It’s Not Too Late! Why Fall is the Perfect Time to Lay Sod

When it comes to laying sod, most people think it can only be done in the spring and summer seasons. But did you know that you can successfully install sod all the way up until the ground is frozen? That means late fall (and sometimes even early winter!) is still an excellent time to transform your yard with fresh sod. B&B Hoffman Sod Farm is still open for the season and ready for you to get your lawn ready to look great this spring!

Why Late-Season Sod Works So Well

As long as the ground isn’t frozen, sod can still take root. Cooler temperatures actually help prevent stress on new grass, and with the right care, it will be ready to green up beautifully in the spring. You’ll need access to a hose and sprinkler system, so if you’re planning to sod before the end of the season, don’t blow out your irrigation lines just yet. But don’t worry! If you’ve already shut down your sprinkler system for the season, simply hook up a garden hose and sprinkler to keep your sod watered until the ground naturally freezes.

Avoid the Springtime Mud Pit!

One of the biggest perks of installing sod now is skipping the dreaded spring mud season. If your lawn has patchy spots, that bare soil plus melting snow will bring muddy footprints, messy paws, and endless cleaning. By putting down sod now, you’ll create a stable, grass-covered yard that’s ready to go as soon as the weather warms up (no mud boots required!).

Perfect for Families (and Puppies!)

Thinking about adding a puppy to the family this Christmas? Or do you have little ones eager to play outside at the first hint of spring? Laying sod now means they’ll have a dry, grassy space to enjoy instead of a muddy mess that gets tracked through your home.

Get Ahead of Next Season

Installing sod in late fall is like giving your yard a head start. You’ll avoid the stress and mess of spring seeding, and your lawn will be established and ready for use sooner. So don’t wait until spring! If the ground isn’t frozen, it’s not too late to sod! Call B&B Hoffman Sod at 763-434-6572 and roll out that lush green carpet to enjoy the benefits of a beautiful lawn before the season is over – and to avoid that springtime mud!

How Late Can I Lay Sod in Minnesota?

As summer winds down in Minnesota, many homeowners assume the window for installing sod has closed. But here’s the truth: you can successfully lay sod well into the fall season in Minnesota. Depending on the weather, you can lay sod through October and sometimes even into November, and early fall is actually one of the best times of the year to install! B&B Hoffman Sod is here to discuss how cooler weather and natural conditions set your new grass up for success, so you can enjoy a lush, healthy yard next spring.

Why Fall Is Ideal for Sod Installation in Minnesota:

Cooler Temperatures Mean Less Stress

Unlike the intense heat of summer, Minnesota’s fall weather provides mild, consistent temperatures that are much gentler on sod. This allows the grass to focus on root development instead of battling dehydration and heat stress.

More Reliable Moisture

Fall typically brings more frequent and steady rainfall, which is essential for helping sod take root. Combined with cooler weather, this reduces how often and how much you’ll need to water, saving both time and effort while ensuring proper establishment.

Fewer Weeds to Compete With

Luckily, weeds naturally slow down in the fall. This gives your sod a head start, so it can grow strong without being crowded out by dandelions or crabgrass.

Healthy Soil Conditions

By autumn, Minnesota’s soil has cooled from the summer heat, creating the perfect environment for sod roots to establish. Cooler soil not only encourages growth but also helps reduce the risk of disease that thrives in hot, humid weather.

How Late Is Too Late to Sod in Minnesota?

The general rule is simple: as long as the ground isn’t frozen, you can lay sod. Most years in Minnesota, that means sod installation is possible well into October and sometimes even in November. The earlier you install, the better chance your sod will have to develop roots before winter. Don’t worry if winter shows up unexpectedly before your sod takes root! Sod will go dormant and take off in the spring. 

Pro tip: Keep in mind you will need a water source if you choose to install sod late in the season. November can still be warm enough to have to water and mow, so if you’ve already shut down your irrigation system, make sure to manually water your new sod!

Tips for Successful Fall Sod Installation

  Timing: You can lay sod through October and into November so long as the ground isn’t frozen! Since you never know what the weather will bring, aim to lay sod early to mid-fall. 

  Prepare Your Yard: Remove debris, level the soil, and loosen compacted areas for better root contact.

 Water Regularly: Even in cooler temps, sod needs consistent moisture to take hold. Don’t rely only on rainfall; Make sure your sod gets adequate watering until it’s established.

  Limit Foot Traffic: Keep kids, pets, and heavy use off your new sod until you’ve mowed it at least once. 

  Work with a Professional Sod Supplier: High-quality sod makes all the difference. That’s where B&B Hoffman Sod comes in.

By following our installation and maintenance advice, your sod will take root and look amazing! B&B Hoffman Sod is available to help answer any questions regarding your new sod. Call us at 763-434-6572 or send us an email. We’re happy to ensure your lawn always looks its best!

Pro tip: October is the ideal time to winterize your lawn with a nutrient-rich fertilizer. B&B Hoffman Sod sells the same premium fertilizers we use on our own farm, so you can make sure your lawn will continue to look lush and green long after installation.

Get Your Minnesota Sod Installed Before Winter

Don’t wait until spring! Fall sod installation in Minnesota gives your yard a head start for next season. By laying sod now, you’ll avoid the heat stress of summer, minimize weed competition, and ensure your lawn is ready to turn green and vibrant the moment the snow melts.

B&B Hoffman Sod has been helping Minnesota homeowners and businesses with high-quality sod for decades. Whether you need to install sod for a new build, refresh a tired lawn, or repair problem areas, fall is the perfect season to do it. Contact us today at 763-434-6572 to schedule your sod installation before the ground freezes. Your lawn will thank you come spring!



Get Your Lawn Ready Before the Chaos of Fall Begins!

As summer winds down and schedules start filling up with school supply runs, sports practices, and after-school activities, your yard might be the last thing on your mind. But late summer is one of the best times to install sod or refresh your lawn, and at B&B Hoffman Sod, we’re here to help you get it done before the busy season hits.

Why Now Is the Perfect Time for Sod Installation

Whether you need a brand-new lawn or just want to fill in some bare spots, installing sod in late summer sets you up for success. Here’s why it’s smart to schedule your sod project now:

Ideal Weather for Root Establishment

Late summer and early fall bring cooler nights and more consistent moisture, which make perfect conditions for sod to take root quickly and grow strong before winter. The earlier you lay it, the better it can establish before the ground freezes.

Beat the Back-to-School Rush

Once school starts, your calendar fills up fast! Getting your lawn project off your to-do list now means one less thing to worry about later. Plus, it’s easier to complete outdoor work before fall schedules take over and weekends are full with soccer practices, birthday parties, and football on Sundays.

 Ready for Game Days and Gatherings

Are you hosting a team party or having the neighbors over to watch a big game? A lush, green lawn is the perfect backdrop for the end-of-the-season party, one last BBQ before the snow flies, or some backyard football. Refresh your yard now so it’s game-day ready!

Sod Solutions for Every Yard

At B&B Hoffman Sod, we grow and deliver premium Kentucky Bluegrass sod that’s perfect for Minnesota yards. Whether you’re tackling a full install, touching up high-traffic areas, or repairing summer damage, we have the high-quality sod and advice you need.

We work with:

  • Homeowners ready for a lawn makeover
  • Athletic fields that need to recover from summer wear
  • Contractors and landscapers prepping for fall installs

If you just need to fix up a few patches that were damaged over the summer and don’t need to completely re-sod your yard, we’ve got you! Did you know we sell the same sod-quality seed and fertilizers we use on our own sod farm? You can seamlessly patch up pet spots or damage left behind from summer yard games without redoing your whole yard!

Don’t Wait: Schedule Your Sod Delivery Today

You can have a fresh, beautiful lawn in time for back-to-school season. Call us today at 763-434-6572 or visit our website to learn more about sod delivery, get installation tips, and find maintenance resources. Let B&B Hoffman Sod help you create a yard you’ll be proud of all season long.



New sod and lawn care.. In November?

The sprinklers may have been shut off or put away, and we have already had our first snow of the season, but it’s not too late to install new sod or to winterize your lawn. While that might sound crazy to some, B&B Hoffman Sod has tips for making sure your lawn is ready to look amazing once the snow melts in the spring.

It’s not too late to install new sod!

You might think that November is too late to install new sod, but yes – it is still possible to do this before winter! As long as the ground isn’t frozen and the temperatures cooperate with your plans, you can still install sod. Although roots may not establish this fall, they will in the spring. Keep in mind, you will still need a water source… think garden hose and sprinklers if you’ve blown out your sprinkler system. Contact B&B Hoffman Sod at 763-434-6572 to see if you can install our premium Kentucky Blue Grass before the snow flies!

Winterize the right way
  • Cover bare areas: If you’re not able to get your new sod installed before the ground freezes, make sure to cover the mud now rather than deal with it in the spring. Your floors will thank you once the snow melts and you’re not constantly cleaning up muddy paw prints or messes from kids playing outside in the warmer weather.
  • Mow one last time: Before you store the lawn mower for the winter, cut the grass short to prevent mold, fungus, or other threats to your lawn (and your allergies!). Long grass provides a cozy home for voles, mice, or other creepy crawlies to hide. Rodents and insects cause damage to lawns with their trails and holes, not to mention feasting on bulbs like tulips or irises. 
  • Use a winterizing fertilizer: Using a winter-specific fertilizer will ensure your lawn gets the nutrients it needs during the long, cold winter months. B&B Hoffman Sod sells the same fertilizer we use on our sod farm available for purchase. Contact us to ask about our fertilizer options. 

For more lawn care tips, explore our previous blog posts for all things sod, grass, and fertilizer! If you would like to get sod before winter, reach out to us at office@bbhoffmansod.com or by calling 763-434-6572 to see if installing this fall is still possible for your lawn.

Fall Lawn Prep: Winterize the Right Way

It’s autumn in Minnesota – time for beautiful weather, brightly colored trees, and pumpkin spice everything. Folks are able to enjoy their valuable weekends at apple orchards or football games instead of spending their time on lawn care. Before you put away the mower for the season, B&B Hoffman Sod is here with tips to keep your yard in tip-top shape over the winter.

Don’t Forget the Tuna Can! (Yes, you read that right!)

Before you put away the hose or blow out your sprinkler system, remember that despite cooler temperatures and the many rainy days Minnesota had this past summer, your lawn still needs water. A healthy lawn needs approximately an inch of water per week, especially if it is less than three years old. It is best to water very deeply once a week—or twice a week if we are enjoying unseasonably hot weather. New sod needs watering everyday with the drought we are currently experiencing. 

One way to make sure your lawn is getting enough moisture is to set out empty tuna cans. To ensure you are watering the right amount, place empty tuna cans in the areas where you are sprinkling. When there is about an inch of water in the can, you’ll know your lawn has gotten enough moisture to get into the roots and stay healthy. 

Feed Your Lawn With Fertilizer

Who doesn’t like a bedtime snack? Mid-October is a great time to start putting winterizing fertilizer down. Winterizer gives your yard a boost of nitrogen for your grass to store through the winter while it’s sleeping under the snow. This nitrogen will help your yard be one of the first on the block to turn green once spring arrives. Be sure to water it in since we are not scheduled to get any rain for the next few weeks.

B&B Hoffman Sod has the fertilizer your lawn needs for each season available for purchase at our farm. Call us at 763-434-6572 to reserve your bags in time to feed your lawn for the winter.

For more information on how to care for your new sod or general yard care, explore the B&B Hoffman Sod website! We have a ton of tips for watering, lawn care, installation, and more!

Yes, You CAN Sod Your Lawn in Autumn!

Most people think that it’s too late to sod in autumn. B&B Hoffman Sod is here to tell you to why fall is actually a great time of year to sod your lawn.

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How to Winterize Your Lawn Mower

Another lawn mowing season has come to an end, now it is time to prep your mower for the next season. Read on to learn how to winterize a lawn mower to prevent damage, enhance its performance, and ensure it will start up easily the next time you need it.

Why You Need to Winterize Lawn Mowers

Whether you have a gas-powered, riding, or electric lawn mower, it requires periodic maintenance to minimize repairs. We know it can be tempting to just store the mower and worry about it next spring. But, procrastinating can leave you in a pickle when your mower won’t start and your yard needs to be trimmed.

How to Winterize a Lawn Mower

  • Remove or stabilize the fuel: A mower used at the end of the season needs to be emptied of fuel. Leftover gas has the potential to oxidize, corrode the carburetor, or impede the fuel system. If the gasoline has a fuel preservative, you can save it until next spring or run it in your snow blower. If the gasoline has not had a preservative added, you need to use up the gasoline as soon as possible.
  • Remove the Battery: Remove its battery and store it in a cool, dry location away from flammable substances. Come next spring, use a 120-volt battery charger to bring the battery to full capacity, then reinstall it into the mower.
  • Change the Oil: Follow the instructions outlined in your mower’s owner’s manual to change the oil and give your mower a clean start next season.
  • Clean the Deck: Use a paint scraper, wire brush, or knife to carefully remove caked-on grass and debris from the deck. This step prevents moisture in the grass clippings from causing rust and corrosion to the underside of the deck.

These are a few necessary steps in winterizing your lawn mower and ensuring a smooth spring mowing start-up. Fortunately, this process also works on the other gas-powered tools that you use on your lawn. Stow your lawn tools away for the winter, and start looking forward to spring. Soon enough we will be hearing mowers starting up, seeing lush green yards, and smelling fresh-cut grass.

Don’t forget if you have installed sod late in the season, it does still need to be watered until the ground is frozen. It will need moisture every 3-4 days whether it is moisture from the sky, snow, rain, or a garden hose. 

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If you have a yard renovation on your mind for 2023, give us a call for a quote on high-quality Kentucky Bluegrass Sod. Each piece is grown in uniform thickness and bred to be dark green, soft, and durable to withstand harsh climates.

Installing Sod in the Fall? It’s The Perfect Time!

A common misconception is that sod must be laid during the typical growing season. It makes sense… we usually plant everything else in the spring. Even though you can successfully lay sod in the spring and summer, installing sod in the fall actually achieves great results. There are a couple of factors to consider when installing sod in the fall.

Fall means cooler temperatures.

The fall months bring cooler temperatures and increased precipitation which is ideal for completing installing sod as there is less risk of your sod overheating or drying out. You still have to water regularly, but you may need to use less water as with the cooler temperatures, the water isn’t evaporating as quickly. This doesn’t mean that you cannot have success in the hotter, dryer months of the summer. You simply need to be more diligent with your watering and maintenance. In other words, if you are planning on going to the cabin every weekend in the summer, it is probably best to wait for the fall to sod your lawn!

Fall sod installation timing.

As long as we are harvesting our sod fields, you can install it in your yard. There are some things to keep in mind when it comes to watering your sod. If you are blowing out your irrigation system, you will still need a water source (think garden hose & sprinklers). If it’s JUST before winter, give it a good soaking and if it freezes it will go dormant and take off in the spring. However, if it warms up again you may need to drag out the hose/sprinklers. This usually occurs in the late October/early November timeframe. We do harvest sod up until the ground is frozen or the snow is too deep, but the rule of thumb is to try and have your project done by the end of October as our Minnesota November weather is very unpredictable.

Fall is a great time to lay sod. Follow these steps when installing and caring for your sod in the fall, and don’t forget to fertilize your lawn (mid-October) with a 20-10-10. If you have any questions regarding the installation of sod feel free to contact us at 763-434-6572.

Be Prepared for Leaves

Minnesota offers beautiful fall colors every year but it also means- leaves, leaves everywhere! They can be a hassle, but these tips will help you deal with them this fall.

No one enjoys the back-breaking work of raking. Here is how you can get the job over quickly:

  • Let gravity help you out by raking leaves downhill if possible.
  • Skip raking and move straight to mowing. Chopped leaves can allow for vital nutrients to return to the soil.  
  • Use a leaf blower to create piles to pick up and bag.

Homeowners want to avoid more than 10-20% of their grass to be covered in leaves when the snow falls. Excessive leaf matter going into winter may smother the grass and inhibit growth, as well as promote mold diseases, and encourage turf damage from critters like voles and mice.

Is it beneficial for your lawn to spend time raking and bagging leaves, or should you plan on mowing over everything and mulching the rest? Or simply leave them be?

Raking. Improve your arm strength by raking (or using a leaf blower) to gather a pile, then bag for disposal, or deliver to a compost site. Depending on the size of your lawn and number of trees on site, this may take an hour or a full day. In order to rake efficiently, lawns should be dry and trimmed. Additional bag fees or compost facility charges may deter people from going this route, but the excitement of jumping in a large leaf pile has its benefits too.

Mowing and mulching. Chopping grass and leaves into small pieces (also known as mulching) so they incorporate into your lawn canopy via a lawnmower benefits the soil in a number of ways. Nutrients and organic matter may add nitrogen to the lawn and assist in root growth. Some leaf types have even been shown to reduce weed germination over time. Mulching may require more frequent mowing in the fall, but specialized attachments and mulching mowers can also be purchased to make this job easier.

Leaving it be. If you have no trees and the wind blows away more than 10% of your lawn coverage, you may be off the hook for raking and mowing. Use your extra time wisely before the Minnesota winter hits!

Consult with our experts, purchase sod and find winterizing fertilizer at B&B Hoffman Sod Farms in Elk River by visiting us online or calling 763-434-6572.

Avoid These Common Fall Lawn Care Mistakes

Even though the temperatures are starting to drop, it’s important not to abandon lawn care yet! Help ensure that your lawn is healthy and beautiful this spring by avoiding these common fall lawn care mistakes. 

Leaving Fallen Leaves

Minnesota autumn brings a vibrant display of leaves in hues of red and orange that are beautiful to view. However, once these leaves fall to the ground it can set your lawn up for trouble. You may be tempted to ignore them but too much leaf cover can suffocate your grass and prevent oxygen from reaching its roots. Leaf cover can also trap moisture and prevent oxygen from reaching your lawn, creating a good environment for lawn disease to thrive. Cleaning up fallen leaves or mulching them with your mower will help promote your lawn’s health.

Watering as Usual

As the weather gets cooler and the days grow shorter, your lawn will not need as much supplemental water to survive. Cutting back on how much you water in the fall will help prevent fungal growth and prepare your lawn for winter. However, if you have just installed your sod make sure you are watering adequately. Water your new sod every day for 1 week and long enough so that when you step onto the sod it’s squishy. Then after one week, (in the fall only) you can water every other or every three days; just don’t let it dry out.  Squishy isn’t necessary.  

Forgetting to Fertilize

While many homeowners may think fertilizer should be applied in the spring, fall is an ideal time to refresh your lawn before going dormant in the winter. Fall fertilization will assist in storing food and ensuring strong roots throughout the winter, and greener grass after the spring thaw. Apply fertilizer around the first week in October for the best results. We recommend a blend of 20-10-10, which can be purchased at our shop.

DON’T Avoid Planning Ahead for Spring

If you’ve been holding off until spring to lay sod, there is still time yet this year. Cool temperatures and regular rainfall this time of year encourages our natural sod grass to retain moisture. Consult with our experts, purchase sod, and find winterizing fertilizer at B&B Hoffman Sod Farms in Elk River by visiting us online or calling 763-434-6572.