KATHY’S HOME & GARDEN TOPS – INSTANT LAWN!!

KATHY’S HOME & GARDEN TOPS – INSTANT LAWN!!

HAVING SUCCESS WITH SOD

Whether you’re doing the entire lawn or a small patch installation is pretty simple. Make sure you have a good base which includes tilled soil augmented with a mixture of 2 parts top soil to one part each sand and compost. With the heavy clay soil in the Chicago area it can never hurt to add these 3 components.

The most important time of sod success is after it’s laid. Proper watering is essential!!! For the first couple days soak it thoroughly. Be sure to long soak which will aid the soil under the sod to remain wet. When the ground is wet it’s good to roll the sod with a sod roller. This is a heavy concrete wheel and newer models use wheels that you fill with water. These can be found at home and garden centers.

Using the roller will force the sod roots to adhere to the soil underneath. If you don’t have a roller walk on a 1 x 12in board. It’s most important to do this on the seams! This tends to be the spot that gives the most trouble. It’s the first place to dry out and to have bad root adherence.

For the next four days water every other day. By now the roots should be reaching into the yard soil. Believe it or not now is time for the first mowing even if it doesn’t look like it needs it. Some spots will need a cut and aesthetically it looks better all one length. Grass should never be cut shorter than 3 inches!!

If it’s very hot or you can’t water as soon as you need mow to 4 inches. After 2 mowing’s use a fertilizer that promotes root growth.

With a little work putting in sod can be successful. Too many people think there’s not much to be done after laying it down. That’s a prescription for failure and a lot of money down the drain.

Good Gardening!!!

KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO