Print

E-mail

Text

Every year there are so many gardening tasks to finish, I recommend preparing a list during winter so everything will be more manageable.

Divide the gardening tasks on the list into months of the year and write them down in your calendar. Timing is a critical element in gardening and in nature.

One question I have for all the gardeners reading this column is when is the best time to sod your lawn?

A) spring

B) fall

C) summer

It is a trick question really. One can sod their lawn in all the seasons listed above. Spring is the second best time of year to sod. Although, I find it difficult to seed in the spring. Why? The wet soil in April makes it difficult to work and causes a lack of firm footing.

Fall is the ideal time of year to sod. So if you answered B, then you are correct.

There is a higher success rate for lawns started in the fall than at any other time of year. In the fall, our mentality is to put the garden to bed, but for lawns this is the time to start.

Cooler temperatures and slower evaporation rates limit the growth of the foliage and allow the roots to grow and establish. This means come next year you will have a wonderful root system started in your lawn already. The grass will be well established and prepared for the hot and dry spells of August.

Five other reasons to sod in the fall rather than the spring:

Ground moisture is more certain to be available;

Fewer weeds will be germinating;

Allows time for more pleasant gardening tasks in the spring;

The weather in September and October creates ideal conditions for seeding;

Soil temperature is warmer.

Remember fall quickly turns into winter so it is a good idea to sod or sow lawns at least eight weeks before the deep frost arrives. One can consult the weather network www.theweathernetwork.ca specifically in the 'lawn and garden' section to find out when the ground is frozen.

 

Marilyn Pomer is a landscape designer for Greenescape Designs Inc. E-mail Marilyn at marilyn@greenescape.ca with comments or questions.