Installing Sod
We’re installing sod on Friday — I know it’s going to be a hot one. I ordered it from Kings County Nursery last weekend. Does anyone have any tips on how to grow a luscious lawn from sod? How long after installation can the grass handle medium to heavy traffic? Where can I rent a…
We’re installing sod on Friday — I know it’s going to be a hot one. I ordered it from Kings County Nursery last weekend. Does anyone have any tips on how to grow a luscious lawn from sod? How long after installation can the grass handle medium to heavy traffic? Where can I rent a lawn roller or can I use something else to remove any air pockets? Thanks all!!!
Thanks guys!!! I went to Lowes yesterday and purchased an organic granule insectide. I chose organic because my kids will be playing and rolling around on the grass once it’s established. I hope it’s as effective as the chemical one. If not, at least minimize any insect problems. Has anyone gone organic on their lawn? If so, what results have you achieved?
Even bricks don’t stop weeds. They just find their way around the edges. This is especially a problem if the excavation has been bare for a week or two, giving weed seeds a place to park and sprout. Typically a nursery will rip up and replace a lawn within two days to minimize that.
Sod is the only practical solution this time of year. Grass seed doesn’t germinate well, or at all depending on the strain, when the ground temp at seed level is much above 75-80F.
Yeah I was concerned about the lack of a roller too, but the only place I could find one was online, and I too was looking the week of installation. The owner of the nursery said that they weren’t used anymore. Just to sort of firmly massage the sod into place and to watch out for space between the pieces.
He recommended a specific granular insect chemical. I don’t recall it exactly. I didn’t do anything for weeds as I had already cleared the soil well. He also mentioned that weeds won’t penetrate the sod itself, but will work their way to the edges of the pieces. He’s a great guy — even wanted me to call him weeks later if anything went wrong.
I was very resistant to the idea of “insta-lawn” but it immediately looked great and has already helped our drainage issues during the recent heavy thunderstorms. Grass is great.
Every website that I’ve gone to regarding Installing Sod always mention rolling it. Yes the owner is very helpful. I mentioned to that I had purchased starter fertilizer, but he didn’t recommend anything else. I thought sod prevented weeds? Corolla, which insect retardant did he recommend and did you use any weed killer?
It’s moot because you’re installing on Friday, but at this time of year I’d add a weed killer about a week before sodding too because this is an active time for crabgrass especially. You wouldn’t do this for seed but it’s a little added insurance for sod.
Keep the sod watered but not soggy. This is also the time of year for grass fungus.
All of which partially explains why I bricked in my lawn.
I got my sod from Kings and installed it 4 weeks ago this Friday. It was good. The owner has lots of tips for how to do it.
Have the area prepped, cleared, amended with soil as necessary and — most importantly — flat. Do this a few days before you get the sod and water it with a sprinkler daily to tamp it a bit. Ask for any chemicals he recommends. He sold me some insect retardant, and I put starter fertilizer down.
He told me that lawn rollers were the old way of doing things, that you won’t find one in New York. The roots took everywhere except for one small spot that I didn’t have level. Fortunately there were enough leftover scraps still on my cement patio getting water and sun so I could patch it.
As I recall, he recommended mowing it at the highest blade setting 10 days after laying it, so walking on it then is fine. Mine needed mowing every week since then. I wouldn’t play soccer on this yet, but I wouldn’t worry about a gentle party now.
All in all it was a great experience, and Kings was very reasonable and helpful.
I’d ask the nursery to do the installation too. Installing sod can be tricky this time of year because of the heat. A sod lawn takes 3-4 weeks to anchor itself.