waters twice a day. and it’s very clear she didn’t water once a week.
“Why didn’t you water it?!”
Not sure where in the country OP or the client is, but in some parts of the country, watering twice a day may not be enough. Not trying to fault OP here. I chimed in because my next door neighbor here in GA just got new Bermudagrass sod and has been watering it twice a day… at dawn and dusk and almost all of it has as died. I actually double checked the pictures because I thought this post might have been about her property.
It has been just absolutely scorching hot here with zero rain. I’m talking upper 90s to over 100 everyday for about 3 or 4 weeks straight (yesterday was 104). Twice a day is not nearly enough. She needed to have watered at least 4 to 5 times a day. I know you’re not supposed to water during the day, but all bets are off with new sod. I’ve actually seen landscapers in the summer literally turn on sprinklers and leave them on continuously 24/7 for two weeks straight down here; it does not kill the grass. I’m just saying that twice a day probably is just not enough; it’ll dry out during the day if it’s hot enough.
Water and utility bills are commonly available to anyone if you have the property address. You can easily figure out water usage at the end of the billing cycle compared to last year.
Hell, ask to see their water bills from prior to installation to after installation to see if there has been an uptick in usage. That’s one sure fire way to see if water has even occurred and it’s quantifiable.
How is this person even serious? If you’re going to lie, your story needs to at least be plausible. FFS the sod even shrank after all the moisture evaporated.
Hi there,
I’m sorry to hear about the issues with the grass. From what you’ve described and the images you sent over, it sounds and looks like there may have been some inconsistencies with the watering schedule. Proper watering is crucial, especially in the initial weeks after installation.
It sounds like your friend has a good understanding of what’s needed. Maybe they could help with the watering routine to ensure the best results for your lawn.
Let me know if there’s anything else I can assist with.
Best,
They absolutely did not water that.
Based on my experience with fresh sod if she can afford to keep her phone connected to complain, her water bills aren’t high enough to reflect any instruction follow through.
I mean holy shit- maybe water’s cheaper in other countries and cities. But my bill was staggering.
Jesus Christ she is dumb 💀
She is a liarrrrrrrr
I would flat out ask for the last 4 months water bill.
Well that’s shits dead and gone obviously. As far as a response all you can do is provide cya pictures from the day you installed and state that is where your responsibility ended and there’s began and unfortunately 40 mins 2 a day did not happen unless she had it watered on a timer and can prove it this is not your problem. Really with the weather we’ve been having across the US sod and grass installs are a long shot in my opinion with out proper irrigation.
They effed up. These are not the type of customers you want.
Yeahhhh I don’t think she’s been following your watering instructions lol
Clearly she’s not smart enough to turn off live photos on her phone… didn’t care for the lawn.
Looks like she let it die then tried to salvage what is left.
Whenever you go over tell her to demonstrate how she watered for 40 min twice a day. If she scrambles then you know. I’m assuming there are no sprinklers?
Ask customer what time of day and how often watered
No way they watered it enough.
We tell people 3 times a day for 20 minutes each session for the first couple of weeks.
My sister was overseeding last year and I told her to do this. She decided it was too much water.
The grass did not survive.
She overseeded again this year and this time, actually listened to me. And her grass came in perfectly.
You laid sod in the dead heat of summer and advised two waterings a day?
You gave bad instructions. You should have advised her not to get sod in the dead heat of summer and that if she was still keen on doing it, she would require a ton of water to keep it damp at all stages of the day for weeks. Upwards of 3 to 5 waterings a day in this weather.
You’ve already received great advice from others in the thread.
Just wanted to add, not watering in full sun is an old, incorrect, saying. Would actually be beneficial in the heat.
Dear Customer,
Thanks for the images.
This is clear evidence that my watering instructions. Have not been followed.
The dead grass, isn’t just dead, it’s bone dry. It’s not seen water in 4+ weeks.
As this was laid 6 weeks ago and my instructions were to water for a minimum of twice a day, for 40 mins at sun up and sun down there is no rescuing this sod.
The only remediation is to replace it all, at full cost.
I stand by my workmanship, however lawn care became your responsibility.
If you’d like a quote for full reinstatement and a fitted irrigation system, please let me know.
Regards
Confused Lanscaper
Not enough water. IMO you should have checked on it and not leave it to a clearly clueless customer. But it’s on them totally.
Compare the water bills from before laying the sod to after.