Lawn Install in Heat?

[mklawnman]

Gotta quick question about putting a lawn in when its 80+ degrees out. Gotta get 80yds of topsoil delivered for the lawn then spread it out and lay 1,400sq ft of sod in the front lawn, the rest gets seed and speedy mulch over the top of the rest of the lawn. Now I know putting it in won't be a problem but will the seed eventually grow even if its put in under alot of heat? I mean once the water gets on it, early morning or evening time, I think it should be ok cause it will get the sunlight big time and the water, just might take a bit more water with the higher temps.
I know the worst thing could happen is the sod would go dry so Ill make sure to tell the owners to water it fairly well so it gets enough for a long day so it doesnt burn out.
THe homeowner asked me if it was going to be too hot to put it in and I told them that it won't be too bad as long as the sod gets a good soaking and the rest of the lawn gets watered as well.
I just wanted to make sure that its going to be ok.
Thanks
Matt

[ElephantNest]

Gets done here every day in 90-100+ degrees. Water, water, and more water.

[kris]

Sure you can lay sod in the heat. Be sure that your getting freshly cut sod. When I ask for a first thing in the morning delivery it is cut the night before. If I know we have a bunch of prep work still to do I'll order for around noon ..it's then cut that morning. Alway get it layed/cut in as soon as possible and never leave it still on the pallets overnight. We'll bring in another crew/work late if need be to get it finished and watererd the same day.

[Strawbridge Lawn]

Thanks for the posts.. Have a 13K sqr ft job later this week once a 1"compost base is blown in over the existing sand/**** soil.
Irrigation isin place so I feel more at ease now.

[blafleur]

We lay it all summer here when the ground is too hot to walk barefoot on (100+). It needs to be watered immediately after laying, and regularly until established, and like Kris said, it needs to be fresh.

This is somewhat of a theory, but I think sod that does poorly is more often from being too long on the pallet than underwatered. As soon as sod is stacked on the pallet it begins to warm in the center eventually to very hot temperatures, basically cooking the middle.

When I worked for a sod retailer, another employee sodded his whole yard with St. Augustine pieces scattered around the yard at the end of the day. These pieces had been on pavement all day in 90-100+ temps and were completely dried out and hard. I'm sure not all pieces survived, but most did. The grass stems and leaves seem to die well before the roots do.

Bryan

[greenman]

Originally posted by ElephantNest
Gets done here every day in 90-100+ degrees. Water, water, and more water.

True, we do it here too, same temps, but realize its warm season grasses. I'm sure he is talking about cool season grass. Fescue or blue.

[Mgardner]

Same here, threw the extras out on bare,hard dirt at home and they all made it in hot weather. Like we say, water it the first time until it`s skwishy.

[Mike Bradbury]

His question was about the seed not the sod.
The seed will pop right up in the heat ASSUMING they keep it wet (big assumption).
Make sure they understand 30 days of water to sprout the seed and THEN they'll have to water it all summer to keep that tender new growth alive in the heat. MAKE SURE they understand that! :blob3:

[mdvaden]

I'm like some of you. I like my sod delivered by noon. Prep is always ready by then.

Also, I water the ground before placing a roll. Watering 30 sq. ft. of soil at a time. That's to get moisture under the rootzone.

On the first post, you said "80 yds." of soil. You must be laying a nice thick layer - maybe 7" worth.

I'll lay sod on days of 90 degree afternoons. I try to bail out early when it gets over 94 here on any project.

[bobbygedd]

we install sod in scorching heat, havnt lost a piece yet. but the seed, i wouldnt do.

[lugnut#6]

ferget the sod...make sure YOU get alot of water!
always a tuff job

[illday]

I didn't think seed would germinate over 80 degrees.

[mklawnman]

Everything should be ok now, we put down the seed on Wednesday when it was about 90 then early in the evening it poured out and cooled down after that. Well the next day we came back to put the sod down on the lawn, and yes it was freshly cut sod, their was just one washed out area due to the water standing on the front lawn that didnt go into the ground quick enough that it ended up flooding into the driveway then off to one side where it washed out a foot by 5ft area which we fixed that day and sodded. My guess is that the rain came down so fast and heavy that it didnt get a chance to soak into the ground that now with the sod on it it should help any other major rain falls that the water will soak into the sod then into the ground. The one worry i had was on the south side of the house there is a step hill that i was worried that it would wash out which none of it did, considering I threw down alot of Speedy Mulch which acts like straw and also kinda like that lawn patch stuff, works out nicely. It ended up raining again yesturday so the sod got watered but I recomended the sod get watered everyday for about an hour in the morning or evening.
All the hard work was in the heat which sucked but hey thats life and thats what we get for working in this industry:cool:
Matt

[NCSULandscaper]

I install lawns all the time in warm weather, but i make sure i make the customer sign a waiver that im not responsible about the outcome of the lawn cause i did tell them now isnt the best time to put it in. Most people are too impatient and want it NOW so to save me more time and money i make them sign sayin im not at fault.