Best time to sod with fescue in the triangle (fence, yard)

[hammester]

My builder is planning on sodding (front)/hydro-seeding (back yard) my yard within the next couple of weeks. They said this is one of the best times to do it. To me this seems like a terrible time to do it, it would seem like one frost and the grass would be dead. This is my first lawn so I definitely am lacking knowledge on this subject.

I also want to get a fence before the lawn gets put in. If I did that the builder said it would push back them sodding and hydro-seeding a month or two. He said there is no way for them to do it in the spring next year.
Any ideas?

[eloyfan]

IMO you are still okay on the grass, the window closes around Thanksgiving so with moderate temps, solid root to soil contact and keeping sod (and hydroseed) moist at all times you should be okay. It's more the HIGH temps that would do you in.

The hydroseed that does not pop this year will definitely jump on board for you in the Spring. That's an easier issue than the sod, which needs to be pampered a little more.

[hammester]

So if i waited for the fence which would set me back another month or two that would put me after thanksgiving which would not be good correct?

[daisyboat]

If you wait until after Thanksgiving, you're not going to be able to keep it watered like it would need to be (can't leave hoses attached below freezing & irrigation system shouldn't be run then either) and the roots wouldn't have enough time to get established. I would either do it now or wait a full year until next autumn.

[eloyfan]

Originally Posted by daisyboat

If you wait until after Thanksgiving, you're not going to be able to keep it watered like it would need to be (can't leave hoses attached below freezing & irrigation system shouldn't be run then either) and the roots wouldn't have enough time to get established. I would either do it now or wait a full year until next autumn.

Correct!!

[frankpc]

A few years ago NCSU published this data for cool season grasses and soil temperatures (not suggesting you would be anal enough to measure your soil temps, but I can see me doing it to the great and continued amusement of the neighbors :-) :

Cool Season Grasses
90F Shoot growth ceases.
77F Root growth ceases.
70F Maximum temperature for root growth of any consequence.
70F Time to plant grasses in late summer.
60-75F Optimum temperature for shoot growth.
50-65F Optimum temperature for root growth.
40F Shoot growth ceases.
33F Root growth ceases.
20F Low temperature kill possible if temperature subsequently drops
rapidly below 20F


Frank