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Sod Installation in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN

Quick answer

To lay sod successfully in the Twin Cities, remove old turf, test and loosen the soil, grade it away from the house, and lay the sod within a day of delivery. Most Minnesota sod is Kentucky bluegrass, which needs sun. Keep it moist until it roots, usually 10 to 14 days, and check your city's watering rules and any new-sod exemption first.

Last updated

Sod is popular in the Twin Cities because it gives you a finished lawn in a season that is short to begin with. It works well when the ground is prepared and the grass suits the site. Most failed sod jobs around Minneapolis and St. Paul trace back to compacted fill on new-construction lots, bluegrass sod laid in deep shade, or new sod that dried out in a hot stretch or under a watering restriction.

What sod you'll be offered

Most sod grown in Minnesota is Kentucky bluegrass, sometimes blended with other species. Bluegrass sod does well in sun and handles traffic, but it is the wrong choice under mature maples and oaks. For shady areas, a fine fescue lawn established from seed, or a shade-adapted blend if your installer can source it, is usually more successful. Ask what is in the sod before it is cut.

When to lay sod

  • University of Minnesota Extension notes sod can be laid virtually any time during the growing season, as long as it can be watered.
  • Late spring and late summer into early fall are the easiest windows: cooler temperatures and more reliable rain.
  • Midsummer installs need more water and attention, and that can collide with city watering limits.
  • Sod laid late in fall needs time to root before the ground freezes.

What proper installation looks like

  1. Remove old turf and weeds. Sod laid over existing grass roots poorly.
  2. Test and amend the soil. Minnesota allows phosphorus fertilizer when establishing a new lawn from sod, so this is the time to correct a soil-test deficiency.
  3. Loosen compaction and grade. Soil should slope away from the foundation. Fix low spots now, since they become ice patches in spring.
  4. Firm the surface lightly. Extension recommends a roller or cultipacker.
  5. Lay sod within a day of delivery. Stagger the seams and lay it on slightly moist soil.
  6. Water and roll. The first watering should soak through into the soil below.

Watering new sod and city rules

Keep new sod moist but not saturated for the first several days, then water less often and more deeply. Extension suggests a tug test after 10 to 14 days: if the sod resists lifting, it has rooted. Many Twin Cities suburbs limit lawn watering to certain days and ban midday sprinkling. Some offer an exemption for new sod. Eden Prairie, for example, grants one 30-day exemption per address per year from its odd/even schedule, but its noon to 5 p.m. ban still applies. Check your own city's rules before the sod arrives.

Utilities and grading

Tilling and regrading count as excavation in Minnesota, so the installer should contact Gopher State One Call (811) at least 48 hours before digging, not counting the day of the request, weekends and holidays. Private lines, such as irrigation, low-voltage lighting and septic lines, aren't marked by the utility locate.

Questions to ask

  • What grass is in the sod, and is it right for my sun and shade?
  • Does the price include turf removal, topsoil, grading and haul-away?
  • What watering schedule should I follow under my city's rules?
  • Is there any guarantee, and what voids it?

To get started, request a sod installer and include photos of the area.

See how it works

How a sprinkler zone waters a lawn. Press the buttons to run each step and see what happens inside. Made with Colorfigures ·
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Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to lay sod in Minnesota?

Sod can be laid any time during the growing season if it can be watered. Late spring and late summer to early fall are easier because temperatures are cooler and rain is more reliable.

Can I water new sod on non-watering days?

It depends on your city. Some offer an exemption for new sod. Eden Prairie, for example, grants one 30-day exemption per address per year, but its noon to 5 p.m. ban still applies. Check your city's rules before installation.

Will bluegrass sod grow in shade?

Not well. Kentucky bluegrass wants sun. In shady Twin Cities yards, fine fescues are usually a better choice, often established from seed, or beds and groundcover in deep shade.

Sources and further reading

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