Why Fall is the Best Time to Plant Sod

Sod is a natural choice for property owners who want an instant lawn that’s lush, green, and healthy. Once in place, sod boosts the property’s curb appeal and possibly even its value! After all, a well-landscaped property supports property market value. With a new sod lawn in place, homeowners might be envisioning loads of outdoor living fun on their lawn–spring picnics and summer BBQs. But before you install your sod, be sure to note that the optimum time to plant sod is in early or mid autumn. Even as leaves begin to change colors and you feel those first cold snaps in the air, you’ll want to remember that fall is the ideal time to plant sod–and here’s why:

Fall Is the Best Time to Plant Sod

When you plant sod in the early or mid fall, it still has plenty of time to take root before the winter dormancy. Although you can theoretically lay sod during any season, depending on your climate, the autumn is ideally suited for this type of planting because of its cooling temperatures and increased precipitation. Adequate water and cooler temperatures mean less stress for sod as it begins the process of taking root. During the summer when temperatures are high and rain is sparse, sod will experience a more challenging environment. While homeowners can water regularly, rainwater is best with its natural nutrients that support optimum plant health.

Fall Sodding Is Convenient

If you’re installing sod yourself, it’s definitely more comfortable to install it on a cool fall day as opposed to a sweltering summer day. Moreover, you won’t have to ‘babysit’ your sod in fall the way you would during the spring and summer because you won’t have to water as frequently and you won’t be plagued by weed growth. Weeds are more rampant in the spring and summer months. Once your lush sod lawn takes root, it will be more effective at warding off weeds itself owing to its optimum health.

Fall Sodding Tips

After you install your sod, you want to promote its ability to establish itself. So, before you install it, be sure to prep your soil. Loosen it so that it’s conducive to the new roots that will be trying to establish themselves. Your soil should include organic matter to make the rooting process easier for sod. After planting you sod, you’ll need to check on it as moisture is important. As soon as you plant it, you’ll need to soak it well. On that first day, you should see footprints when you walk on it. That tells you that it has enough moisture.

During the next five to six days, you’ll want to slightly pull up a corner of your sod to make sure that the backing is damp. If you find that it’s dry, plan to water your sod for about 30 minutes to ensure it has the water it needs to support the rooting process. Although you do not want your sod to become waterlogged, you do want to check daily for that dampness that will tell you that your sod is properly cared for. Work with the weather; if you get rain, you should adjust your watering schedule.

With proper care and routine fertilizing, you can experience all the benefits that sod offers your landscape. To find sod and landscape supplies that are ideal for you, visit Whittier Fertilizer today.