Question
Hi Tom.  Don't know if my question is within your area(s) of expertise, but thought I'd give it a try.  I have a project underway - I'm breaking up and removing a very large concrete pad that is behind our house.  I want to establish lawn where the pad is now.  The area is fairly large, about 25 feet x 35 feet.  Problem is, that by the time I have broken up and removed the pad with a tractor, get fill dirt/topsoil and have it all graded, it'll be a month from now, about mid November.  I wonder how I can get something growing at that time of year with the cool days and even cooler nights?  I don't want to leave the bare soil for the remainder of the fall and all winter because it'll become a muddy mess and will erode (slight slope).  Any ideas what types of grass(es) I may be able to use that will take under the circumstances?  Prime lawn establishment time has passed here in VA, so I wonder what to do now?  Any advice appreciated!  Thanks - Mason

Answer
Mason:

I do not know your location in VA.  Generally, planting a lawn throughout the winter should be fine for most of the state.  If near Fredricksburg, the winter could be cold enough to discourage good establishment.

I would not worry about it too much.  Go ahead with planting.  I may recommend a nurse crop of a winter grain like oats, wheat, etc. to hold the ground while the grass catches up.

This technique is used by most depts of transportation on roadside planting of grass.  The grain will die off when hot weather returns in early summer and can be mowed like grass.  By then, the grass should have taken hold.

As a contractor, I have had to plant and guarantee grass planted on any one of 365 days in the year.  Usually, it works out fine.

Best wishes.