Q: We have a new house and are ready to put in a lawn. We have a landscape plan that calls for zoysia. We want to lay the sod ourselves. Should we do it now or wait until spring?

A: It all depends on how well you prepare the soil beforehand. Poorly-rooted sod is much more likely to suffer winter-kill than sod that has deep roots. Add lime, if needed, and till it in before raking everything smooth. Do not lay sod on untilled soil. Water as needed to keep the sod and the upper inch of soil moist but not soggy. Do not fertilize. If we have a mild fall, you should be fine. More details at bit.ly/sodwinter.