How NOT to Botch a Sodded Lawn!

By Dr. Hank Wilkinson

The contractor should start the installation along the longest straight line on the site, such as a driveway or sidewalk. Stagger the joints in a brick-like fashion as seen here, and avoid small patches at outer edges as they will not retain moisture well.

One way to learn how to install turfgrass successfully is to review a top-10 list of steps that help ensure success. Done correctly, pre-grown sod can transform a landscape overnight and provide years of lush and pleasing green. University of Illinois professor Hank Wilkinson shares his substantial turf experience with readers.

Here are my top 10 ways to succeed in your lawn installation. Avoid these, and you will avoid having a disappointing lawn project!

1: Be Ready to Receive the Sod Delivery

To guarantee that you get the freshest sod possible, it?EUR??,,????'?????<

It is imperative that the sod doesn?EUR??,,????'?????<

2: Properly Prepare the Soil

When you lay good sod on poor soil, the sod won?EUR??,,????'?????<

Careful measuring is essential to making an accurate estimate of the total sod area. You can then plot the numbers on a sketch of the installation area, including length, width and any irregular features. A small amount of excess is more desirable than a low estimate that will delay the completion of your project.

3: Estimate the Amount of Sod You?EUR??,,????'?????<

Not being able to finish the job because you?EUR??,,????'?????<

4: Buy Good Quality Sod

The small amount of money you save buying cheap sod will pale in comparison to your frustrations and added maintenance expenses that come free with the cheap sod. Sod that is infested with weeds, disease or insects brings problems to your yard. So too will old or thatchy sod. Another frustrating problem can be immature sod that falls apart when you are trying to install it; which could mean more patching and piles of unwanted scrap. Select sod that was started from the highest possible quality of seed (sod quality seed) or stolons and grown to maturity on good quality soil.

 

A soil test is an important step that will tell about mineral deficiencies and/or an excess of acidity or alkalinity?EUR??,,????'?????<

5: Add Water to Cool the Soil

On a bright, sunny day, bare soil can easily reach 130 degrees F. Sod that has just had about 80% of its roots cut off can?EUR??,,????'?????<

6: Do a Careful Installation

Gaps between seams, over-lapped pieces, and a lot of little patches each create their own problems. Gaps won?EUR??,,????'?????<

Over-lapped pieces will never properly root, and they?EUR??,,????'?????<

Ask your delivery people to distribute turf-laden pallets at regular intervals around the site. This will minimize handling, reducing moisture loss, tearing and stress on the thousands of individual turf plants.

7: Learn How to Water the New Sod

Because new sod has very short and inefficient roots, frequent and short watering cycles will only result in short-rooted, poorly established grass. In properly prepared soil that is watered deep, sod will quickly take root and push down deeper and have deeper roots.

8: Ensure Proper Mowing, Fertilizing and Watering

The first few weeks after installing sod are critical to proper establishment. Each species of grass has its own ?EUR??,,????'?????<www.MidwestSodCouncil.com.

Turfgrass sod is vulnerable to overheating when stacked on pallets for delivery; grass should be installed as soon as possible and thoroughly irrigated within 30 minutes of installation.

9: Give the Sod Enough Time to Establish Itself

Putting down sod on Saturday and playing football on it come Sunday is something you don?EUR??,,????'?????<

10: Check Up on Your Sod?EUR??,,????'?????<

Even a new in-ground irrigation system can be less than perfect, and hose-end sprinklers are even more notorious for their lack of uniform distribution. Dry spots may take several days to appear, and if you aren?EUR??,,????'?????<

Turf segments should be carefully rolled into position and then firmly compacted by a pass with a turfgrass roller. Note that this soil appears dry at the time of installation; turf should receive at least an inch of water after installation and daily or even twice daily irrigation during the critical two-weeks establishment period.

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Some regions of the country rely on natural precipitation to water turf?EUR??,,????'?????<

Dr. Hank Wilkinson is a professor of turfgrass science at the University of Illinois, Urbana. He is a popular speaker at regional and national turf conferences and a frequent contributor to multiple professional and consumer publications.