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.

Time to spring clean your yard

Spring is the ideal time to get your yard back in shape after a 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. Remove dead layers of grass, roots, and debris that accumulates between the soil surface and the green grass blades by de-thatching. If not performed regularly, you  may notice portions of grass that form a thick mat, preventing water and air from reaching the soil. To prevent this, de-thatching should be done once a year in the early spring, before grass becomes bright green and thick. 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 de-thaching machine, which can be either be pulled behind a lawn tractor or there is a push version likely available at a local general rental store.

Replenish your lawn with fertilizer. Fertilizers are important to lawn care because they can expedite plant growth, making plants and crops grow quickly and appear greener, fuller, and healthier. Most nutrients for your lawn are water-soluble and, over time through snow, 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. Our experts recommend fertilizing early in the spring, following up every four weeks through the month of June.

Repair or replace your lawn with sod. For new lawns, sod is an excellent option to jump-start the growing process, as it gives you an immediate green lawn with mature density and a solid root system. Turfgrass sod creates a soft, clean and safe playing surface for children, lawn games, and family entertaining. Our easy-to-use small sod rolls make laying turfgrass yourself easy and efficient. There is no expensive machinery needed, making small sod rolls the do-it-yourselfers product of choice.

Prevent weeds and over-watering. Pre-emergent weed control should go down when the ground temperature reaches 50 degrees to avoid any seeds that may have dropped last fall to germinate. No need to water your lawn this early in the season just to expedite greening. Spring rains typically produce sufficient moisture for awakening lawns. Only irrigate if grass shows signs of dehydration.

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

 

How to Get your Lawn Back in Shape Before Summer’s Outdoor Events

Spring is a great time to get your lawn back in shape after the harsh winter and get it ready for summer events including graduation parties, weddings, BBQs and family reunions.

Using a good fertilizer with a weed and feed (dandelions are here!) is a great place to start repairing the damage from winter. B&B Hoffman Sod Farms in Elk River sells bags of weed and feed fertilizer. If you have some particularly bad spots, you can pick up a few rolls of sod while you’re there for an “instant fix.”

Other things to do in the spring include raking to remove thatch and leaves to get air to the lawn. If your lawn has a lot of traffic, you’ll want to watch for compaction. If your soil is compacted, it will have less room to hold the air and water that keep it healthy. This makes it harder for the roots to penetrate the soil and harder for fertilizers to be absorbed into the soil.

To treat a compacted lawn, aerate the soil at the beginning of the growing season. Aerating will cause there to be larger spaces in the soil and allow more oxygen, fertilizer, nutrients and water to penetrate. The day before you plan to aerate, water the lawn thoroughly to make the process easier. Small lawns can be aerated with special sandals with spikes attached to the bottom that aerate the lawn as you walk around. Larger lawns may require a petrol-powered core aerator, which can be rented.

Following these spring lawn-care tips can help get your yard in perfect shape before summer’s outdoor events. To learn more about spring lawn care and the products that B&B Hoffman Sod Farms offers, visit them online at bbhoffmansodev.wpengine.com or call 763-434- 6572.