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Jump-Start Lush Lawns: Tips for Sod Installation & Correct Fertilizers in Wilmington, NC

14th December 2015

By the time December arrives, thoughts of landscaping and gardening are often in a resting stage like the earth. However, those of us itching to get our hands back in the soil may have several opportunities readily at hand. With the 10-day weather prediction in Wilmington, NC, forecasting mostly 60s and 70s and the historical monthly average hitting close to 60 degrees through February, you can still install sod during the winter.

Ideal Times of the Year for Sod Installation

Are you yearning to get a jump on beautiful grass for the upcoming season? Are you confused about the best times for sod installation? The perfect time for sod installation is from the last day of any frost, particularly when using Centipede (mid-April) through October.

If you missed that period, You can also install sod when it is going into dormancy or is totally dormant and has no green leaf tissue. Here are other good times for sod installation:

Late fall
Winter
Early spring

When attempting dormant sod installation, one simple step is the key to success. Simply keep the sod pad moist. Fortunately, the rainfalls in our area during any phase of dormancy will do this work naturally for you.

Guidelines for Best Sod Fertilizers and Times

Now that you have the green light on sod installation during the winter, are you wondering about the best fertilizer? Are you still feeling unclear about the best times to fertilize? Here are reliable guidelines from our knowledgeable experts at Superior Sod & Garden supplies:

Before installing your sod, apply an application of 5:5:15 – referred to as a STARTER Fertilizer.
Use approximately 3 # per 1,000 square feet and lightly rake into the top 1/2 inch of soil.
After the sod has knitted down anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks during the growing season, apply a second application of either 5:5:15 for Centipede or 16:4:8 for any other variety.
Irrigate this fertilizer into the soil and off the leaf tissues.

Another important step is to spoon feed your fertilizer–only as needed. In addition, select one with lower Nitrogen because excess amounts will make your grass susceptible to Brown Patch and other diseases.

Reasons to Avoid High-Nitrogen and Weed-and-Feed Fertilizers

When you want a lush-looking lawn, you may mistakenly think that more is better. Chain stores often feed this misconception because they carry fertilizers, labeled for southern lawns, which are too high in Nitrogen (30%). This approach is actually inappropriate for our area.

According to our experts with four decades of experience in the industry, the only grassvariety that can handle this high amount of Nitrogen is in the Bermudas. In Wilmington, NC, this amount of Nitrogen will ultimately send Centipede into a decline. Consequently, your lawn will be vulnerable to the following:

Disease
Weeds
Winter injury or kill

To avoid undesirable results, it is also important to avoid applying a Weed-and-Feed fertilizer before or just after any sod installation. The chemicals used in this formula create a barrier in your soil, which will block seed germination. In addition, they also prevent sod from becoming unified and settling down.

Would you like to learn more about proper sod installation and fertilizers for our region? The experts at Superior Sod & Garden Supplies, who are committed to educating customers, can help. Contact us!

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