Should landscapers be sodding when it’s been pouring all day?

by flowers4charlie777

50 Comments

  1. bombbodyguard

    Dunno, but seems better to have it soak up that water while it can, because going to be stressed.

  2. Educational-Buy-8053

    Saves you the cost of watering it so yeah.

  3. nanodime

    I would think as long as they get good soil contact, then yes its fine. pre-watered for your convenience.

    However, that would suck so bad to be doing an install in that

  4. Independent-Bobcat-1

    F***k yes if they can keep it graded and smooth. Nice job 🫡

  5. omniwrench-

    Why not? You water it when you’re done anyway

    Looks like a shit job to be on though with that mud

  6. QuadRuledPad

    Unpleasant for them, perhaps, but awesome for that sod that will be moist the entire time and less stressed as a result. Keep it damp for a few weeks and you’ll have a stellar lawn. You got lucky – if you’re somewhere hot, mid-summer installations can be tricky to keep from yellowing/dying back.

    ETA there are problems with that grading, like the tire tracks and one big puddle, that need to be addressed. But the rain, specifically, not problematic.

  7. Jaded_Release2380

    Sod is extremely perishable stacked on a pallet.
    Getting on the ground is better than letting it stay stacked.

  8. unclesleepover

    I’ve helped a buddy do this. If it rained on those pallets of sod go hand those dudes some beer money. It’s much harder work.

  9. Real-Psychology-4261

    Lol. Let me guess, you’re in Minnesota?

  10. THEBUS1NESS

    Not if they are laying it on black dirt. When i run sod jobs and it starts raining we have a “sticks to your boots” policy.

    If the black dirt gets wet enough to stick to your boots you’re probably going to make more of a mess and spend more time reworking and cleaning then its worth to try and get ahead that day.

    Always serves me well.

  11. dunnieone

    Yes it’s a good thing. Sod shows up, get in on the ground

  12. No. They are compacting the soil. You do not work wet soils for this reason. It should be this wet AFTER the sod is installed.

  13. jradke54

    The only issue is the sub grade it’s being laid on. You end up with tons of footprints and raised areas. Makes mowing with push mower more bumpy.

    Possibly enough trips over it with a zero and semi moist ground in the future will level it out.

  14. Vinnycheese34

    Dude. That ground is going to be rough underneath. It’s fine to have the ground wet. But the grading will be horrible and uneven.

  15. Spiritual_Arm1151

    Absolutely not. They will not be able to keep any sort of grade in this weather. Gonna be bumpy as hell.

  16. h21241690t

    Should drainage be discussed before sodding? This is a new development right?

  17. neomateo

    This company should be named and shamed.

    This is a hazard to every employee on that site.

    This company has absolutely no regard for their employees or their customers.

    I’ve worked in this industry for a quarter century and this is easily one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen.

  18. Indistinct-Sound

    Bad idea and poor planning. Definitely should’ve let it dry out first

  19. Drackar39

    if they were doing it right and were properly prepped with a smooth yard? Perfect time for it.

    But your lawn will _always_ be lumpy.

  20. Ashamed-Plantain7315

    Bad. The soil ecosystem is what grows a healthy landscape, especially sod.

    No one is talking about how running equipment, grading, and walking is causing major compaction. This is much more difficult to reverse once you lay your sod.

    I would prefer older sod sitting on a pallet laid on a well prepared field vs compacting the field to lay down perfectly good sod.

    If you wanted a lawn, wouldn’t you want the best lawn possible?

    Source: organic farmer that focuses on building living soils for over 20 years

  21. Ashamed-Plantain7315

    Bad. The soil ecosystem is what grows a healthy landscape, especially sod.

    No one is talking about how running equipment, grading, and walking is causing major compaction. This is much more difficult to reverse once you lay your sod.

    I would prefer older sod sitting on a pallet laid on a well prepared field vs compacting the field to lay down perfectly good sod.

    If you wanted a lawn, wouldn’t you want the best lawn possible?

    Source: organic farmer that focuses on building living soils for over 20 years

  22. adognameddanzig

    Probably will be helpful for the grass, but if they leave the ruts or deep footprints, those will show through.

  23. Wwwweeeeeeee

    Hopefully the crew put down some slow release fertilizer pellets before plopping it all in the glorious mud.

    Sod loves mud.
    Plants love mud.

    Mud is good.

    Anytime I’m planting anything, I dig a big, deep hole and flood it until it’s a soppy, muddy mess, then plonk the shrub/tree/plant right into the overflowing muck, along with slow release fertilizer pellets and a dead fish if there’s one laying around (you don’t really want to know that story).

    I backfill and watch it inevitably thrive. It’s a foolproof method with regular watering.

  24. Klaxxigyerek

    Unpopular opinion

    Honestly i wouldnt recommend in that phase of raining.

    sod on a pallet after 1-2 days becoming yellowish its not so good BUT

    This soil is way too saturated with water. For the root propagation is indeed awesome but installers cant keep the grade while moving.

    The highly saturated soil with lots of trampling make the soil consistency like a freaking chocolate pudding. The healthy soil contains small aggregates good soil/air/water ratio, which going to be destroyed through the mechanical influence.

    After the raining the sun going to dry the sod so you keep watering but the destroyed soil wont let the water effectively, it becomes a liquid like mess.

    I recommend to pause the installation to let the graded soil drain the excess water.

  25. Gold_Guarantee_8637

    It’s harder to keep the grade and have it smooth, but if you can, go for it. I would personally not do this.

  26. milliepilly

    I would think the sod is better because of it, off to a good start.

  27. ChickadeeWilliams

    Wtf are these comments? That shit is WAY too wet. 2nd pic literally shows a roll in a puddle.

  28. saintnicklaus90

    I installed my sod in the pouring rain. You gotta be a little more careful with where you step since it’s muddy and you don’t wanna make a footprint that creates a gap between the sod and soil. It’s also so much messier and the sod rolls can get very heavy when completely saturated. From a horticultural standpoint, the only better time to install sod would be during the spring or early fall when it’s cooler

  29. ReasonableLibrary741

    Make sure they roll it out, and probably come back in a few days and roll it out again. Otherwise you’re going to have a ton of footprints and a very lumpy yard.

  30. garbailian

    If it is common ground they don’t give a crap how it looks. They are only concerned with getting it off the pallets and onto the ground and they won’t have to water it for a week like that. I don’t see one hard rake in the photos which tells me they are not going to grade as they go and it will not be a good job.

  31. last-resort-4-a-gf

    I filled in a 2 foot deep trench when pouring rain. You can’t even see where I dug it

  32. jrod81981

    So all u folks saying this is no good aren’t the one flipping the bill for that sod. Summer is tough. Don’t always know when a storm will pop up. If it rains and u let the sod sit there it bakes on the pallet. Can’t leave it on there or it will die. Rolling it will help with the tracks. Won’t be perfect but are you going to pay for the sod when it dies because u didn’t want it laid when it was wet?? Probably not. Sods expensive. Been in landscape construction for 23years working for all the track builders. This is very common. Got to get the house closed so you can move in. You won’t be happy if closing gets pushed because sod isn’t down. Don’t bitch about it until you know what a landscaper actually deals with trying to get your sod laid. Not as easy as it may seem.

  33. mittens1982

    Work is scheduled, delivery is scheduled, and you don’t melt.

  34. Mensketh

    Is anyone in this thread actual landscapers? The top comments are all “yeah, go for it!”. He is laying sod in standing water. Sod needs to be wet but not standing water wet. And look how horribly mangled that grade is. Everything is going to be lumpy and bumpy and terrible. No, they should not be laying sod in these conditions if you want it to actually be done properly.

  35. jrod81981

    The majority of u on here have no fucking clue how to lay sod or maintain it. It will be rough. Sod roller will absolutely smooth it out. Then if there are still bumps and uneven areas it can be fixed with top dressing. It takes time to establish a lawn and they don’t always come out perfect as soon as it’s laid. And for you folks talking about tilling and soil amendments u also don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve laid sod on every type of dirt known to man and as long as u water it then fertilize once rooted in it will grow just fine. My lawn is on orange shitty clay. That’s just what is on the land where we live and my lawn looks like a golf course fairway. Educate yourself before u talk like you know how this business works.

  36. Appropriate-End-5569

    Thank those guys. They installed on the best day possible.

  37. bearkerchiefton

    Fine for the sod, terrible for the grade. We lay out plywood sheets to walk on.

  38. TheLooseMooseEh

    Not a landscaper by trade but as an absolute unit of humanity, I can assure you this is the best case scenario for sod. Sod installer? Sucks a bit (only a bit, manual labor is sweaty and sucks). Land owner/customer? Free rain day, water tomorrow.

  39. VerneLundfister

    Absolutely the worst conditions to be a laborer laying in but probably the best for the actual sod. Ironically the best conditions to lay in is dry and hot which is the worst for the sod. The hardest conditions to lay sod is in the wet and mud with heavy wet sod but it’s the best for the viability of the sod.

    Just keep off it for awhile and it should be fine.

  40. nertynot

    I’ve head of to many people fucking up by underwatering. Been told you basically flood your yard until it’s settled. This is probably ideal for their works success and helps your water bill

  41. BublyInMyButt

    Definitely not. Grass hates water. Call the police!

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