October 29, 2013: Is it too late to sod?

What fertilizer should I buy? How to read the LABEL
March 26, 2013
What fertilizer should I buy? How to read the LABEL
March 26, 2013

Is it too late to install sod?

This is a question that we begin hearing a lot this time of year.  Our temperatures are getting colder and our days are getting short.  It is also too late to plant grass seed.  Many people are also worried that new sod will not have time to root.

So is it still okay to sod?  The answer is a resounding YES! YES! YES!  Not only can you still sod – it is actually the best time of year to do so.

Cool season grasses, like our Heartland Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass, begin to naturally shift into a root growth cycle in the late fall.  Even when it stops growing on top, and you quit mowing for the year, the grass is still growing.  It is just growing down instead of up.  Roots will continue to grow until a hard freeze.  And realistically, in the St. Louis area, the soil will freeze and thaw several times during most winters.  This means that roots could continue to grow at any time.

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November sod installation

There are several advantages to sodding now:

  • The grass is naturally beginning to increase root production.
  • Cooler weather means less stress during transplant.
  • Water requirements are much lower.  After initial watering, the moisture stays in the soil longer.
  • If you wait until spring, soil often stays wet and is harder to grade, delaying your project even longer.

AND . . . most importantly, your grass will be able to grow roots throughout the late fall and early spring, so you will have healthier turf with a mature root system to survive next year!

We have often advised that the ideal time of year to install cool-season sod is October through November.  Many years we harvest well into December, and sometimes even January and February.  We have never experienced any problems with the sod transplanting that time of year.

So if you have open ground that needs grass, or you are considering a lawn renovation, don’t wait – get it sodded now!

Heart Your Lawn