When Should I Aerate My Lawn This Spring?

The best time to aerate your lawn is when it is actively growing. In Minnesota, the cool-season grasses are most actively growing in the spring and fall when temperatures are moderate. Aerating while the roots are still active will help you achieve the healthy, green lawn you want.

How to tell if your lawn needs aerating. There are several signs that a lawn is in need of aeration. In addition to making aeration a regular part of your annual yard prep and/or clean-up, watch for indications that water is not penetrating the soil properly. Other signs to look for include brown or dead spots, thin and dull grass, or grass that just doesn’t seem to grow much (if at all).

How frequently should you aerate your lawn. As long as you are aerating at about the same time each year, an annual aeration should be all you need to support a healthy lawn.

When not to aerate your lawn. Aerating a lawn during times when the grass is dormant is never a good idea because it can open your lawn up to weed growth or other problems. You should also avoid aeration when your lawn is wet. It is best to wait until the grass is actively growing.

If the snow melting in the spring means a destroyed lawn for you, that even aeration won’t revive, reach out to B&B Hoffman for Kentucky Bluegrass sod. Kentucky Bluegrass is known for its dense, lush, and durable qualities making it the perfect choice for Minnesota yards.

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If you have a yard renovation on your mind or sod need for 2022, 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.

 

Everything to Know about Kentucky Bluegrass

Kentucky Bluegrass is one of the most beautiful varieties of lawn grass out there. When given its preferred growing conditions, this grass produces a dense, lush, green lawn that lives up to its reputation. KBG is known as one of the more durable varieties on the market, making it a perfect choice for yards with high traffic, pets, or kids. Here is a guide on what to expect when choosing Kentucky Bluegrass sod for your lawn.

Physical properties of Kentucky Bluegrass. KBG is a cool-season lawn grass that is a great fit for northern climates with warm to hot summers but cold winters. It is a premier sod choice for Minnesota homeowners due to these properties. The easiest method of identifying KBG is to look at the tip of the blade of grass. Each KBG blade resembles the shape of a canoe boat, where it is tapered off at the top and bottom.

Kentucky Bluegrass Maintenance. 

  • Watering and drought tolerance: Bluegrass has the natural ability to survive several weeks or longer of drought. KBG has a shallow root system, so if it doesn’t rain, it will need to be watered a couple of times a week during the summer to keep it green.
  •  Fertilization: Use a blend of fertilizer similar to 5-14-42 during the summer (every 6 weeks after sod is installed), and when you winterize your yard use 20-10-10.
  • Mowing: Start mowing your sod 7-10 days after installation at 2-2 1/2 inches.
  • Weed prevention: Spray with a weed killer as you see fit. If you see weeds starting, take care of them as soon as possible to prevent spreading.

Have more questions? Reach out. We are available to help answer your questions regarding Kentucky Bluegrass or sod! Just give us a call or send us a message. We are committed to growing a superior product at a low price, and we pride ourselves on impeccable customer service.

Planning a Backyard Wedding but Your Lawn isn’t Ready?

Tis’ the season of holiday engagements and wedding planning! Even though we are just entering Minnesota’s long winter, we know plans for summer celebrations are already underway. If you’re thinking about hosting a wedding in your yard or maybe a graduation party, but your lawn isn’t ready to be shown off, let B&B Hoffman Sod help you out.

Here are a few tips to avoid problems while still enjoying a beautiful backyard wedding:

Lay sod down: Most homeowners would agree that they want a lush green lawn to greet guests. But we know that goal means endless time spent fertilizing, weeding, and watering your grass. However, you could simply order sod and get immediate results that will be sure to wow your guests. Sod will also save you time, reducing pre-wedding stress!

Cover parts of your lawn: If your sod hasn’t had a lot of time to establish roots (usually just need 10-12 days), add a layer of protection over high-traffic areas. For instance, a dance floor provides a solid surface for guests to use and will minimize high heels sinking into your lawn. We suggest you remove any coverings from your lawn as soon as possible so your new sod can continue to receive much-needed sunlight, oxygen, and water. 

Put up natural barriers: Maybe you want your guests to avoid your newly sodded yard all together! We suggest installing a well-defined pathway that guests will naturally gravitate toward. You can also use large pots of flowers or grasses to block off parts of the yard.

When Minnesota’s winter lifts and the snow melts, the first step to preparing your yard for the big day is to green up your lawn. At B&B Hoffman Sod, we provide durable low-maintenance kentucky bluegrass that creates a soft, clean, and safe surface in an instant.

Prevent Winter Damage from Moles & Voles

Moles and voles don’t hibernate over the winter, they simply dig deeper tunnels to escape the cold. The Minnesota snow cover combined with our tendency to go outside less often in the winter makes their tunnels much harder to see; giving the illusion of hibernation. You can avoid the nasty surprise of tunneled lawns in the spring and prevent winter damage from burrowing pests by taking a few precautionary steps this fall.

Signs of Mole or Vole Damage

Determining which pesty pest is tearing up your lawn will dictate which preventative measures you should take.

  • Mole Damage Signs: 
    • Mole hills: mounds of dirt that mark where a mole excavated dirt.
    • Feeding tunnels: long tracks of slightly raised earth.
  • Vole Damage Signs: 
    • Tracks of dead grass: voles will eat some grass roots, and roots from flowers and veggies.
    • Small holes in the ground: small holes about an inch across, in your yard, or at the base of shrubs indicate a surfacing vole.

Three Ways to Prevent Mole and Vole Damage During the Winter

  • Don’t mulch too early: mulch is a great tool when you’re trying to protect plants from cold weather. Mulch is also, unfortunately, popular with voles. Instead of putting mulch down in early fall, wait until the first frost to apply your mulch. Waiting a little bit may convince an interested vole to set up home somewhere else for the winter.
  • Install barriers: common barriers include lining the bottom and sides of your beds with hardware cloth to prevent moles and voles from getting in from the ground.
  • Apply repellents: Applying an effective mole and vole repellent is a safe and reliable way to prevent winter damage. You can find repellents at your local lawn and garden center. Cedar oil is also another option to drive harmful bugs away from your lawn in addition to controlling the moles and vole’s food source.

We hope these tips will help protect your lawn this winter but if spring appears and you find your grass damaged from moles or voles, reach out to B&B Hoffman sod for low-maintenance kentucky bluegrass that is resistant to disease! Whether you need to replace a small section of grass or your whole lawn, we can help!

How to Get Your Yard in Shape Before Summer’s Outdoor Activities

Spring is the perfect time to get your yard back in shape after the long winter. As we turn our attention to lawn care, rather than snow removal, it is time to patch dead grass areas, de-thatch, and fertilize. Check out our easy pro tips on improving the appearance of your yard.

De-Thatch to Encourage Growth. Thatch is simply the layer of dead grass, roots, and debris that accumulates between the soil surface and the green grass blades above. It can form a thick mat that prevents water and air from reaching the soil. To prevent this, de-thatching should be done once a year in the early spring, usually in April. If your lawn gets too green and too thick, it’s too late to de-thatch. De-thatching, which can be done to smaller lawns with a special rake, allows you to get the thatch out of the grass, allowing air to get at the base of the plant and gives it a healthy start in the spring after a long winter. Those with larger lawns may choose to rent a dethatching machine, which is similar in appearance to a push lawn mower.

Replenish your lawn with fertilizer. Fertilizers are important to lawn care because they can expedite plant growth. Fertilizers make plants and crops grow more quickly and appear greener, fuller and healthier- we suggest using a blend low in nitrogen and high in potash. Most nutrients for your lawn are water-soluble and, over time through rain or irrigation, the water will carry nutrients out of your lawn and leave it nutrient deficient. An unhealthy lawn is susceptible to disease, and fertilizer can replenish those nutrients and keep your lawn healthy.

Repair or replace your lawn with sod. B&B Hoffman Sod Farms can help get your yard back in shape with its supply of fertilizer. But for new lawns, sod is an excellent option to jump-start the growing process because it gives you an immediate green lawn with mature density and a solid root system. Lawns established with turfgrass sod are an immediate joy and source of pride, while lawns started with seed, sprigs, or plugs take from 2 to 3 years of constant work to mature. In an instant, turfgrass sod creates a soft, clean, and safe playing surface for children, lawn games, and family entertainment.

Spring is a great time to sod, allowing you to take advantage of our rainy season to help with watering. The cool temperatures also help with keeping on top of watering. B&B Hoffman Sod Farms in Elk River provides easy-to-use small rolls that make laying turfgrass yourself easy and efficient. There is no expensive machinery needed, making Small Sod Rolls the do-it-yourselfers product of choice.

To learn more about spring lawn care and the products that B&B Hoffman Sod Farms offers, visit them online at www.bbhoffmansod.com or call 763-434-6572.

Connect Virtually with Us at the Northern Green Expo

As the ground hardens and snow blankets our sod farm, our focus shifts from growing and selling sod, to connecting with our commercial partners and planning for the season ahead. For over 20 years we have participated in the Northern Green Expo, a trade show held each January. This unique event is presented by the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association and Minnesota Turf and Grounds Foundation, bringing together a wide variety of professional outdoor resources to educate and network. Usually, the expo is held at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Due to the circumstances, this year’s event will be held virtually.

Held January 11th-14th 2020, virtual attendees can take part in training modules and social events, meet with exhibitors, listen to keynote speakers, and showcase trades related to outdoor supplies or maintenance. Supported by major industry leaders in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, it is a great opportunity to learn more about landscaping, nurseries, ground maintenance, and anything related to planning and living in the warmer weather months.

In the past years, more than 6,000 people visit the Northern Green Expo to network and eagerly plan the next growing season. If you are interested in learning more or would like to register to virtually attend, please click here for additional details. Visit our virtual booth to meet our family and discuss the best sod options for your spring plans.

B&B Hoffman Sod is currently closed for the season, but are always available to answer questions at 763-434-6572. We hope to “see” you or hear from you at the Northern Green Expo in January!

Thanks for supporting our family farm for 30 years

B&B Hoffman Sod farm is celebrating its 30th year of producing high quality sod for Midwest homeowners, landscapers, and builders. As a family run company deeply rooted in the sod growing business, we are committed to producing the best Kentucky Bluegrass turf in Minnesota.

Our sod is grown at one of three farms in central Minnesota, offering a slight variety in temperature and terrain to ensure a fruitful season. Seeds are planted in late summer (a lot of seed, about 70 pounds per acre!) and we irrigate as necessary. Our sod is fertilized regularly to produce lush, beautiful grass. Typically, sod is harvested about 12-16 months after plantings to ensure a hardy root structure.

We take great pride in mowing every field, every other day. It is one of the most important parts of the growing process, as mowing stimulates root growth. After each field is mowed, we follow up with a roller to compact the soil and counteract any tire marks.

Sod is harvested when the ground isn’t frozen–usually April to November. We prefer to harvest in the morning, so the ground temperature (and therefore the sod temperature) is lower, increasing the shelf life of the product.  We offer two sizes of sod for our customers, small rolls are ideal for homeowners, while large rolls are perfect for wide open spaces or commercial properties. B&B Hoffman Sod offers convenient delivery throughout the Midwest or pickup at our Elk River, MN location.

We are proud to grow about 600 acres of sod every year. Our family name is not just on our trucks, but in every blade of grass we grow, every delivery we make and every question we answer for our customers. We know this is what makes our company so strong.

To learn more about  B&B Hoffman Sod Farms and our family business, visit us online at bbhoffmansodev.wpengine.com or call 763-434- 6572.