If you are on the market for some new sod, then you are going to want to make sure that it’s in the best possible condition before installing. The last thing you want to be doing is laying yellow dying sod. So, how long can sod stay rolled up or stacked on a pallet before it’s no longer good to use? Let’s take a look.
How Long Can Sod Sit on a Pallet? (The Short Answer)
Generally speaking, sod can sit for about 24h on a pallet before it starts to die. The lack of sunlight, air, and water, along with the harvesting process, puts the sod under a huge amount of stress as soon as it is loaded onto a pallet. Therefore, sod needs to be laid as quickly as possible.
Factors that May Influence How Long Sod Can Stay Rolled Up
If you are considering picking up some sod from your local landscaping supplier or have sod already waiting to be installed, these are the elements your grass is missing out on and the problems your sod will face.
Lack of Sunlight
When it comes to how much sunlight grass needs to thrive, it’s pretty clear that most grasses need a lot of it. Even those grass types that like shade still want sunlight, even if it is at a lower intensity. There is a big difference between shade and no light at all. If you have ever left a part of your lawn covered up, say with a plant pot or a bag of compost, you’re well aware that the grass turns yellow pretty quickly. This is exactly the same as leaving sod on a pallet too long.
Lack of Air
Air is an important part of the photosynthesis process. Grass needs air to convert nutrients into food, which in turn creates energy for the grass to grow. So, having sod stacked up on a pallet means air can’t reach the grass, causing it to suffocate and die. Therefore the quicker you can install the sod, the better.
Lack of Water
As soon as you harvest sod, the grass no longer has a source of water. This means the sod is going to dry out and begin to die. You might think a pallet of sod wouldn’t dry out that quickly, but if a pallet is left in the sun too long, say longer than 24h, it could be bone dry and feel the same effect as a drought.
Stress of Harvesting
The stress of harvesting is another element sod faces when stacked on a pallet. During the harvesting process, sod is cut just below the main root mat in order to harvest a manageable piece of sod.
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to avoid cutting the root. Therefore, the grass has to face the stress of root damage, which can be problematic if left too long when added to all the other challenges. This is because everything the grass needs to recover has been taken away, like water, sunlight, and air.
What Happens to Sod the Longer It’s Left on a Pallet?
Between the time sod is harvested and laid, there is a definite running countdown. As a result, you have a very short window to get your sod laid so that it can access the key elements it needs to survive. The longer sod stays stacked up or rolled on a pallet, no matter if the sod is Bermuda, Zoysia, or St. Augustine, the grass will suffer. So, if you go past the 24h mark, you’ll probably find the sod is on its last legs, and it will be yellow, dry, and very difficult to revive.
How to Prolong the Time Sod Can Last on a Pallet
If you want to extend how long you can sit sod on a pallet, then you can use a couple of tricks. You can use these three ideas that have helped me avoid dead yellow sod in the past.
Store the Sod in the Shade
The first thing you want to do is store your sod pallets in the shade. If you are having sod delivered, make sure you talk to the driver and have them place the pallets in an area that is out of the full sun.
Cover Your Sod
If you don’t have a well-shaded area to store your sod, grab yourself a tarp or, even better, some heavy netting. This keeps the beating sun off your sod and stops it from drying out too quickly.
Water Your Sod
If you need to leave your sod for a few hours and you are concerned that it might get too dry, then grab a garden hose and give it a good watering. Not only will this cool the sod down, but it will also give the grass some much-needed water.
My Recommendation for Palleted Sod
How long does sod last on a pallet? Well, 24h is a good estimate, but you want to make sure that the clock hasn’t been running too long before you receive your sod and it has been looked after. Here are three steps you want to take before you hand over any money for sod.
Buy From a Good Source
Before you head off to purchase sod, it’s best to research suppliers first. Not just the local Home Depot or Lowe’s sell sod. I’m sure you’ll find local suppliers that sell to the public and contractors. Whenever I ask my local supplier, they give me a date when it will be ready for either collection or delivery. This is because they don’t want pallets of sod lying around dying. It’s harvest, deliver, install, all within 24h.
Find Out When the Sod Was Harvested
If you go to a sod supplier, you’ll usually have to wait for the sod to be harvested, and you’ll need to get on a waiting list behind other people and orders. But, places like Home Depot and Lowe’s usually have pallets of sod stacked in their landscaping department ready for purchase. This is super convenient for small quantities, but it is a game of roulette because you never know what you’ll get.
So, ask one of the clerks how long the sod has sat on the pallet. If it’s not a new delivery on the same day, I recommend you try somewhere else or ask when they are getting a new delivery.
Plan Your Sod Installation
One way to avoid sod sitting on a pallet too long is to plan your installation ahead of time. For example, if you want to install it in a week’s time, then plan to have the sod delivered the same day. Definitely avoid getting sod ahead of time.
Inspect the Sod During Collection/Delivery
If you are picking up the sod yourself or you are having sod delivered, make sure you always check it first. If the sod is dry, yellowing, or in bad condition, it’s not what you want.
Don’t Accept Bad Sod
What do you do if you have a contractor delivering your sod, and it is in poor condition when it arrives? Then just say no. Why? Well, because you know how long sod can sit on a pallet and how long uninstalled sod can last.
If it’s been more than 24h since harvesting, you know it will be a problem. Installing a new lawn is definitely not cheap, and for most of us, it’s a big financial decision. So, only accept the best quality sod.
