You used to have a beautiful lawn full of what you see as weeds. It’s time to renovate your garden. You can choose a reseed solution if you do not rush to have a green lawn. But if you want to have an instantly beautiful lawn, lay sod is the optimal solution.
What is sod?
Sod is a layer of grass pulled out along with some of the soil’s remaining roots. The sod is a long trip, rolled-up strip (soil side out). You should purchase sod harvested and delivered the same day you lay sod in your yard if you want lovely grass. Sod can no longer exist if it is not laid down after 24 hours of harvest.
What you’ll need to lay sod?
There are many types of tools and materials used to lay sod. However, in general, to lay sod often need the following:
Tools/ equipment:
- Sod cutting machine, garden sprayer.
- Power tiller, rake, hoe, shovel.
- Drop spreader.
- Drag mat.
- Lawn roller.
- Sprinkler/ fine water mist.
Materials
- Soil testing kit.
- Topsoil.
- Soil amendments.
- Organics material.
- Rolls of sod
How to lay sod
It looks like Lay sod is a reasonably straightforward job, but to get a beautiful lawn, you need to perform a lot of detailed and prolonged work. Therefore, we give you seven main steps to lay sod successfully.
Step 1: Evaluate the Area
- Test the Soil
Your soil’s health will determine your new grass’s overall health. The best way to provide the perfect growing medium for your lawn is to test your soil. After the soil test results are available, you plan accordingly, treat the soil, and test again before the sod arrives.
A specialized tool at home can help check the soil, measure the pH indicators, and the level of nutrients from the soil. Most grasses will grow well in soil with a pH in the compartment of 6.0 to 7.5. Outside this level, the soil is too sour or too alkaline will make it challenging to grow in the grass, even causing damage to the grass. You can ultimately improve soil conditions by adding essential substances to the soil. First, check your soil to know what nutrients and how much you need.
For details of the situation of the land, it is best to ask the agricultural extension office in the district or your district state university to check the land to help you:
- Get in touch with them in advance; they will guide you and give you the form and the soil test bag.
- The land at each point in the yard may vary, so dig the soil from many positions in your yard to get the best land sample. You should dig at least five holes. Each hole is 4 to 6 inches deep, remove all dry leaves and weeds and let them dry completely.
- Next, mix the different soil samples and add the amount of soil specified into the soil test bag. Fill in information cards. Then send the soil test bag and information voucher to the Agricultural Extension Office or the University.
Soil analysis reveals the pH, texture, and amount of soil nutrition and recommendations for enhancing the soil for you. Show you how to combine fertilizer or add nutrients before laying sod.
- Sunlight
Determine the amount of light that each of your yard areas receives. This assists you in selecting the suitable type of sod to ensure that it thrives on the solar it receives.
- Inspect your irrigation system
Check your watering system and keep it running under close monitoring to ensure that your lawn receives the most excellent care following installation.
Step 2. Measure Your Planting Area
Create a sketch and measure the area you plan to treat to have enough sod. You’ll probably need fresh extra pieces to fit around corners, and you’ll need to deduct a reasonable amount for buildings, penned drives, and pathways.
Measurements must be done carefully, so you don’t have to pay more than you need.
Step 3. Choose a Grass
Each different grass has its strengths and weaknesses, growing well anywhere they are suitable within the grass. For instance, while fescue thrives in the shade, bluegrass prefers the sun. The distinction between a low-maintenance lawn and a high-maintenance lawn can be determined by the type of grass you use to lay sod in your yard.
Choosing the turf you want for your lawn can be one of the most exciting tasks. You may not pay too much attention to the attractiveness or the aesthetic aspect, but you must choose the suitable grass for the environment and climate where you live.
Some tips to help you choose the right grass:
- Research the climate where you live.
- Knowledge of the surrounding lawns and restaurant yards, for example.
- Understanding of grass color differences, textures, and other physical aspects.
Step 4. Kill And Remove Old Grass
Sod is hard to grow on old grass or other vegetation, so kill and remove existing grass before installing sod. There are many ways to do this:
- Cut the grass into pieces and remove it by hand.
- Use a shovel or specialized lawn mower.
- Spray herbicides to destroy all vegetation in your yard area.
Step 5. Prep Soil And Leveling
Leveling the soil and breaking up compacted soils allows grass roots to penetrate deeply and evenly. Deep roots make the lawn denser, resist drought, and absorb water and nutrients more efficiently.
- Till then rake
Break up compacted soil blocks with a rake, hoe, or power tiller. Then rake the area to remove loose plants, stones, or trash. Rake out a lot of stuff, especially if you’re sodding over grass, and the level needs to be lowered to match surrounding sidewalks or driveways.
- Add topsoil
If you are laying sod on a construction site covered with rough fill, you should add a 6-inch layer of good topsoil.
- Add Amendment and organic matter
The soil inspection report can recommend specific modifications such as agricultural lime and fertilizer additions (phosphorus, potassium, etc.) to rectify the pH and nutrient shortfall in the soil. Use support equipment such as a drop spreader to help you spread these components evenly on the soil in a thin layer. You can do it yourself, but make sure the fertilization substance and dosage are correct.
In addition, you should also add organic materials like moss, peat, mixed fertilizer, and nutrients meant to improve the soil.
- Till
Make another thorough run with the tiller to churn in and combine the soil amendments and ultimately break up the soil to create a loose, friable condition that will allow the grass roots to penetrate.
- Smooth the surface of the ground
Remove all residual stones, sticks, or large clumps from the soil with a bow rake. You can rent a drag mat from rental centers if the area is large. Then, make a second raking pass with a leaf rake across the entire area.
Use a lawn roller to compact the area and create a level, reasonably solid surface. The lawn should be firm enough to walk on without sinking more than 1/2 inch. However, do not over-compact the soil.
- Irrigate with a sprinkler
It is not recommended to lay sod on extremely hot or dry soil. So please Moisten the Soil with a sprinkler or a fine water mist.
Step 6. Lay And Roll Out New Sod
- Lay the first row
To lay sod, start at the landscape’s or surrounding concrete’s longest straight edge, such as a porch, fence, flower bed, or drive line. Ensure that its entire length is in contact with the ground beneath it. A sod roll is insufficient to cover the entire length of the grass. As a result, you must utilize multiple independent coils and connect them end to end, squeezing the ends firmly together and about firmly but not overlapping.
- Lay the next rows and finish the installation
When laying sod on the following rows, ensure the ends of the sod rolls are staggered so that the seams do not line up. Place the rolls in the brick wall model, reduce the cuts, and leave no gaps, but do not overlap the edges.
When laying new sod, take care not to walk on it. Instead, you should stand on bare terrain, lay the sod in front of you, and then back up. If you stand on the new sod, your body weight causes the sod to shift, producing gaps between the borders.
When you complete laying all of the rolls, the edges of your space will most likely be crooked. Don’t worry! Fold the excess and trim the sod with a box cutter or sharp tool. Make sure you cut from the soil side to the grass side, then smooth down the new edge to ensure no gaps.
Note:
If your property is sloped, lay the roll horizontally, perpendicular to the slope’s direction, for improved water retention. For several weeks while the sod is estimated, these sod strips must be secured with landscape staples or wooden posts.
Step 7. Water And Fertilize
Water the new sod twice daily for 2 to 6 weeks until it takes root and unites with the soil underneath. For a week, try to keep foot traffic off the sod. Pull out a corner of the new sod after the first watering. The soil beneath it must be wet but not muddy. Use this to decide how much water to apply each time until the sod and native soil bond.
After about four weeks, you can start fertilizing the grass to compensate for the nutrients that have drifted during watering.
Mile High Landscape has extensive experience supplying high-quality lay sod services. So contact us immediately if you want a lovely lawn for your house.