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06 August 2013

Doctor Your Sod

By Maxie Feret


Implementing a sod lawn is straight forward. Sod should be put down on dry ground within the same day of when it gets there. If temperature conditions are above 80, water the dirt from the previous day to reduce the soil heat. Do not over water to make sure that you or the installers are not doing your job in a muddy mess. Shortly after the sod is installed, the first irrigating needs to drench the sod and hydrate the soil. Virtually, all you need to do is water consistently and stay off. Remember to keep the lawn moistened continually and if possible, do frequent quick watering schedules. Water the sod two times a day at 8AM early in the morning and 1PM early in the afternoon if the temperature is less than 95. The sprinkling procedure must be repeated 3 times per day in the hottest months of the year, 95 plus, at approximately 8 AM, 11AM and 1PM every single day. DON'T LET THE LAWN DRY OUT!!! Remember the key is to KEEP IT MOIST, NOT SOAKED. Sinking brings about algae and fungus.

Watering is ideal if done during day time hours, 3 to 4 am, when sunlight and also heat cannot cause excessive evaporation. After your lawn becomes established, it requires approximately one inch of water weekly and an inch every other day during the heat of the summer. Spring and fall may possibly require maybe once or twice a week watering depending on climatic conditions. Cut the water back through the winter, at times when your lawn will only require watering once or twice a month, depending on weather conditions. The soil needs to be condensed through when watered. Water should penetrate at least 6 inches into the soil to make sure profound rooting. When your lawn requires water, it will turn from bright green to blue or gray-green.

Commercial fertilizer should be applied prior to the laying of the sod at a rate of one pound per 150 square feet. This application of fertilizer ought to provide the nutrients to give the sod a proper start. An extra application of fertilizer must be applied again every six to eight weeks. We recommend a great purpose fertilizer such as triple 15 or 16. Lawns normally do not need feeding during December or January. Remember when you notice a lawn that looks great, it's because the owner did quick and easy things with consistency, proper watering, mowing and fertilizing and weed control.

A new sod lawn needs to be mowed the very first time between 10-14 days. Delaying the first cutting permits an excess of shading, blade widening and possible sunburn. Set your lawnmower at its highest setting, lowering a setting each mowing until the lawn is cut at two inches. Never eliminate more than one-third of the blade length at any mowing. Weekly mowing is a must throughout the growing season. Lawn mower blades ought to be kept sharp to stop bruised and torn grass which acquires unsightly white blade tops.

Weeds will appear in your new lawn. They are presented from seeds which may have lain dormant in your yard or that have been moved in by wind or birds. These weeds can best be controlled by growing good healthy grass. Grass which is well-watered, mowed, and well fertilized provides excessive competition for weed plants in order to gain any stronghold. However, there are chemical remedies which are able to help whenever your lawn has matured, usually after 3 mowings. Weed -B-Gon for broad leaf and Weed-hoe for grassy weeds for example. Pre-emergent is necessary to help keep crabgrass, spurge and approximately 35 other weeds from your lawn. Treatment needs to be applied the first part of February and again in mid May on a yearly basis. If your lawn ever become damaged and have bare spots, reseed or sod immediately in order to avoid competitive weed growth from becoming established.




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