We have new construction, and our sod went in the fall, not the winter. Late summer midaugust plantings may not allow sufficient time for complete establishment making turf more susceptible to winter injury. Sep 21, 2017 sod is the easiest and speediest method to achieve a maturelooking lawn turf. Installing sod close to winter time in cold climates. Comlys turm farm, sod farm, turf grass, and premium turf. Summerwinter care caring for your sod lawn is incredibly important, regardless of season. You need to get rid of the dead sod first, or the new sod cant get to the dirt underneath it, which provides the nutrients it needs. A big bag of grass seed will cost less than a pallet of sod, but that is like comparing the cost of raw wool to a fine sweater.
Make sure the soil is moist but not overly wet before laying sod. Establishing a lawn from sod purdue extension purdue university. You can lay sod all year round if necessary, as long as the soil isnt frozen, though planting soil in summer or winter is not ideal. Dormant warm season grasses are brown, but they arent dead. If you lay sod in summer, water at least once a day for several weeks. Lawn sodding can be compared to other readymades of today convenient, practical, and in the long run, it is the least expensive way to that beautiful lawn. However, the best time to lay coolseason sod is early fall, and the best time to lay warmseason sod is in the early summer. Begin laying the sod in a bricklike pattern so that the ends are staggered figure 2. If you have the option, inspect the sod before you buy it to make sure its free of disease and weeds, and let the company you order through know about the sun exposure levels of your yard. I would just pick out what you can, as the grass grows in and spreads it will smother the weeds out.
As for laying sod we did at one of our houses we flipped in november a couple years ago, you ll know its too late to lay if places stop selling it. Use a soil probe many types are available at home and garden centers to check moisture levels. Putting fescue sod down in the summer is a really bad idea. Nov 01, 2008 i think after the first freeze, it is too late. Seed germination only occurs in narrow time frames, limiting when you can seed lawns. You can successfully lay sod in any season, and well explain how here. Homeowners who lay sod rather than seed grass are said to get an instant lawn according to the website of washington state university. The sod should be cool and moist to the touch, but not dripping wet. You can lay sod anytime during the growing season, although spring and early autumn are bestcool temperatures combined with occasional rain help sod quickly root. Having problems after laying sod in the rain turfgrass. How to lay sod yourself and save money aol finance. For the strips of sod in the adjacent row, make sure you stagger the ends of sod rolls so that the seams do not line up. If temperatures fall below freezing in your area, it is not a good idea to sod in the fall.
So, cover up that dirt and get a jump on establishing a new lawn. Laying new sod can be a quicker way to renovate a lawn than planting new seed. Leaving the cut in to the end of the project is fine if you take care to mark the areas with flags or ground paint so you dont forget it later and end up with a buried sprinkler or termite treatment cap etc. Its a good idea to water your lawn when youre done applying the professional top dress mix, to help everything settle. As for laying sod we did at one of our houses we flipped in november a couple years ago, youll know its too late to lay if places stop selling it. That said, you can lay sod anytime and sod installation is always the better alternative to bare dirt through the winter months. Augustine, the most popular, bermuda, centipede, bahia and zoysia. You can install dormant sod in the winter to prevent erosion and mud, with. Cut the sod with a sharp blade to fit it in the desired location. Sod can be laid as late as september as long as temperatures are warm enough for the sod to root into the soil. There are a couple of factors to consider when installing sod in the fall. Your only option in july august is a warm season grass like zoysia or bermuda. Sprinkle the sod quickly to keep it cool, but dont soak it.
Spring is the second best time to lay sod and is the preferable time for warmseason grasses such as centipede, zoysia, bermuda, and st. The timing requirement would be that the sod be laid at least five weeks ahead of the first hard frost in your area. Yet this isnt the worst season to be laying down sod. Sod is a hefty investment, so it is critical to prepare the planting area and tend the turf with care. Michael was raised in the grass business, working on the family grass farm in bay city, tx. Regardless of the zone, the entire state of florida has a warm enough climate that it is important to make sure you chose a warmseason sod grass to install. To keep it moist, consider watering the sod after you lay the first large area and move the sprinkler around the lawn as you complete each subsequent section. Probably the most commonly planted sod in florida, st. Install the sod as soon as possible after it is delivered, and remember to lightly water the sod as needed to keep it from drying out.
Sod can be installed any time throughout the growing season, which includes fall. If you dont have the luxury of laying sod in august or even in the coldest months of the year, it can still. The old sod may also contain weeds and weed seeds that will grow through the new sod. I am in mn and have a man who doesnt understand a word i say barely. Also ask the landscape company to install freshcut sod preferably sod thats been cut the day before or even that morning to assure freshness and vigor. Not only can you still sod it is actually the best time of year to do so. Before you install the sod, remove any weeds or rocks from the ground. The advantages of sodding in winter are that you get a jump on.
The sod has its roots in about 12 of soil so there is no use in deep watering, frequent short duration will keep the sod wet. It needs to be kept wet while its in shock from being cut and rolled until it can begin to root into the soil. Can i lay sod over grass houston sugar land pearland. Sod is the easiest and speediest method to achieve a maturelooking lawn turf.
You will have a better lawn if you could add a minimum of 4 inches of topsoil. Laying sod in the fall calgarypuck forums the unofficial. Sod is expensive, i would hate to see you waste your money. The sod was laid down in a steady rain and it had been raining for a. You eliminate the gamble we have done the work and worrying for you and we guarantee our premium turf grasses. We had a landscaper install new sod on our entire yard about 5 weeks ago. If youre laying sod, the big question is what is the best time of year to lay sod. It sounds like the grass man just wants to sell you more sod in a while. In this video we answer this as well as telling you the most important consideration for sod installation. Of course, there are different methods of care to be employed in the summer and winter months, which is why we at sodlawn have provided instructions and pdfs for you to download to keep your lawn looking its best. If you cannot lay the sod immediately after delivery, you may need to lightly water as needed to keep the outer rolls moist. In the minnesota climate when is the best time to delatch as. Lay down a straight row of full strips of sod along the outer edge. Installing sod close to winter time in cold climates i declined the job because i was worried about the sod not taking to the soil properly since it was so close to the frost season here in toronto.
How early and how late in the season may you lay sod. How to lay sod yourself the work really begins before you even get your hands dirty. Work toward the opposite edge of the lawn, using full strips as much as possible. Its used like a lawn mower, but it removes the lawn completely. You can even start watering before all the sod is laid. Even sod farmers can t tell how moist soil is by looking at a lawn. Augustine grass stenotaphrum secundatum is hardy in usda zones 9 through 11. A layer of old sod will prevent the new sod from developing roots. Remove twigs, stones, and other debris littering the surface. Sep 01, 2014 if you re laying sod, the big question is what is the best time of year to lay sod. Nov 11, 2019 you can lay sod all year round if necessary, as long as the soil isnt frozen, though planting soil in summer or winter is not ideal. This calendar is a useful reference for lawn care activities.
The sod was laid down in a steady rain and it had been raining for a couple of hours before they started. The contract was for a 8 houses, approximately 20,000 sf of sod, so i did not want to risk having to replace that amount of sod should it have died. Irrigating the soil several days before delivery is often adequate. A single roll of sod may not be long enough to cover the whole length of the lawn. Place the sod as close together as possible to reduce gaps and the appearance of borders. If you encounter a tree or another obstacle you need to lay the sod around, drape it over the object and carefully cut the sod so that it fits around the objects base. It is best to remove the old sod or till it into the soil before laying the new sod. Nov 09, 2017 regardless of the zone, the entire state of florida has a warm enough climate that it is important to make sure you chose a warm season sod grass to install. Sod can be planted whenever the soil is not frozen and the weather isnt extremely hot. Or do you think if i can get sod down this week, and water the hell out of it like you re supposed to, that i might have a chance itll take root. Coldseason grasses like fescue can be put down at any time of year, though they prefer the cooler months. Sep 21, 2017 lay down a straight row of full strips of sod along the outer edge.
Lay sod as soon as possible after it has been harvested to prevent injury. Take care to cut sod pieces in around sprinklers and edges of flower beds as you lay the sod. Lay sod early enough in the fall so that it has a chance to establish roots before winter sets in, and plant early enough in the spring so that the sod can get a good root system before the hot, dry weather set in. If its too late though i will just write up a contract for next season. Establishing a sodded lawn north carolina sod producers. Jul 17, 2017 probably the most commonly planted sod in florida, st. Ensure that you have cleaned up all the weeds by applying nonselective weed killer. Also, if they are still building the house now, those construction people will mess up your sod and your entire yard.
Best time to lay sod grass houston sugar land pearland katy. You can use the tine side of the rake, if that helps. The area should be stripped to bare soil, raked and leveled. Installing sod in late fall months octnov red hen turf farm. Save the cutouts so you can use them if you have any small gaps to fill in later. Our installation guide is comprehensive and will help you install your. Fall is a good time to lay sod as the temperatures are lower and the ground is. The best time to lay sod in washington state hunker. Get a jump on you new lawn the advantages of sodding in winter are that you get a. Depending on your climate, sod can be laid yearround, including in late fall. If you re laying sod around a tree, dont lay it right up against the trees base. You can lay sod anytime during the growing season, although spring and early autumn are best, because cool temperatures combined with occasional rain help sod quickly root. Latesummer midaugust plantings may not allow sufficient time for complete establishment making turf more susceptible to winter injury. May 09, 2012 your only option in july august is a warm season grass like zoysia or bermuda.
Take a soil sample to determine lime and fertilizer needs before preparing the soil. Zoysiagrass can still be installed in late august if and only if you insist that the soil be tilled and amended with soil conditioner and 40 lb of lime per sq feet. Sod is already growing grass and has fewer limits as to weather conditions. We get lots of calls about the best time to lay sod and here in the metro houston area the springtime is the best because of the reasons covered in michael romines video. Ideally, you should have your delivery within 24 hours of the sod being cut, and you should lay it.
If you can pick the very best time of the year to sod, that is typically in the spring. This needs to be done at least two weeks before you start laying bermuda sod. The best time is in early to mid spring, or very early autumn. Due to the warm weather, it is often thought that summer is the best time to install sod. I live in tennesse and we are starting to get in the low 80supper 70s for highs in the next few weeks. Establishment and care of zoysiagrass lawns mu extension. If you decide to sod during the dormant season rather than during the ideal period of spring, there are management practices that can improve the chances of success. Zoysia grass installing in late august walter reeves. Then, as soon as you ve laid down the sod, soak it with impunity. If youre laying sod around a tree, dont lay it right up against the trees base. My front yard was kind of the same way last year after i did the sod but shes good to go now.
Follow these steps to do the job right the first time. If you can understand green side up, you can successfully install sod. Augustine grass at other times, in north florida avoid cold winter months or hot, dry. Plant sod in spring or summer when the grass is actively growing. Sod installation lightly moisten the soil where the sod is to be laid, but avoid overwatering the work area. The advantages of sodding in winter are that you get a jump on establishing your lawn and you will use less water.
Plugs and sprigs should be planted between late april and june. In this video, houston grass south owner, michael romine answers the question, can i lay sod over grass or existing lawn. Once the sod is laid, it is extremely important that it be watered every day in order to help the roots to get well established. Late summer through early fall is the best time to aerate and dethatch, its ok to sod anytime during the growing season so long as the roots can get established before the ground freezes. The best time to lay sod, however, is in late summer and early fall when temperatures are cooler but grass continues to grow. Experts say theres a very logical explanation as to why construction workers might choose to lay it down now. Because turfgrass sod can be heavy, the help of a few friends is recommended.
Do i have to put topsoil down under the soil or can it be laid on fill. This means you will have to lay separate rolls, end to end, pressing the ends firmly together so that they abut tightly, but without overlapping. You can lay sod all year round if necessary, as long as the soil isnt. Jul 08, 2009 the sod has its roots in about 12 of soil so there is no use in deep watering, frequent short duration will keep the sod wet. If you dont have the luxury of laying sod in august or even in the coldest. Generally, sod may be laid at any time between midapril until middecember, weather permitting. Dormant sod roots slowly this time of year but once the temperatures warm up, the grass will take off.
Finally, make sure that on the last two mowings of the season, you have. Sodding in the winter green valley turf, residential. Sod may be layed at anytime between midapril until middecember, weather permitting. Someone told me you can lay sod anytime you want and maybe its even best when dormant.
Or do you think if i can get sod down this week, and water the hell out of it like youre supposed to, that i might have a chance itll take root. Plan to unstack and unroll the sod if it cannot be laid within 48 hours. Apr 29, 2019 if you encounter a tree or another obstacle you need to lay the sod around, drape it over the object and carefully cut the sod so that it fits around the objects base. Lay sod in spring where coolseason grasses rule and any time of year where warmseason turf is king. A fall is one of the best times to install kbg sod in our region. For best results, you want your sod to be very fresh. After its had a day or two, go back out with your rake and smooth out any hollows or bumps. Spring is the second best time to lay sod and is the preferable time for warm season grasses such as centipede, zoysia, bermuda, and st.