Sod is mature lawn that has been thoroughly and professionally cultivated, cut into thick squares or rolls using the underlying soil and roots, and shipped to some nursery or job site to become laid down to have an "instant new lawn."
Once sod may be cut, it is best to plant it within One day. If having a distributor, you can order the sod ahead of time to be delivered on a certain day. If buying from a nursery, ensure the pallets usually are not yellowed understanding that the sod looks moist and fresh. It will wilt and die quickly in hot weather, but will last a little longer in cool climates. If you fail to plant the sod immediately keep pallets in shade and keep them moist.
The price of growing sod is appreciable. It takes up to couple of years for that grass to fully developed, during which time it should be taken care of, fed, properly watered, and kept free from disease. It then must be cut, put on pallets, and transported. Because of this a sod lawn costs about 20 times a lot more than developing a lawn yourself from seed, usually any where from 14 - 60 cents per square foot (929 sq. cm). This assumes you will carry out the planning yourself.
To get ready for a sod lawn, old lawn and weeds must first be removed. The planet earth should be tilled 4 - 6 inches thorough (10 - 15 cm). If an irrigation system is to be installed, it's done at this time. If you wish to add organic compounds or fertilizers to the soil, a second pass with the rototiller will work these in. Rake the surface to remove all roots, rocks and any hard clumps of soil. Make sure the ground is level to ensure that water doesn't pool in any part of the yard. You can now roll the soil to firm up the surface. Make sure the soil is dry whenever you roll it and that the roller is not too heavy or even the dirt will compact. When finished, the final grade should be about 1 inch (2.5 cm) below any bordering pavement such as patios, sidewalks or walkways. The soil attached to the sod blanket will fill this gap.
Speak with your sod producer or nursery about choosing the right sod to your requirements. As an example, some lawns tolerate wear from children and pets better than others. Your climate is also a major factor as is the composition of your soil. Loam is the best type of soil for lawn generally speaking, but many individuals have sandy soil or heavy clay. Your sod provider can provide expert help. You can also have your soil tested for pH and composition if you aren't sure what sort of soil you've got.
Sod is heavy and laying it can be hard work. If you do prefer to lay it yourself, the squares are placed side-by-side, seams butted facing one another tightly without overlapping. The longest straight line along a boundary should be laid first. If you don't have a boundary you can use a string line to make sure you lay the lawn straight. After laying 150 square feet (14 square meters) or so, water it lightly to keep it wet. Do this as you go along. Usually do not wait until the complete lawn is laid. As you lay the adjacent row the seams should be staggered, as if laying bricks. Sod can be cut to fit around trees or borders.
Once the lawn has been laid, make use of the roller on it to determine uniform pressure against the underlying ground. Avoid an excessively heavy roller as it can leave roller tracks.
The most important thing that you can do for your new lawn even though it is establishing itself in your yard is to water it daily for the first 7-10 days. It must be kept moist. If the climate is hot you may need to water it twice a day. After it establishes itself, normal watering is fine. People, pets and youngsters should avoid walking on it whenever possible until it has a chance to take root. If you are looking for a stunning lawn, better contact Sacramento sod in California.
