Cold weather is in full swing in Utah, so it is important to know how to best care for your sod in winter.
If you want an outstanding lawn in the spring, you must care for it throughout the winter months. Continue reading to learn about some key steps you should take to ensure that your lawn will be prepared to flourish next spring.
Benefits of Laying Sod in the Winter
- Sod lasts for up to two weeks when the weather is below 40 degrees.
- You will use significantly less water in the winter. After the sod is installed, you only need to water it once. After that, you only need to water your lawn if the temperature is 40 degrees or higher and the ground is not frozen.
- Sod helps to stabilize the soil. When snow melts, sod does a great job at preventing water runoff.
Tips for Taking Care of Sod in the Winter
- Aerate – Late fall or early winter is a great time to aerate your lawn. This will help open areas of the soil, so that roots will not be too compacted during the cold season.
- Fertilize – Lawns become somewhat dormant in the winter. Be sure to fertilize in early winter before this dormant stage hits. This will help give your sod a boost in nutrients that are lacking in the winter.
- Clean off snow – Sod still needs oxygen in the winter, and a heavy layer of snow greatly interferes with that. Since we tend to get plenty of snow in Utah, make sure you spread out any hefty piles of snow to encourage melting. Keeping your lawn wet for an extended period of time can lead to mold.
- Limit foot traffic – Walking or running on frozen sod can damage it. Try to limit foot traffic on your lawn whenever temperatures are particularly freezing.
- Hand water – Due to freezing temperatures, it is a good rule of thumb to winterize your sprinklers. Because of this, you will need to water your sod by hand, using a hose. You only need to water your lawn if the temperature is above 40 degrees, and dormant grassroots only need about 0.25 inches of water weekly to thrive.
- Avoid mowing – Generally speaking, you should not have to worry about mowing your sod during the winter months. If you laid sod in winter, you will need to wait until about three to four weeks after its growing cycle begins to mow.
- Weed prevention – You should apply a pre-emergent herbicide in late winter to keep crabgrass, spurge, and approximately 35 other weeds at bay as your lawn begins to grow.
Choose Monarch Sod for Premier Sod Installation
If you are looking to install sod in winter, Monarch Sod is here for you. We partner with homeowners, contractors, farms, and cities to supply high-quality sod and install it within hours for an instant lawn you can enjoy. Not only will we expertly install your new sod, but we will teach you how to best care for it as well.
We are proud to serve Utah, Salt Lake, and Davis counties, including Sandy, South Jordan, Salt Lake City, Bountiful, and all cities along the Wasatch Front. If you are ready to pull the trigger on a lush new lawn, contact us for a free quote today!var /*99586587347*/
