Fall is a good time to start a new sod lawn

The last day of summer is here, bringing with it cooling temperatures. If you have been thinking about planting a new sod lawn, do it now. The weather is perfect, and the soil is warm.

Before you buy your sod, make sure you choose a grass that is hardy for our area. Not all lawn grasses work in northern Nevada. Warm-season grasses may survive, but will green up very late in the spring and turn brown in late summer. Cool-season grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass and fescues, fine or tall, are better choices. When choosing a grass, consider the site's soil, intended use and amount of shade. Also consider the water and maintenance requirements of the grass.

Sod is often sold as a mix of various grasses to achieve a nice appearance, and to provide good disease resistance. There are also blends of grasses of the same type, such as a number of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars. Sod companies and nurseries have many varieties from which to choose. Make sure you purchase one appropriate for your site and use.

When you are ready to prepare your site for installation, use the existing soil, unless you need to fill in low spots. Till the soil as deeply as possible. The tilling depth is where the roots will grow. A shallowly tilled soil will create shallow roots and a turf that needs too much water. The lawn will also have a greater likelihood of developing thatch buildup. Till in 2 inches to 4 inches of decomposed organic matter to increase water-holding capacity and nutrient exchange. Work in 12 pounds of a 16-16-16 fertilizer, or something similar, per 1,000 square feet. Mix this well into the existing soil. Lay your irrigation lines below the freezing depth, approximately 12 inches to 15 inches below the surface of the soil, and grade the area so that it is level. Water the area to remove air pockets and identify low spots. Regrade it as needed and be sure that water will drain away from the house and other buildings. Use an empty sod roller to level out and firm up the entire area. Then, water the area again.

Lay the strips of sod across the slope in a staggered manner, like bricks in a wall, so that adjacent strips do not line up vertically with one another. Fit the strips tightly together, avoiding stretching or tearing. Use a sharp knife to cut the pieces to fit. Fill the roller with water and roll the area to improve the sod's contact with the underlying soil. Irrigate the sod daily, or as needed depending on the weather, to keep it moist, until the sod has knitted with the soil. Pull up gently on an edge of the sod to test it. When the sod doesn't pull up, it has knitted to the soil and is ready to use! Sit back and enjoy that lush green carpet.

For gardening information, contact me, 887-2252 or skellyj@ unce.unr.edu, or a local University of Nevada Cooperative Extension office. Check out horticulture publications at www.unce.unr.edu or ask a master gardener at mastergardeners@unce.unr.edu

n JoAnne Skelly is the Carson City/Storey County Extension educator for University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.