When to sod fescue?

Did you know that you can lay sod almost any time during the growing season? There are optimum recommended times of year. Warm season grass should be planted in late spring or early summer. Cool season grass should be planted in early winter. If you lay sod in the summer, it is important to water at least once a day for several weeks.

The good thing about Sod is that it produces a lush lawn quickly, without the time and risk of planting grass seed.

There are things to consider and do before you actually lay the sod. Begin by preparing the soil. Sod must be planted within 48 hours of the time it is harvested.

“Test the soil through your local cooperative extension service for soil pH and nutrients. Don’t add nitrogen until the soil is at least 65 degrees F or higher 4 inches down into the soil. Add the recommending nutrients and till into the soil 3 to 4 inches. Remove any rocks or clots and smooth out the soil, preferably through the use of a tractor with a box blade, if you own one or can afford the expense of hiring one. This is the best way to assure that the yard will be graded properly. Water the soil so that it can settle and won’t have gullies in the sod, reports Hunker.com.

Sod requires just as much care before and after laying it as sowing seed. It is important while rototilling before laying sod gives the roots loose soil to grow into, other soil preparation methods also work well in helping sod to take properly.

You have to do preparation before you lay sod on top of grass. The sod needs to make contact to the root. The existing grass must be extremely sparse or you will have to bring in dirt and put it on top before laying the new sod.

In mild climates, you can lay sod almost all year round as long as the ground isn’t frozen or a frost isn’t expected. The ideal temperature to lay sod is when daytime temperatures are cool between 55- and 65-degrees Fahrenheit.

“What is the best types of grass for Georgia sod? “Hot weather, full sun sods are the best choices for planting in Georgia. Below are several different types of sod, and a discussion of their positives and negatives.

Fescue: Because Fescue is considered to be a cool season grass, and although it will do best in Georgia if planted in shady areas, it does still need at least four hours of sun each day. The best time to plant Fescue in Georgia is in the fall, although it is generally successful if planted in the spring as well. The roots of fescue sod will take about three to four weeks to take hold if watered well during that time.

The beautiful thick grass seen on golf courses or baseball fields is usually Bermuda grass. Bermuda loves the sun, heat and plenty of water. You may think it has died when it turns an unattractive yellow in the winter, but it will come back the next spring. Bermuda sod can usually be purchased year-round in Georgia. Once established, water Bermuda one to two inches per week. Bermuda is known to creep over driveways and need to be trimmed.

If you have clay or sandy soils, you might want to try Centipede sod. It should be fertilized sparingly, as it is very sensitive to fertilizer. If you want that short, manicured lawn look, don’t use Centipede sod. It will die if mowed too short. It should be watered at least 6 inches deep to get it established, and watered heavily enough that it will not die during hot weather, as it is not drought tolerant.

Like Fescue, Zoysia does well in full sun, but can tolerate a little shade, and like Bermuda, Zoysia sod will turn brown in cool weather. But when it comes out of dormancy in the spring, it creates a beautiful, smooth green lawn. Watering is essential for this expensive type of sod,” according to Hunter.com.

With the hot days in Georgia, if you water the sod early in the morning, you will achieve the most success. This allows the water to soak in before the heat of the day. Evaporation will occur if you water in the afternoon. Watering in the evening can lead to mold or fungus.

The first and most important thing to know is the proper time to lay the sod. Laying sod in the wrong season can create unnecessary extra work for you. Fescue is a cooler weather grass and will fare better if it is laid in the spring between April and May or in the autumn between September and October.

In this blog, Peak Sodding covers the best time to lay sod in NC with considerations for both warm and cool-season types of grass. Additionally, we’ll offer insights on the factors that go into choosing when to lay sod.

While there are over 12,000 species of grass to choose from, it’s important to know what the best grass types for North Carolina lawns are. Because of our forgiving climate, you can enjoy both cold-weather and warm-weather grass types. In the midst of Spring, Peak Sodding will typically focus on the two grass types below:

With these factors in mind, the importance of timing your sod installation should be considered before you decide on a grass type. While Bermuda and Zoysia are tolerant of our climate, their success depends on what time of year you have sodding installed.

Based on information from the farmer’s almanac, the last Spring frost is on ~April 6th. That means that early spring is one of the best times to lay sod in NC without the risk of your grass being killed off by freezing temperatures. It’s also when most people start moving their leisure activities outdoors. Sod will provide an instant curb appeal by creating a green lawn and quickly reducing the growth of weeds. So, why is Spring the best time to lay sod?

Grasses like Bermuda and Zoysia perform best at temperatures above 70 degrees. One of the most important factors in creating an ideal environment for the sod to thrive is ensuring it takes root quickly. Roots can take up to 2 weeks to develop a shallow system while deep rooting takes up to 6 weeks. Warm weather can help speed the process up while your new sod works hard to take root.

A few key things to remember when laying sod in Spring:

While laying sod in the Summer may be hot, with warm-season grasses, there are not many major concerns with doing so. They are at their peak of growth, meaning roots will develop quickly and some varieties will be fully rooted within a single week. That said, it is important to be aware of some basic steps for laying sod in the Summer.

What to be on the lookout for when laying sod in the Summer:

All in all, the greatest task of sodding in the Summer is dealing with the heat. It can be exhaustive beyond the norm and is best left to the professionals who come well prepared to fight the heat.

It is greatly discouraged to lay Fescue sod in the Summer as Fescue cannot tolerate the heat if it is not well established. If you do not have a ready irrigation system, it is best to wait until Fall before laying any cool-season grass types.

Early to mid-fall is another great time to lay sod in NC. Now that summer is over, temperatures during September and October have dropped and rainfall will begin to increase. There will also be ample time between fall and winter for your sod to take root. Regardless of cooler weather, your grass will continue to grow throughout the fall months. This allows sod to get established before going dormant in the winter, leading to a healthier lawn come springtime.

If you choose to install sod in the fall, be sure to keep an extra eye on moisture levels. Because temperatures (including ground temps) are cooler, you won’t need to water as much as you would during spring. For the first 14 days of fall, your sod should remain moist but not drenched. Keeping the soil moist 3” below the surface is a good rule of thumb.

While we believe spring and fall are the best times to lay sod in NC, winter can also be an option if necessary. Homeowners who want to lay sod in the winter should know that it will remain dormant until spring, so you won’t have the “instant gratification” that installing sod in spring or fall will help achieve. Timing is more important during winter, though, as roots cannot develop if ground temperatures are below 55 degrees.

Similar to spring and fall sod installation, water is critical to a successful establishment. Cold winds will dry out the root system, so homeowners will still need to water new sod throughout the winter months even though it is dormant.