Once the sod has been laid it will have to be maintained. The sod must receive enough water to keep it healthy until it roots into the soil beneath. Do not drown the sod, over watered sod discourages rooting and can stimulate undesired grasses. To encourage the health of the turfgrass as it matures, regular mowing (2.5"-3") and regular fertilization (spring, summer and fall) are suggested. Liming in the fall is also recommended as part of a yearly maintenance program. A thick, healthy stand of grass is important to minimize the establishment of weeds.
How to read a fertilizer bag: 20-10-10
These 3 numbers indicate the amount (percentage) of macro nutrients, by weight, in the bag. They are always in the same order, N-P-K. Generally speaking N stands for nitrogen (speeds up the metabolism of the plant, increases greening), P for phosphorous (increases and supports root health) and K for potassium (supports seed/fruit development and winter hardiness). Various factors affect nutrient absorption such as soil chemistry (pH), plant health and weather extremes. Soil tests are a good method of determining what type of fertilizer one needs. To keep it simple think of fertilizer as human food, N sugar, P protein and K carbohydrates. It is not healthy to eat a diet of just one of these components, plants are the same. In summary it is wise to apply fertilizers with a representation of each nutrient to support over all plant health.
Sod is a living product. To ensure a successful result it is important to follow these steps:
1. Site preparation:
It is recommended that 4-6 inches of quality top soil be used to ensure the long term health of the sod. The soil should be firm and level before laying the sod. This is a good opportunity to do contouring to compliment excess water runoff during heavy rains to minimize pooling. A starter fertilizer should be applied, such as 16-32-6, at a rate of 5-10 lbs per 1000 ft2. This is required to help the sod become established and recover from the shock of transplanting.
2. Laying the sod:
The faster the sod gets laid the better. Sod needs light, air and water. Sod should be placed tightly together and staggered in a brick style pattern where possible. To achieve a professional finished look it is industry standard to lay sod lengthwise around the perimeter of the site. This will result in any "cut in" pieces not being on the edge which minimizes stress and gives a tidy, crisp look to the finished job.
3.Watering:
Sod needs water ASAP. The goal is to keep the sod moist so it does not dry out and shrink. Do not overwater, this will discourage rooting and actually stimulate undesirable species.
To figure out how much material you will need, the first step is figuring out the area of your project in square feet. Use the math below to calculate your area / areas. You may have to break your lawn up into several smaller areas to get the correct measurement. Do the back, front and sides of your property all separately.
Once you have your measurements you can also use the calculator found at this link:
http://www.calculator.net/area-calculator.html
1. The area of a square or a rectangle: Area=length x width
example - If your lawn measures 30 feet long and 40 feet wide the total area is:
30' x 40' = 1200ft2.
2. The area of a circle:
Area = 3.14 x radius squared
example - If a circular area in your yard has a total distance (diameter) of 30', divide by 2 to get the radius, 15'.
Area = 3.14 x (15 x 15)
Area = 706.5 ft2
3. The area of a triangle:
Area = (base x height) / 2
Example - If a triangle shape in your yard measures 20' at the base and is 30' tall the
total area is:
Area = (20 x 30) / 2
Area = 300ft2
hOW TO MEASURE FOR YOUR SOD
hOW TO INSTALL
nursery sod
hOW TO MAINTAIN
Our nursery sod is cut fresh daily and is available in slab, small rolls or large roll format.
SLAB SOD - Sod are laid flat on the pallet in 5.5 ft2 pieces which are light weight and easy to carry. Each piece is 20 x 40 inches. There are 82 pieces on a pallet, totaling 450ft2 per skid. We also carry slab sod in 4.5 ft2 pieces which gives each piece a dimension of 3 feet x 1.5 feet. The total pieces on this pallet are 100 and total the same 450ft2 per skid.
SMALL ROLLS - Small rolls come in 9ft2 rolls, which are easy to handle and last longer on the pallet then the typical slab format. There are 64 pieces on a pallet, totaling 576ft2 per skid.
LARGE ROLLS - Large rolls can only be installed by contractors with equipment and come as one large roll on a tube instead of pieces of slab or rolled sod on a pallet. Each large roll is 450ft2, measuring 3.5 feet wide x 130 feet long.
*** Pallet Deposit***
We have a refundable $20 pallet charge on every sod order which is delivered, unless it is thrown off by hand (orders under 1800ft2). The pallets are your responsibility and it is up to the customer to return them to one of our locations (Burnside or Elmsdale) for a full refund. You have up to 6 months from the time of ordering to do so. Thanks :)
ELMSDALE LANDSCAPING LTD.