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Getting sod for your lawn is great, but it’s also relatively expensive. Thus, it’s wise to know various aspects of sod installation. Otherwise, you’d be wasting precious money. So, when is the best time to lay sod? Is it possible to just install the sod whenever you want?
Technically, you can lay sod at any time during the growing season, but each season has its elements that affect the state of the sod in your lawn. Thankfully, we’ve gathered basic information to help you lay the sod and achieve optimum growth.
First, before laying sod, check the soil quality in your lawn or preparing soil for sod. You have to ensure that it’s been adequately aerated to avoid having compact soil. Furthermore, the pH level of the soil should be adjusted to accelerate root growth. If the pH level is low, you can always add nitrogen and trace minerals to the topsoil on your own.
If there are any square clods exceeding two inches in diameter, you should break them down. You can also get a garden rake to smoothen the soil. Installing sod is best if the area is flat.
Likewise, if you install sod rolls, the ground below should not have any rocks or any sort of debris in the area. This also means you have to remove any unhelpful weeds.
Any drainage issues should be fixed through grading or creating slopes to allow excess water to move away easily. If this isn’t dealt with immediately, the newly installed sod could drown due to puddles appearing in low areas. In relation to this, any low sections must be covered with healthy topsoil.
You have to remember that sod rolls are not mere things. They are alive pre-grown grasses and need sustenance like any other living things. Thus, you need to properly schedule when the sod rolls will arrive. Ideally, they should be delivered early morning so preparations can be conducted throughout the rest of the day.
Once sod has been harvested, it should be delivered and installed within 72 hours or three days. Do not lay the sod any longer than that period since it won’t have moist soil. In addition, make sure that the grass blades have a dark green appearance and look cool to the touch.
If for some reason you cannot lay the sod immediately, you should place the sod rolls in a straight line in an area with ample shade. You must also sprinkle these sod strips with water to prevent drying.
The spring season is a popular choice for laying sod. It’s characterized by mild temperatures and the occasional rain that accelerates the root establishment of sod.
It’s ideal to lay your sod during this season if it composes of warm-season grasses. These varieties include zoysia grass, Bermuda grass, and St. Augustine grass. If you want your sod to grow without any risk of getting dried out, lay it during spring.
Moving on, the fall season is also a suitable time for laying sod. The roots can still grow properly as long as you keep it moist with enough irrigation. If things go well, the roots should be firmly established in the soil before winter arrives.
Speaking of the winter season, it will be difficult to lay your sod in this time of the year but it’s still possible. Just pay extra attention to the amount of water you provide to the sod.
As for the summer season, your main concern would be the moisture. The summer heat can easily dry out the edges of the sod, which will impede proper root establishment. Of course, be careful not to provide too much water since it won’t also help if the area becomes soggy. In fact, too much water could lead to plant disease and blight.
If you do intend to lay sod in the summer season, remember to water the sod only once a day for a couple of weeks. Additionally, you should install the sod during a day that’s cloudy enough to temporarily keep the heat away.
All in all, the best times for sod installation are during the late stage of summer and during the early fall season. Both of these seasons are characterized by relatively cool temperatures and a bit of rain that support adequate grass growth.
Regardless of what season you choose to lay the sod, you must always pay attention to various factors. These include the soil type, drainage, moisture, and the time of sod delivery.
We hope you learned a lot from our article. If you have any comments, feel free to drop a comment.
