Art Work of a Girl Laying on the Grass Looking at a House
If yous've reached the point of no render when it comes to your lawn—you know, when the grass has retreated to the point where in that location is nothing merely weeds as far at the heart tin run into—information technology's time to commencement over. Yous've got two choices: Reseed or lay down sod. While reseeding might be cheaper and involve a little less effort, it as well takes longer to become that gorgeous green backyard you lot're longing for.
Laying sod, on the other hand, is a path to near-instant gratification. Instead of waiting 6 weeks for seed to grow, you lot get a finished-looking backyard right after y'all complete the job. The key here is the word "looking"—information technology'due south non really finished until the grassroots are established and have bonded with the underlying soil, which tin can take anywhere from ii to 6 weeks.
What is Sod?
Sod is a layer of established grass that is dug upward with roots and some soil nonetheless attached. Sod farms harvest it in long strips and whorl it up, soil side out. You should ever buy sod that tin can be harvested and delivered the same solar day you will be installing it in your yard. Sod that'due south laid downwardly more than 24 hours after harvesting may non survive—and that would be a serious waste product of time, effort, and money.
How to Lay Sod
Just follow these 7 steps to do a DIY sod installation. Yeah, information technology's going to take a while (especially pace i), but it'll be worth it.
- Remove the Old Grass
- Prepare the Soil
- Lay the Sod
- Neaten the Edges
- H2o Often
- Don't Forget to Fertilize
- Overseed the Shady Spots
1. Remove the Old Grass
Before laying sod, the old grass and a fleck of the old soil below it has to exist taken away. The goal is to stop upward with a level stretch of soil that is nearly an inch below the surrounding surfaces. To practise this, you'll need to rent a sod cutter (or two, if you recruit a friend or family member to aid out), which is a frame with a sharp blade attached that cuts under the grass roots, loosening the grass in long strips—much similar the sod rolls that volition be delivered to your house. You tin throw the old sod into your compost pile, or call a local garden center and inquire whether they will accept it to use in their own compost.
2. Prepare the Soil
Use a garden rake (too known equally a bow rake) to level the soil and interruption up whatsoever large chunks. Make sure that the finished, leveled soil is one inch below all the paved surfaces that environs information technology, leaving vertical room for the new sod. The finished soil should be loose, not compacted, so it will exist easy for the new roots to penetrate. Adding a layer of Scotts® Turf Builder® LawnSoil™ will aid the new roots grow and bond quickly with the native soil. Note: Never lay a new roll of sod over existing turf, as doing so volition kill both the sod and the existing grass.
3. Lay the Sod
Start past dampening the soil with a sprinkler or hose, then rake out whatever footprints you've left behind. Unroll the first ringlet of sod confronting the longest border of surrounding landscaping or concrete, making sure the entire length makes contact with the soil below information technology. Rake your footprints out of the next patch of dirt and unroll the next sod curl. Lay the rolls out in a brick-wall design, staggering the cuts and leaving no gaps (but don't overlap the edges.) If your belongings is sloped, y'all'll go amend h2o retention if you lay the sod horizontally beyond the gradient rather than vertically down the slope.
Make sure that you don't walk on the newly placed sod while you're laying it out. You should stand on the bare soil, lay the sod in front of yous, and back up equally y'all go. If you stand up on the newly laid sod, your body weight volition cause the sod to shift, leaving gaps betwixt the edges.
iv. Neaten the Edges
When you finish laying all of the rolls, the edges effectually your space probably won't be straight. No problem! Simply fold back the backlog and apply a box cutter (or other abrupt knife) to trim the sod. Be sure to cut from the soil side through to the grass side, then pat downwards the new edge, making sure you don't go out any gaps.
five. Water Often
Water the newly laid sod twice a day until it takes root and bonds with the soil beneath it (usually 2 to 6 weeks). After the first watering, pull back a corner of the newly laid sod. The original soil beneath it should exist moist, but non muddy. Utilise this every bit a way to determine how much to water each fourth dimension until the sod and native soil bond.
7. Overseed the Shady Spots
Since sod farms grow their crop in full lord's day, the sod that you lot purchased is probable to be a total-sun grass seed. If you accept shady spots in your g, you will want to lightly overseed those areas of new sod with a shady mix grass seed, such as Scotts® Classic® Grass Seed Sun & Shade Mix®. The new seed will slowly mix in and aid your new grass thrive in shade. The easy-to-use Scotts® Whirl™ Paw-Powered Spreader is perfect for doing calorie-free overseeding in small areas.
One time your new backyard is in identify, remember this: For the first 4 weeks, the less walking, the better. Frequent or heavy lawn use can disturb the new roots forming underneath the sod, leading to a less than stellar lawn downwards the route.
After about 2 to 6 weeks, your new sod volition exist bonded with the native soil. One time that happens, cut dorsum on watering to a couple of times a calendar week, making sure to soak the soil each time. Keep the nutrition coming by starting a regular fertilizer program 6 to eight weeks after laying new sod. Scotts® Turf Builder® Lawn Food helps grass grow thick, potent, and light-green, leaving piddling room for weeds.
Laying sod is the fastest way to give your yard a consummate new-backyard makeover, turning it from a space you avert to somewhere you'll desire to hang out all day long. Welcome dorsum, grass!
Source: https://www.scotts.com/en-us/library/lawn-care-basics/how-lay-sod