Using sod to create a new lawn is great way to get the lawn that you want. Not only can you pick the type of grass that you want but you can also have it placed exactly as you wish, thus giving you a great amount of flexibility when it comes to your landscape design. But before you begin your sod project, spend some time reading these insider tips to success.
Get a Soil Test First: Before you pick out your sod, you should get a soil test. This is actually one of the most important things you will do before you begin your sod project. In fact, the overall results of all of your work and expense may be in jeopardy if you skip this step.
Soil tests provide the information that you need to know in order to make the best decisions on the sod that you pick as well as tell you what you need to do to the soil itself before you lay your sod.
A soil test will provide you with information such as the pH of your soil and the amount of various nutrients that it has or is lacking. You can also ask for recommendations as to how to correct the soil if provide the type of grass that you want to grow.
When gathering samples for the test, make sure you get a wide range from all over the area. This will provide a more complete result. Get a sample that is at least 6 inches in depth. You can use either a core sampler, which you can often borrow from your local extension agency, or you can use a hand trowel.
Kill Weeds: The next step to successful sodding is to kill off any weeds and grasses. You can use a glyphosate type of herbicide for this job.
First Tilling: Once you have taken care of weeds and grasses you want to do the first tilling of the area. If you are planning to have a slope in the area, this would be a good time to begin work on that as well.
An ideal lawn slope allows water to gently run off, usually at a slope of a 1 to 2 foot drop per 100 feet (1-2 percent slope).
After tilling the lawn the first time you may need to apply organic amendments or top soils to change the soil composition and texture. The results from your soil test should tell you if this is needed or not.
Second Tilling: It is now time to add soil fertilizers and do the second tilling. This is usually done about a week after the first tilling. This is also the best time to install any sprinkler systems.
If your plan includes sidewalks and patios, this is time to prepare those. You will also want to begin forming the finish grade of the area by raking or dragging the lawn area smooth. Do this before you begin laying the sod.
You normally want to finish up with a graded area that is about one inch lower than what the final level will be. This also means one inch lower than the top of the sidewalk or sprinkler heads.
At this point you are now ready to lay your sod. For information on how to sod properly, read our article on How to Lay Sod.
