The Northeast has passed the rigors of summer and we’re now enjoying the sweet spot of early fall. The next few weeks of mild temperatures and low turf stress provide an excellent opportunity for repairing summer scars and initiating improvement projects. Laying sod often plays a key role in these efforts because it establishes quickly, stabilizes damaged or renovated areas, and reduces potential weed problems. If you have sod work on the horizon, here are a few things to keep in mind to ensure a successful project:
Evaluate the sod prior to accepting delivery. Often, sod farms harvest in the afternoon prior to delivery. During warm and/or dry conditions, the sod can undergo drought stress and deteriorate quickly sitting on the truck. On the other hand, harvesting during wet conditions can turn the rolls into disease incubators. If your sod is too wet or too dry when it arrives, it’s time for a call to your supplier. In addition, check the texture and density of the sod. Immature sod or sod with a thin thatch layer can fall apart and ensure failure. If you have to work with sod of this nature, utilize thin sheets of plywood to support and carry sod pieces. Sometimes accepting inferior sod is necessary during a time crunch or to address a critical situation, but if you can avoid starting a sod project off on the wrong foot it will give you a much better chance of long-term success.
Correct deficiencies before laying sod. If an area struggled to the point of needing regrassing, evaluate the growing environment so you aren’t back doing this project again next fall. Testing the soil, improving surface drainage, installing internal drainage, pruning tree roots, alleviating compaction and controlling weeds prior to laying sod will set the new turf up for success. Taking the time to ensure the growing medium and environment is well suited for maintaining healthy turf is paramount to the success of a sod project.
Take care of the edges. Exposed sod edges are prone to drying out and scalping. Cut an edge along existing turf with a sod cutter or spade to lie the new sod against. Staggering seams and tucking sod edges into existing turf will minimize the exposed vulnerable turf. Avoid laying sod on top of existing turf as the elevated sod is prone to scalping and rooting will be impeded. Sod will contract during dry periods, so filling open seams with sand topdressing or a sand and compost mixture will minimize sod seam deterioration and speed up establishment.
Grow it in. Even though sod establishes much faster than seed, it still requires patience during grow-in. Frequent water is necessary until the sod is fully rooted into the soil. During establishment, moisture and a lack of roots makes sod shifty and unstable for traffic or play so newly sodded areas should be closed for a few weeks. After the sod is rooted and watering frequency is reduced, the new turf may be suitable for play at a higher height of cut than the eventual target. The longer leaf blades will allow for more photosynthesis resulting in stronger turf. As the rooting deepens and turf strengthens, the height of cut can then be lowered.
While laying sod has numerous advantages over seeding, it hardly guarantees success. The nuances and timeframe of planting and establishment need to be communicated to golfers. Communication and patience are as important as the actual grow-in practices to ensure a successful sod project.
Northeast Region Agronomists
Darin Bevard, senior director, Championship Agronomy – dbevard@usga.org
Elliott L. Dowling, regional director, East Region – edowling@usga.org
Brian Gietka, agronomist – bgietka@usga.org