Upgraded Landscaping – A Fresh Property
Americans love lawns. It might not have the flash of a new iPhone, but a new lawn does make us feel at home.
But sometimes we have to move to a new place without a lawn. Or our lawns can get brown if we don’t take proper care of them. And, of course, accidents can cause damage to our grass.
That’s when it’s time for laying sod. But laying down sod (aka turf) isn’t as simple as set it and forget it. A lot can go wrong, and several steps ensure successful growth.
That’s why it’s always best to call a professional. So after you’re done reading the deets, HMU and Bluegrass will take good care of you.
Getting the 411 – Testing the Soil
The first step to laying down new sod is testing your soil. Knowing your soil’s composition, density, and acidity is essential before laying down sod.
Once you know all about your soil, you can pick a grass that will do well on your property or amend your soil so that the sod you want will thrive.
Fertilizer HTH!
So what grass do you want? Is your soil appropriate for it? No? Fertilizer is here to help!
Along with aeration, fertilizer can be crucial for helping your sod grow healthfully.
5 Min Pls
If you’re about to get a new lawn, you’re probably excited about it. Or, at least as excited as people get about watching grass grow. 😀
But not so fast. Before putting down the sod, preparing the ground for it is crucial. How do you do it? Hire us. JK, but seriously here’s what we do.
Once your soil is tested, the next thing we need to do is prep it. We do that by rototilling. Rototilling aerates the ground and makes it easier to plant.
While tilling, we will add any necessary soil amendments such as lime, for example.
H20 or I’m Dead
Before laying down sod, we presoak your soil. Soaking the ground makes your new grass much more likely to survive.
Transplanting any plant can be traumatic for it, so we must do everything we can to make survival more likely. Typically, sod farmers will harvest the sod the night before it’s delivered to minimize time out of the ground.
We do our part by ensuring the grass gets a drink as soon as we lay it down.
S8f T – Checking for Utilities
Whenever doing any work that requires digging, it’s vital to locate utility lines. Unfortunately, not knowing about an electrical or water line can be expensive and dangerous.
Safety is part of our process. We also know the signs to look for if something unexpected arises. The value of experience is that we can recognize problems before they become problems.
U up? (the hill, that is)
One of the ways laying sod can be tricky is leveling it. Before laying sod, the ground should be made as level as possible. This can be as simple as spreading soil with a rake if you have a relatively flat yard.
Other times, grading the yard may be necessary to lay the turf uniformly.
But even if you grade your property, you can’t entirely get rid of hills if you have them (and you probably wouldn’t want to)! Laying sod on a slope takes patience and skill; we’ve got both in spades.
L8t3r
Once your sod is laid, you’re not out of the woods yet. New sod needs a lot of care. You should water your lawn about three times a day for the first week or two.
Watched out for overwatering. For example, if mushrooms begin to grow in the new sod, you are overwatering or watering too late in the day.
After a while, it will be time to switch your watering schedule to twice a week. It can also be beneficial to add fertilizer again when your lawn is first establishing itself.
Don’t worry. You won’t be on your own. We’ll give you the specifics of the care of your lawn.
When your lawn is first establishing itself, you shouldn’t walk on it and don’t mow it or place anything heavy on it. Once the grass has reached three inches in height, it’s time for the first mow. At this point, we will give it a light cut.
ETA? Nice Lawn: OTW
So, you have your sod planted. You see the green! But you also see the seams. How long do you wait before your sod installation is a lawn?
Well, like everything, it varies. Your yard, grass species, soil composition, and sun exposure can all affect the time it will take for your yard to fully establish itself.
In addition, care after installation will influence your lawn’s ability to thrive. You should see changes relatively soon; after about a month, we’ll be able to mow it like regular grass.
The best advice: be patient and take good care of your new turf.
SMH: Easiest Mistakes to Make
There are a lot of pitfalls to laying down sod. Here are some of the most common mistakes people make.
- Installing at the wrong time of year or day
- Not prepping the soil
- Choosing the wrong grass for your yard
- Not getting yard level
- Choosing the wrong supplier for your turf (Remember, it must be very fresh!)
- Overwatering
- Underwatering
- Not Fertilizing
- Mowing too soon
- Stepping on the soil too quickly or putting other weight on it
- Not hiring a professional to do it for you
YOLO, HMU
The last mistake people make above is the most important. The reason? If you hire Bluegrass, we will ensure there are no other unnecessary errors!
Even though it will take some care on your part afterward, we will remove all guesswork and be responsible for the final result. All you will have to do is follow directions.
So, don’t break the bank or your back trying to lay sod on your own. Hit us up!