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"Here today, gone tomorrow." That old cliché has a reciprocal that applies to sodding lawns. I am not certain if "Gone today, here tomorrow" has the same ring but sod is about as close to instant as it comes in the plant world. "Instant lawn, just add water." Well it may not be quite that simple but instant green is almost possible with sod.
Of course the sod is not instant to the person who grows it. Sod farmers spend a year or more preparing the soil, planting the seed, watering, fertilizing, keeping the pests at bay and dealing with all kinds of other problems to get each crop ready for you.
Since sod is so popular, who better than someone who grows it to help give some advice on how plant it in your own yard successfully?
Sod is a crop that is almost always guaranteed to grow if given minimal care. Remember that soil preparation is the same whether you seed hydroseed or sod so don't try to skip any steps there. If you do you may end up eventually removing the sod to correct the problems.
Sod has several advantages over hydroseeding and seeding. The battle with weeds is instantly over if you control the weeds before planting and assuming you select high-quality sod. It is also instant cover.
The total water consumption to get sod established is much lower than that of a seeded lawn. Mud being tracked into the home is eliminated. It can also be laid any time during the growing season.
These are some tips from Chanshare Farms.
Tip #1 A good soil base will promote proper drainage, good nutrient mix, and a water conserving landscape. To determine your soil composition collect a small amount of soil in your hand, add water and work into the soil. If the soil makes 1 large ball it is clay, if it resists balling it is sandy, if it forms into small clumps it is sandy loam. Sandy Loam Soil is preferred for lawns. You can improve the composition of your soil by adding fully composted material or covering subsoil with topsoil.
Tip #2 Before laying your sod, work a turfbuilder fertilizer into the top 4 inches of your soil. Then water the bare soil. This will help loosen the soil so that roots can adhere to the new soil easier and will help the sod establish itself quicker
Tip #3 Apply fertilization 3 times per year to maintain a high quality lawn. Apply around Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Halloween.
Ideally, it sod is best cut and delivered no more than 24 hours prior to planting. If the sod needs to be stored for a time, keep it in a cool, shaded area to avoid drying out of exposed rolls.
Lay the sod on slightly moistened soil, staggering the joints much like brick laying. When laying sod on a slope, lay the rolls across the slope and stake each piece to hold it in place. Fill any cracks with soil to prevent edges from drying.
Keep the sod moist but not saturated until it is firmly rooted in the soil (a few days), then gradually reduce watering. In several weeks it can be treated as an established lawn.
Larry Sagers Horticultural Specialist Utah State University Extension Service Thanksgiving Point Office © All Rights Reserved
