Site Preparation:

The beauty is in the blades, but the 'action' is in the roots, is a good adage to remember when growing grass. Thus, the value of proper site preparation and soil improvement, before any planting takes place is crucial. Follow the steps below for a beautiful, healthy and trouble free lawn:

  1. Clear the site of all debris that is larger than 4-5 cm (2- 3 inches) in diameter.

  2. Rough grade the entire area to eliminate any drainage problems on the property. This would include sloping the grade away from  building foundations, eliminating or reducing severe slopes and filling low-lying areas. The rough grading will probably uncover more debris that should be removed and not buried.

  3. Add topsoil and or humus (fully decomposed organic matter) to the area. This improves the soil for best root growth and lower yard maintenance.

  4. Apply starter fertilizer that is high in phosphate (P, or the middle number on a bag of fertilizer) at a rate recommended for the particular product.

  5. Finish grade the entire site, maintaining rough grading contours and slopes.

 

The site is now ready for turfgrass sod. With this degree of careful and thoughtful soil preparation, the resultant lawn will be beautiful, and require less maintenance, smaller quantities of applied water, fertilizer and pesticides, as it maintains a high degree of density and uniformity and recovers much more rapidly from wear.

 

Turf Installation

Sod allows you to enjoy a lawn of instant beauty and maturity without the usual time consuming hassles of seeding. The following are the basic steps to a beautiful lawn

Measuring: Measure the area of your planned lawn. Include These measurements on a sketch of lawn area, with the length, width, and any unusual features. Add 5 percent to the total area measured to allow for waste (cut off at beds, patios, driveways, etc.). This will give you the total square footage of the area. The total square footage is needed when placing your order.

Type of Turf: Determining what type of turf is needed depends on the location at which the sod is to be installed. Factors to be considered include: amount of shade and sunlight; traffic and usage patterns; and availability of water on site.

Ready for Installation: Before actually placing your order be sure you are ready to install. Soil preparation and access to water need to be complete. Once sod is cut and placed on pallets its shelf life can be as little as 24hours during 80 - 90 degree days.

Watering: Start watering within 1/2 hour of installation. Water daily, or more often, keeping turf moist until it is firmly rooted (about 2 weeks). Less frequent but more intense watering should now begin. Weather conditions will dictate the amount and frequency of watering. Be certain your new lawn has enough moisture to survive hot, dry, and windy periods.

Caution: During the first three weeks, avoid heavy or Concentrated use of your new lawn. This gives the roots opportunity to firmly knit with soil, and insures that the turf will remain smooth.

Maintenance: Your new sod lawn increases your property value significantly. With proper care, it will remain a great asset, providing beauty, a clean playing surface and an improved environment.

Begin mowing when the sod can not be lifted up by hand and is rooted down (usually 10-14 days). Stop watering a day or two before first mowing, depending on time of year. This will allow the soil under sod to harden off to prevent making ruts and footprints in sod. It is best to pick up clippings the first few times you mow. Grass clippings could damage sod. After mowing resume watering.

Mow often, generally removing no more than 1/3 of the grass height at a mowing. Keep your mower blade sharp.

Fertilizer and chemical applications will depend on climate, sod type, soil, insects, weed, and disease conditions. Contact a member of our knowledgeable staff for assistance. Too much fertilizer can be just as detrimental as too little fertilizer!