Sod provides a quick, weed-free lawn.
Laying sod--sections of grass-covered surface soil held together by the roots--is a quick way to achieve a high-quality, weed-free lawn. Sod lawns in the Houston area usually are composed of St. Augustine, Zoysia or Bermuda grass; the humid, sub-tropical climate ensures that the sod establishes itself and spreads quickly. According to Teas Nursery, sod can be planted year-round in Houston. By observing some basic guidelines for installing and caring for sod, you can enjoy a well-established, lush new lawn around your Houston home within a month. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Purchase healthy, vigorous sod. Healthy sod is a consistent shade of green, the soil is dark and moist, and the roots look healthy and dense.
2. Clean the site of weeds and stones. Till the soil so that there is between four and six inches of loose, fine dirt on top. If your soil is compacted and hard, rent a rototiller; otherwise, you can accomplish the task with a shovel.
3. Rake the site level, evening out hills and depressions in the soil with a landscape rake. The soil bed should be one inch below sidewalks and sprinkler heads.
4. Water the soil a day or two before laying the sod, so that the soil is firm and moist on the day of installation. Avoid over-watering and creating mud.
5. Rake the top soil again to create loose soil particles, and sprinkle with water one more time.
6. Add a starter fertilizer for lawns to the soil, incorporating it to a depth of two to four inches. According to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, a 5-10-5 fertilizer may be applied at a rate of 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet. If you are using a 10-20-10 formulation, use 10 pounds per 1,000 square feet.
7. Lay the sod along a straight line--a sidewalk, street or flower-bed edge--that you can use as a reference point. Push the ends of the sod pieces together to minimize the spaces in between, and stagger the rows so that the joints are at different locations from the preceding rows.
8. Cut pieces to fit around sprinklers, curving walkways and trees by using a carpet knife.
9. Press the sod down with a lawn roller to help the roots of the sod make contact with the new soil and help the roots "knit" in.
10. Water your new sod lawn daily for three weeks, unless there is rain. Water every other day during the fourth week. After the first month has passed and your lawn is beginning to be established, water it thoroughly once or twice a week.
11. Mow your new sod lawn to the recommended height one month after planting. For St. Augustine grass, this is one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half inches; Bahia grass should be mowed to a length of two to three inches. If your sod is composed of Zoysia grass, mow it to a height of one to two inches. Consult the nursery from which you purchased your sod if you are unsure as to its type or mowing height.
Tags: your lawn, four inches, help roots, pounds square, pounds square feet, square feet
