How long can sod stay rolled up before I have to lay it?

Rolling out a new lawn.

Before you place your sod order you should:

  • Have your soil prepared
  • Have enough labor to install all your sod in one day
  • Have you sprinklers ready to go on
  • Have all your hardscaping completed (Paving stone, etc.)

Sod decomposes when rolled up. To put an exact number on the time it takes to heat up and destroy the inside of the rolls will depend up certain items:

  • The temperature both the ground and air
  • Humidity level
  • Soil composition
  • Last fertilization
  • Direct exposure to sunshine

During growing seasons it is wise to have sod installed the same day as harvesting. When storing sod prior to installation ensure the rolls are kept out of direct sunlight, rolled up without ends hanging, you may apply a light watering to the ends that were exposed during transport.

During cool months sod can stayed rolled up for much longer, I have seen rolls 5-7 days old that survived just fine in cool weather.

On hot days if your sod is heating up and starting to decompose, immediately unroll the sod and apply water to release heat. If the inside is black and slimy with an unforgettable smell, your sod is toast. If your sod is yellow and just a little smelly, you’re okay, water and put a fertilizer on it. The sod will recover in about a week, apply seed to any area that didn’t recover.

When you purchase sod be prepared and ready install when your order is shipped.

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