Fall lawn sodding can be done at anytime during the fall. There are several things to keep in mind when you are sodding your lawn including watering and root establishment. The good part about fall lawn sodding is that your new sod will require less water. The reason that your fall lawn sodding will require less water is because of the cooler temperatures. Cooler temperatures mean less evaporation. Usually in the fall we see increased rain fall. When you water your new sod, the moisture will stay in the soil longer. The earlier that you install your sod in the fall, the sooner it will root in. Fall lawn sodding later in the year will mean less rooting in. Having a more established root system will allow your new sod to take in more moisture and nutrients.
Weather conditions dictate how long you can sod in the fall. Last year companies were sodding lawns in December which is out of the normal here in Iowa. Most sod companies will cut sod up until the ground freezes. If the ground is not frozen in December and the conditions are right, you might even be able to get some sod down right before snow hits. Fall lawn sodding allows the grass to start root establishment in the fall. If you sod in the early spring, you miss out on the additional months of root establishment. Sodding in the spring is sometimes risky because we can experience an early summer like this year. If hot temperatures hit and moisture lack in the spring, you may be watering your lawn all summer long. If you install sod in the fall, most likely you will not have to water a lot the following summer.
Care for your fall lawn sodding.
It is important monitor your sod on a regular basis after the installation. You will want to make sure that the water you are providing reaches the root system of the plant. As with most new sod, applying a 13-13-13 fertilizer will help encourage root development. As always, choose a quality sod product if you want your lawn to look its best.