Having a lawn as lush and green as a golf course is the dream of every home gardening enthusiast. But it requires a lot of time, patience, hard work and technique. Rolls of sod are a quick way to add greenery to your garden and create soft ground to step on. Professional sodding services are available, but you can do it yourself when you know the techniques and choose the right grass. Here we share the basics of sodding, its benefits, techniques and how to grow sod properly. In this way you will become aware of how sod can be used to maximize the beauty of your garden.
Definition of Sodding
Sodding your lawn involves placing slabs or rolls of earth with grown grass in your garden. This helps you grow a fresh layer of grass quickly without having to wait for seeds to sprout. Re-sodding is done periodically to remove withered grass and make sure your lawn always looks green and well-maintained. The process also involves pulling out weeds.
Tips for Laying Sod
The following are tips and tricks to lay sod properly so the grass doesn’t wither.
- Sod thrives best in slightly acidic soil with a pH ranging between 6-7.5, so prepare soil accordingly. It’s best to test your soil before you plant.
- Choose the type of grass based on the climate and local soil conditions. Not all grass species thrive in every region.
- Ideally, the sod should be delivered at least 24hours before it is needed and cut and laid in the same day. Make sure you buy 5% more than you need as there will be some wastage due to cutting and laying around corners.
- Lay it with the right tools, including sod cutters, spreaders and iron rakes, or hire professionals.
- Level the soil before you sod the area. As you lay it out, make sure to keep raking the ground to remove footprints. Pat down the sod so it lies flat against the soil, with no air pockets.
- Once you have laid the sod down, water it regularly to ensure it does not wither. Use fertilizers correctly to keep grass healthy and growing.
You can also refer to this blog to learn more about how to lay sod.
Techniques to Grow Healthy Sod
Sod has to be maintained so it has a strong root system and stays healthy. The following are a few ways to do just that:
Stay off the new sod
After planting, sod needs at least one month to grow a strong root system. During the first few weeks, avoid stepping on it as this interferes with root development; that includes pets. If you need to step on it for mowing and maintenance, do so gently and quickly.
Water the sod
Watering grass thoroughly is key to its healthy growth and root development. During the initial six weeks, water the sod at least once a day; in hot and humid weather, twice. The right amount of watering involves ensuring that there is enough moisture in the soil at all times at least during the first two weeks. Ideally, sod should be watered 15-20 minutes at a stretch, if you are watering twice a day.
Choose the right species
Different species of grass thrive in different weather conditions. Certain varieties like Bermuda and St. Augustine thrive better in a warmer region while species like Kentucky bluegrass and ryegrass are more suited to colder areas. Sunlight and shade also affect growth. Hence, it is important to do your homework when choosing which species to grow in your garden.
Planting and growing sod is the ultimate solution to quickly restoring your lawn’s greenery. The above-mentioned factors are the basics you will need to plant and grow healthy sod. If you are unsure whether you want to do it yourself, many gardening & landscaping companies offer professional sodding services. Knowing the basics will help you communicate better about what exactly you are looking for.