The Best Time to Plant Grass Sod

Cool-Season Grasses

• Cool-season grass, like fescue and Kentucky bluegrass, responds best to late-summer or early-fall planting. Allow the sod time to produce roots before cold weather sets in or summer temperatures arrive. This time frame may be 3 weeks or more, depending on temperatures, soil conditions and available water.

Warm-Season Grasses

• Bermudagrass, zoysiagrass and other warm-season grasses establish best in late spring and early summer. Actively growing sod requires temperatures above 60 degrees F, but you may plant dormant warm-season grasses at most times of the year. For the best results, lay sod at least 40 days before the average first hard frost date to allow root growth before cold temperatures arrive.

Times to Avoid

• Do not plant sod during unusually hot weather or when the ground is frozen. Avoid buying old or dry sod; purchase sod cut within the previous 24 to 48 hours. Do not lay sod on hot or dry days, as this prevents healthy root growth.