Question
I live in central Virginia, it is late October, the temperatures have been low 60s daytime and low 40s at night.  I had sod laid 13 days ago.  Part of my yard is a hill surrounding my drive way.  This area has remained very wet from rain and drainage from other parts of my yard.  The roots of the sod are not taking.  Two questions, first, will they eventually grow even though it may remain wet.  Second, leaves are falling on this section.  Do I leave the leaves so that I do not walk on the sod, or is it better to get up the leaves?

Answer
Sounds like you're in trouble, Brian.

I have to ask you: Did you ROLL the sod after laying it?  Did you do any soil prep?

The leaves should be raked and composted just in case you get lucky and can apply it next spring.

Opening up the grass to light will at last allow as much photosynthesis as possible to max out your odds, which I have to warn you are not looking too good.

How was this area before you sodded?  Was it prone to excess moisture?  Is this a BOTTOM of a hill we're talking about, or a TOP of a hill?

The cool temps and excess moisture would distress any grass.  Fungus loves that environment.  But you're not up to that yet... you're still trying to root.  By now you should have some success.  It's early, at least a month is needed at this time of year in Zone 7 and I think you may even be in Zone 6.  It would have been better to sow fresh seed this late.  But at this point we can't do anything about that.

You need to keep the roots as dry as possible.  You don't want them to rot in these conditions.  Perhaps covering over with a clear plastic painter's drop cloth would give you enough greenhouse effect, and keep the area dryer, to make things happen.

Good things, that is.

Sounds odd, but it works for solarization, why not now?  Just ignore your chuckling neighbors.  I won't be laughing.  There's nothing funny about this.

Many people think that because they're laying down sod, they don't have to prep the soil.

Please tell me, did you do any soil prep before the sod went down?  I hope the answer is yes.

rsvp Brian,