Five Steps To Successful Sod Installation

If you have built a new home, you most likely will need a new lawn as well. While you could grow grass from seed, many people don't want to wait to wait a couple of months or more to see an actual lawn. Plus, the seed must be kept perfectly moist the entire time; if it is too wet or too dry, it won't grow. Sod, sometimes called turf, will basically give you an instant lawn. It's much more reliable, and you won't get weeds in your lawn like you would with seed. Here is what you need to do to ensure a successful sod installation.

Properly Prepare Your Soil At Least A Week Before The Sod Arrives

Perform a soil test. You can either contact your county extension office or visit a lawn and garden store for a simple kit. This will tell you the pH of the soil and what kind of additives, if any, are needed. Till the entire area, working into the soil the amendments and organic matter at the same time you aerate it. Remove any rocks and debris that may get turned up. If your soil is prone to compaction, buy several dozen earthworms to help naturally aerate the soil and build organic matter.

Water Down The Soil

Two days before delivery, thoroughly water the soil. Barren earth can become very hot, killing the surface microbes and making the soil too dry and compact for the roots to adequately penetrate.

 Purchase Enough Sod

The last thing you want it to run out of sod before the job is finished. If you aren't sure how much you will need, have the sod nursery send someone over to accurately estimate how much your yard will require. It is better to go slightly over and have extra than to not have enough.

Purchase High Quality Sod

Don't buy the cheapest sod available. You want a good quality sod from a reputable company. You don't want thin or thatched sod, or sod that arrives with an abundance of weeds, is diseased, or infested with insects.

Be Ready To Install As Soon As The Sod Is Delivered

Rolled-up sod can get too hot in no time, killing valuable microorganisms. You also don't want dried out roots, because they will have a harder time establishing a connection with the soil bed. Have your helpers ready to start unrolling the minute the sod arrives.

Contact a supplier, like B & B Hoffman Sod Farms, for more help.