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Lawn sod can offer several advantages that creating a lawn by seed, plugs, or sprigs do not.
A sod laid lawn looks good immediately, and sodded lawns can be used much sooner than other lawns that are planted by other methods.
Sod is better than seed when planting on sloping terrain, because seed can be washed to low lying areas immediately after the first hard rainfall. What's more, sod is much less susceptible to erosion while the lawn is becoming established and it also makes it much harder for weeds to compete.
Sodding is generally best done in autumn or spring. By planting sod during cooler, humid weather, the sod will beless susceptible to burnout from summer sun. You should not plant sod any later than one month before the first autumn frost if you live in cooler areas, as you need to give the grass time to establish roots before cold weather sets in.
Before you begin, apply some starter fertilizer that's high in phosphorus and lightly water the area where you will be laying the sod. You should be prepared to begin work as soon as your order is delivered, as lawn sod can go bad quickly, especially if it begins to heat up or dry out. try and have the pallets delivered to a shady spot in your yard. If you can't start work immediately, be sure to unroll the sod and keep it moist.
How to Lay Lawn Sod
- Lay sod over one section of the lawn at a time.
- Start by laying full strips along the outside edge of the area you intend to sod. Starting with a straight row will reduce the amount of fitting and cutting you'll need to do later.
- Next, work to the opposite edge of the lawn. thisis usually the edge by your house. Use a very sharp blade to cut as required.
- If possible, make your last row a full-width strip. With contoured and irregular borders, lay the sod strips so that they actually overlap the border; then you can trim away the excess later with a sharp knife.
- If you're installing it on a slope, always start laying the sod at the lowest point of the slope. Stake each sod piece in three places so as to prevent any slippage. make sure the stakes are equally spaced and they are set in from the sod strip's edges by at least 6 to 8 inches.
- After installing the sod, firm it by rolling with a one-third full lawn roller. If your roller is too heavy, it can cause the sod to slip. In hot weather, a light watering of the sod just prior to rolling will also help prevent slippage.
- Follow any rolling immediately with a thorough soaking of water to a depth of 6 - 8 inches.
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