St Augustine grass is a popular choice for homeowners across Texas. It’s a warm season grass that will thrive in hotter climates and will die back and become dormant during the winter months. It’s best to lay St Augustine sod in the early spring at the beginning of the growing season to give your lawn time to develop a good root system before the cold winter nights set in.
If you live in Texas and are wondering what the best time of year to lay St Augustine sod is, read on. This article will tell you which season’s best to lay new sod.
What Time of Year Should St. Augustine Sod be Laid?
Before deciding on the correct time of year to lay St. Augustine sod, you should consider the climate you live in. As Texas is a large state, it has varying microclimates. St Augustine is a warm-season variety of grass that does best in warm to hot climates. It can also cope with humid weather and should be laid in the early spring at the beginning of the growing season.
It’s best to wait until the temperatures start to warm up a bit before you lay St. Augustine sod. In some areas, you can lay new sodas early as March, while in other places, it’s best to wait until April. Spring is a great time to lay new sodas; it will benefit from spring rainfall which will help the sod grow roots.
Once St. Augustine sod has become established, the grass will grow very thick and can remain weed-free if it’s adequately cared for.
Things to Consider before Laying St. Augustine Sod in Texas
Before laying St. Augustine sod in Texas, there are a few other things that you’ll need to consider, such as your soil’s nutrients, ph levels, and yard preparation. Here are some things to consider before laying sod:
Soil pH Levels
It’s a wise idea to carry out a soil test before preparing your yard or laying sod. Soil tests can be obtained from your local agricultural service and can be used to test the pH of the ground. It’s also worth noting that it can take up to six weeks for the results to be returned to you, so you’ll need to plan ahead.
Fertilizers
Being aware of your soil’s PH will allow you to add the correct fertilizer or limestone so that your lawn has the right nutrients. If your soil is too alkaline, your grass will look yellow. Here’s our full guide to fertilizing a Texas lawn. And, here’s the best fertilizer for sod.
Irrigation
It’s also worth considering irrigation before laying new St. Augustine sod. New sod needs to be kept moist for the first two weeks so that it can grow and establish itself.
Preparation
Before laying new sod, you’ll need to till, rake, and roll your yard (you can DIY a lawn roller). You can also add a layer of compost over your yard and mix in the correct fertilizer to give your new sod the best chances.
Laying St. Augustine Sod in Texas
It’s best to start laying your new sod in the early morning, as this is the coolest part of the day. If you were to lay sod in hot weather, it would likely suffer from heat fatigue which may affect the quality of your lawn. Start early and lay the first roll of sod along your driveway or path to ensure it’s laid straight.
Stagger the ends of each roll of sod so that they are laid in a brick-like fashion rather than having all the ends line up with each other. You can cut the sod to shape using a knife. Be careful not to leave any bare patches as weeds will be able to germinate and grow in any exposed soil.
After laying out your sod, you can sprinkle some soil into the joins and then roll your yard lightly using a lawn roller. Light rolling is beneficial as it helps to increase the contact which the sod roots have with the soil. Be careful not to compact the ground while rolling. You can then irrigate your yard immediately after laying the new sod. You can lay sod over existing grass.
If you have a dog, they keep them off new sod. Their urine can do some real damage before the root system has established itself.
Conclusion
The best time to lay St. Augustine sod in Texas is in the early spring when the weather starts to improve. Spring is the start of the growing season for warm-season grasses, and your new sod will also benefit from Spring rainfall. It’s best to start laying new sod in the early morning when the weather is at its coolest.