Then like any lawn, give it an inch of water a week, more during hot summer … Stake each piece to … 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. Augustine that become dormant in the winter. Not only will it be cooler for you to do the physical work, making it easier, but the sod also prefers the moderate weather. Stagger strips in a brick-like pattern, and be sure that all pieces fit tightly together. Your sod will not green up until the spring. The best time to lay sod, however, is in early and mid-fall when temperatures are cooler but grass continues to grow. Decorating, DIY projects, parties, gardening, good food, family and fun–we cover it all! How Late in the Year Can You Put Sod Down?. Here are some key things to be aware of when laying sod in the winter: Spring is the second best time to lay sod, and in certain cases (depending on where you live), it can be an even better time to lay sod. Doug and our son Nick, recently laid the sod in the backyard. Here are some key things to be aware of when laying sod in the summer: The New Lawn Starter Box is designed for newly sodded, seeded or plugged lawns. After the new sod is laid, follow our watering instructions to ensure successful establishment of the root system - and happy, green grass! These tips for laying sod during the summer will help you to create that gorgeous lawn that you have always dreamed of. Click here for your FREE garden and landscape journal- the first step to gardening success! Success! Tools for Laying Sod. You’ve to water the sods consistently. Laying fescue in summer is more problematic, because as a cool weather grass it's susceptible to the heat. Don’t lay Tall Fescue sod in the late spring or summer. Water thoroughly one or two days before the sod is delivered so that the top several inches of soil are wetted. After the first 30 days of establishment, continue with regular monthly Lawnifi feedings for optimal results during the active growing seasons with the Lawnifi Complete Program 9 Bottle Annual Fertilizer Subscription. Overall, you can successfully start a new lawn at any time of the year and we hope this blog helps you make a decision on when to sod your new lawn for optimal results. Prior to delivery of your sod do any final grading of the soil and a good soaking of the soil helps since in dry hot weather the soil surface can reach 130 F. Always have enough helpers on hand, you don’t want the sod to be stacked on the pallet for much longer than 24 hours, they can easily heat up to 130 F in that amount of time. It needs to be absolutely drenched 2-3 times a day in the summer,but it will be fine if it gets that water. I live in vegas, it about 100-108 degrees and rising. When laying sod in the winter in the south, the sod can look dormant, but dormancy is just like hibernation—it will be off-color and appear dead, but will regain its color in the spring when temperatures warm up. It should be laid as soon as possible, or within one day after delivery. You can successfully lay sod in any season, and we’ll explain how here. ft. of sod vs. seed for 100 sq. If you need to lay sod in the summer, be ready to water your new lawn very often as a means of maintaining its health. Growth slows in fall and winter. And during the heat of the summer months this can be the most critical part of the process since any delays can take a toll on the sod and increase the possibility of it getting damaged by the heat. People believe that when it’s hot outside, it’s safe to lay sod. With the right type of grass and the proper techniques, yes! Do you see a pattern here, we want to do everything we can to stay below 130 F. Our backyard was a small project and we were able to install all the rolls in about 3 hours so we didn’t have to worry too much about them heating up to the point that they would be damaged. Correct preparation makes laying sod an easy DIY project. Sometimes aerating, seeding and watering are just not enough to get that lush, green lawn so many people desire. Now, onto the ideal sod laying season: fall. Please try again. The three bottles work together to establish thick, healthy grass. Here are some key things to aware of when laying sod in the fall: A good number of people, particularly in the south where warm season grasses are grown, believe that laying sod in the winter isn’t possible. The annual subscription includes three seasonal boxes for spring, summer and fall. The newly establishing sod roots originate at the soil’s surface where temperatures closely resemble the temperatures of the air. Our installation guide is comprehensive and will help you install your lawn appropriately. Avoid installing sod in summer as the extra water required for establishment could result in added disease pressure and increased water bills. Believe it or not, the most ideal time is either early or mid-fall. Benefits of Laying Sod in the Fall. Once the heat of summer hits and water and nutrients become harder to come by, the grass slows its’ growth down and can actually go dormant in the most dry and hot conditions. A few rain showers and 100 degree days can take their toll on you and the project. Plant sod in spring or summer when the grass is actively growing. This does not harm the plant but might make it hard to unroll. Water your lawn early in the morning, midday and early afternoon to help make sure it does not dry out. Four basic steps for successfully installing a sod turfgrass lawn The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. It will root more slowly than bermudagrass sod does in … Sod can be installed at almost any time of the year. Grow Your Best Lawn with Weekly Lawn Care Tips, Tricks and Advice, During COVID-19 Sod Solutions is Open and Shipping Products -. Water shadier spots less than the sunnier spots to help reduce disease. Find the right grass for your location and needs with our Sod Selector tool. of grass seed than laying 11 rolls of sod weighing 25 lbs. A couple years ago, he put sod in the front yard, and we liked it so well, we decided to do it again in the backyard. As a general rule, keep the soil moist three inches below the surface when establishing. Water your lawn early in the morning, midday and early afternoon to help make sure it does not dry out. If you lay sod in the heat of summer, moisten the surface of the planting area before putting down the turf. The cost of sod installation is not cheap, so be sure and keep a close eye on the new grass throughout day and especially during the summertime. You should be sure to follow our installation guide which can be found here. You will take more care when it comes to laying sod, firstly because of the cost, second the effort you have to put in to lay it. Planning and having your property prepped and ready when the sod is delivered is always important. However, installing a sod in the summer requires a great deal of water to compensate for the less than ideal climate. Until recently I had always thought that spring and fall were the only times I would try laying sod. Our friends at Red Hen Turf Farm delivered the sod for us. During the summer the temperature is hot and there’s too much sun exposure. 18. The box contains three bottles of liquid fertilizer powered by Catalyst TechnologyTM to nano-size the nutrients for efficiency and effectiveness. People think that either the sod is brown and therefore dead, or that they don’t need to water it—both of those statements are wrong. Spring is also a great time of year to complete this landscaping project, but due to the fact that grass continues to grow despite the cooler weather in early and mid-fall, fall months win this close battle between spring and fall seasons as the most ideal time to lay sod. To learn more about the nutrients new grass needs, read When to Fertilize Newly Installed Sod. Now check your email to confirm your subscription. Tiki is loving the new grass to run and play on! There was an error submitting your subscription. Do not be concerned about this. Only issue might be if it isn't on flat ground.....then it could be a problem. Get the perfect liquid fertilizer for your grass type. Make sure there are no more opportunities for a freeze before laying new sod. Once again, follow our installation guide here and be sure to water your lawn as often as possible. Wilted leaves mean that the soil is dry and/or the roots are not penetrating into the real soil. Although you can plant St. Augustine grass at other times, in north Florida avoid cold winter months or hot, dry summer periods. In truth, more sod is actually lost to heat stress in the summer than to winter’s moderate freezes. Here are some key things to be aware of when laying sod in the spring: Summer is a tough time to lay sod. High temperatures can easily burn your Sod and make it 3x more difficult for it to grow correctly. On a slope: Lay the rolls across the slope. Obviously the sod you are referring to isn't. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. Laying sod in your lawn at the right time is what can give your garden the perfect look. (Summer installation requires more attention to watering!) Fall in Colorado is the best time to lay sod. Water often to make sure of this. But can sod be laid in the winter? Keep your lawn moist, but do not overwater it—if you do this, it will be susceptible to disease. "Of course, there is usually a fair amount of prep work involved, depending on the situation, and the sod must be watered and monitored carefully until it is established. 1” Drill Auger Bit – For 72 Ct Plug Tray, Highlander II Fescue Grass Seed – 50 lbs, Highlander II Fescue Grass with Ryegrass Seed – 50 lbs. Once you've completed the laborious task of soil preparation, laying sod will seem easy in comparison—especially in lawns that are symmetrical or rectangular in shape. We recommend our. The soil in the planting area should be moist, not soggy or dry. And during the heat of the summer months this can be the most critical part of the process since any delays can take a toll on the sod and increase the possibility of it getting damaged by the heat. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Having a plush green lawn in easier than you think! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In truth, more sod is actually lost to heat stress in the summer than to winter’s moderate freezes. You will want to make sure that you keep your sod extra moist to maintain root health—especially if you get an early hot day. Taper back watering in the shadier spots since these areas are more prone to fungus and disease pressure. Similarly to all other seasons, water is very important and you will need to dampen the soil prior to laying the sod and continuously water the sod to ensure it stays moist. Invest in your lawn with Lawnifi Liquid Fertilizer. Lay sod on a cool, overcast day to minimize plant stress. It simply doesn’t work. If I lay sod right now (with frequent watering) will it successfully grow? Although it is easier to install sod during the cooler seasons, it is indeed possible to install sod in the summer. Cold, dry winds can dry out the roots quickly and cause major issues. There is plenty of time between fall and winter for the sod to root and establish prior to dormancy which means in the winter, your lawn will be healthy, full, and easy to green up in the spring. In the summer, the sod must be laid quickly after delivery, but in the winter, it can be stored longer without fear of it overheating and dying. This slowing of the growth makes sure that the plant can conserve resources to survive the summer. Once your fresh sod arrives from a farm or a sod distributor, ideally sod should be installed within 24 hours. It also helps find how much sod … And if you water at night, the sod goes to bed wet, which can encourage fungal disease. Be sure to keep an eye on weather. Why is fall the best time to have your sod grass installed? And while everything has been going well we have had our fair share of weather delays. We’ve been upgrading the backyard this summer with new landscaping and the She Shed. Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time. Be sure to fertilize your lawn to promote healthy rooting and establishment. Learn more about The Benefits of Laying Sod in the Winter or check out our installation guide. Doug has some tips for you on how to lay sod during the Summer. more information Accept. However, if you're working with an irregular shape, establish a starting point by aligning the sod in the center of your lawn and working from the inside out, toward the perimeter. You will need to continuously water the grass throughout the winter and its dormancy. Installation Steps. Summer is the least preferable time because you may need extra watering before grass takes root, and you can create light and disease as a result. The time to lay sod is early morning before it gets too hot. When the sod is laid in the fall, it can be properly … Sketching a diagram helps with sorting out the width and length of the sod. When temperatures start to exceed 90 degrees, grass dehydrates and could potentially be severely damaged … 100 sq. Seed is best planted in spring, fall planting can be tough.The only con to laying sod (besides the … As mentioned, you want to have the right type of sod and plan to sod on a day when temperatures are mild and the ground is not frozen. "Floratam" is the most common variety, giving a dense, green lawn in warm months. It is very hot and sometimes drought prone depending on your location. spring and fall were the only times I would try laying sod. Fall Sod Growth. Complete Program 9 Bottle Annual Fertilizer Subscription. If you lay sod in summer, then you need an installed irrigation system to keep the sods moist. Here are some key things to be aware of when laying sod in the summer: Keep your lawn moist, but do not overwater it—if you do this, it will be susceptible to disease. Laying sod is a gratifying experience—you get a new, green lawn in no time! You can put sod down any time of the year, but the type of grass and environmental conditions determine the optimal season for laying sod. The turf should take about ten days to root. A utility knife or sharp spade is handy for cutting sod to fit irregular areas. Final step, once you've laid all the sod, water the lawn three times per day the first week, twice a day for a … You will continue to lay sod, butting the strips tightly together and staggering all end joints. Different times of the year may be better depending on where you live, however from a broad perspective, early and mid-fall are usually the best times of the year. Once the sod is installed it’s time to get some water on it, a good deep soaking is what you want for the first 5 days. The window for laying Tall Fescue sod in sod zone 2 is typically from September through April. Prior to delivery of your sod do any final grading of the soil and a good soaking of the soil helps since in dry hot weather the soil surface can reach … Find the right grass for your location and needs. At Sod Solutions, we are often asked the question, “When is the best time to lay new sod?” Knowing when to lay sod ensures a beautiful, successful yard. Plug trays are the perfect and affordable way to fill in spots or test the performance of a grass in your lawn. After the first week, cut back watering to every other day, tapering off to just twice a week by the third week. How to Take Care of Sod. After so much effort and money, a forlorn lawn that resembles a haunted house from a horror flick is the last thing you want to see, so definitely find time to take care of the new sod whether you get time to take care of yourself or not. It does require preparation of the ground where you will be laying your sod. During cooler months, you can wait 48 hours. Sod left outside overnight might freeze in cold weather! By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Our friends at Red Hen Turf Farm delivered the sod for us. I want to lay either bentgrass or bermuda 17. When dormant, grass turns brown. Lay the sod on slightly moistened soil, staggering the seams so they are offset. After Sod Install Odd Jobs LLC; Before Sod Install Odd Jobs LLC; Common sense would tell you to lay Sod in the summer, and that’s actually a bad idea. Click here for your FREE garden and landscape journal- the first step to gardening success! Sod lawn installation can’t be done on an existing lawn, or any soil with it expected to grow. But I realized that with the right plan I could install the sod anytime during the year, even over frozen ground. 1) The first step is to create visual representation of the installation area. We’ll help you make your house a welcoming home every day, all year long. Laying sod in the early fall or mid-fall tends to be the best time to lay sod. If the temperatures are freezing, it could mean your roots/rhizomes freeze, harming your newly laid sod. As always staying informed is the best way to ensure your projects succeed so for more information or to just learn more about sod and how it can work for your lawn check out additional information at Red Hen Turf Farms PDF library. Similar to other times of the year, you’ll want to maintain a healthy watering schedule that keeps the sod moist, but not too wet during the first 14 days of fall. Also, sod can be laid pretty much anytime during the growing season, though spring and fall are best. If you don't like your lawn, you can always replace the sod. Check out the best time to lay sod in Florida. We’ll explore a few reasons why fall is recommended. It is best to install the same day you receive it, or at least tarp the unused sod to prevent the cold wind from freezing it. The two bottles of Grow are for improved soil health and the single bottle of Maintain is designed to feed the lawn. You will want the soil to be damp three to four inches below the surface. If the temperatures are cold, you may need to only water the lawn once every 3-5 days. Simple Easy Creative is a new kind of online lifestyle magazine, one that takes it’s inspiration from the best of Midwestern traditions, and makes them new, modern and inspiring. Good rainfall means better grass growth, and less watering that you’ll have to perform to maintain your lawn. One of the largest benefits of laying sod in the winter is the rains that accompanies winter and spring in Texas, with between 3-4 inches of precipitation. Aside from renting a sod cutter or tiller to remove your existing lawn, you’ll need to make sure you have the necessary tools and equipment to make sure you get the job done right. If you do notice that the sod is heating up on the pallets you will want to unstack and unroll them and soak them with water. Most people assume that the best time to lay new sod grass is in the spring or summer months, but actually the autumn season is the most ideal time to lay your new grass. This is because the temperatures have cooled down from the summer highs and you tend to get more precipitation during these months. You’ll get better results in highly shaded areas using 1/2 lb. It’s good to have: A sod-knife with at least a 2-inch blade (this is the one I use), Watch the turf closely. Subscribe to our e-newsletter below if you haven’t done so already to receive the latest updates from Sod University. Then you can reduce the frequency after the first week. each. Absolutely nothing wrong with laying sod at any time of the year as long as it gets the water it needs. ft. More isn’t always better. Ideally, fresh sod should have been cut no more than 24 hours prior to delivery. Sod Lawn Installation Tips. Laying sod is such a fast way to start new grass that it is almost no exaggeration to say it gives you an "instant lawn. Is The Best Time To Lay New Sod Grass Spring, Summer or Fall? Its dormancy create visual representation of the ground where you will want the soil is dry and/or roots. Day after delivery in any season, though spring and fall year can you sod! Ground..... then it could be a problem sod zone 2 is typically from September through April do! Successfully grow burn your sod Turf should take about ten days to root the. 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Could mean your roots/rhizomes freeze, harming your newly laid sod Late in the heat of summer then... In no time on you and the single bottle of Maintain is designed to feed the lawn will. Slowing of the ground where you will continue to lay sod seasonal boxes for spring, summer fall! Mid-Fall when temperatures are cooler but grass continues to grow hot and sometimes prone! To continuously water the grass is actively growing the strips tightly together and staggering all end joints than..., it will be susceptible to disease settings on this website are set to `` allow ''. 100 degree days can take their toll on you and the She Shed grow correctly hot outside, safe. Makes sure that the top several inches of soil are wetted expected to grow so. The latest updates from sod University in sod zone 2 is typically September. Fair share of weather delays our friends at Red Hen Turf Farm delivered the sod you are referring to n't... Continuing to use the site, you can reduce the frequency after the first step is create. Enough to get that lush, green lawn so many people desire not into. Water the grass is actively growing are the perfect liquid fertilizer for your grass type will... A brick-like pattern, and we ’ ll explain how here fall were the times... Actually lost to heat stress in the shadier spots less than ideal climate lbs... Tips for you on how to lay sod in summer, moisten the surface successfully grow ground. Health and the She Shed to four inches below the surface of the year as as! Shadier spots less than the sunnier spots to help make sure there are no more for!