When is the Best Time to Install Sod in Virginia?

Freshly tilled, leveled, and raked soil with a fresh sod installation. A lawn with recently installed sod shows how you can take your lawn from dead to green in minutes. The growing season is the best time to install sod in Virginia.

Lawn care is not as straightforward as it seems, and sometimes things outside of your control, like extreme heat, can damage it beyond repair. Sod is a great answer to a damaged, patchy lawn. 

The best time to install sod in Virginia depends heavily on the type of sod you are looking to acquire, but generally falls within the growing season of May to September. So the time for action is right now!

Sod it All!

Seeding your own grass can seem tempting, but it usually sprouts unevenly, and the tender new grass is easily destroyed with a wayward step. The quicker and easier lawn solution is sod. 

Sod is turf grass that has been removed with a few inches of dirt to keep the roots intact, usually found either in rolls or strips. Sod is a wonderful solution for a patchy, muddy, tired lawn. It can be purchased and installed quickly, unrolling lovely strips of green over your struggling lawn.

Seasons Change

Not all grass thrives in the same temperatures or should be laid at the same time. There are cool-season and warm-season grasses. Cool-season grasses, including Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue, thrive in cooler temperatures and hit their peak growing season from September to October. 

Warm-season grasses, including Bermuda and Zoysia, hit their peak growing season from late May to early July. Sod can be laid anytime that the ground is not frozen; these are just the best times to install sod in Virginia.

Blend It!

Sometimes, consumers and businesses want a very uniform, manicured lawn that is best achieved by a single variety of turfgrass. While these look lovely, they will be more susceptible to diseases and pests, will hit a single peak growing season, and may languish slightly in other seasons.

Prepare For Takeover

A landscaper will measure your yard before ordering the sod to determine the amount required. They may also test your soil to see if it needs to be fertilized prior to laying new sod. The soil will then be tilled and graded, and after the sod is laid down, it should be smoothed and firmed. These steps should not be skipped, as they are best practices for ensuring a smooth finish and successful sod.  

Rolls of sod are pictured on pallets, spaced out over several yards. Each pallet has about 18 rolls of sod. May to mid-October is the best time to install sod in Virginia, but you can install it year-round as long as the ground isn’t frozen.

Caring For Your New Sod

Water your new sod thoroughly after it is laid and continue to water it regularly until it has had time to lay good roots. You can check on the status of new roots by gently tugging at the corners of the sod and seeing if there is resistance. 

After roots are well established, switch to a deep but infrequent watering schedule to help your grass become more drought-tolerant.

Refresh Your Lawn

The best time to install sod in Virginia depends on the type of grass and the time of year. Your local experts at ABB Landscaping will carefully consider the time of year and the type of sod that they think will thrive in your lawn. If you are tired of your sad, patchy, muddy lawn, reach out today and refresh your yard as early as this week!