Sod Installation Longview TX
Sod Installation Considerations
Laying sod down is probably one of the cheapest landscaping jobs you could do. Yet it's imperative to begin with the correct sod, and to set the soil as perfectly as humanly possible. Some good tips for installing sod are outlined in this article. Even if you are a handyman or a Sod Installation Longview TX there is no reason that the job won't be done correctly - even if you've never done anything like this before.
You need to have a very accurate understanding of the amount of space available to lay sod. If you have only a tiny plot of land, you should only purchase enough to lay a single lane of grass - no more. It's very easy for us to get carried away when shopping for lawn and garden items and get waylaid by shopping for more lawn than we have the room for. Therefore, before you make any purchases, you need to figure out how much room you'll need within the boundaries of your home, plus a couple of feet on either side, to walk around your yard.
Once you've figured out the total area of the lawn you will be able to lay turf, it's time to start thinking about where you want the sod installation to go. Ideally, it will start in the center of your yard and follow an angle towards the house. Be sure that wherever you put the lines, there won't be more than three inches of grass between them. If you install sod in a curved path, there might be six inches of grass between the stripes.
If you don't have the time to lay sod yourself, or you'd prefer to spend money saving ways, there are commercial sod installation services available. These services employ the use of a new high-end roller, which allows them to lay sod more quickly than individual homeowners can. This is a good idea for when you're doing a large property such as a small golf course. Otherwise, lay the new turf on a straight edge, making sure that there are no bumps or indentations in its shape. Once the new turf has been laid, add some topsoil to the area. This helps keep the grass moist and encourages its growth.
Before you begin laying, it's a good idea to run a soil test. The test will determine what the proper amount of nutrients your new lawn should contain. This information is important because different types of grass can utilize different amounts of nutrients. Also, depending on the height of your lawn, you might need to add an additional four to six inches of topsoil before laying the sod. Once the topsoil has been added, allow it to sit for at least a couple of weeks, during which it will break down and break up into small particles.
You'll find that in most cases, planting holes in the ground will provide the grass with all of the nutrients it needs. However, in other instances where the new sod installation isn't perfect, you'll have to add the nutrients from the topsoil. This could require you to add a layer of topsoil before you actually place the new sod on the ground.
It's also a good idea to avoid walking on the new sod once it's been installed. It can be slippery. If you do decide to walk on it before it starts to settle, make sure you don't put any weight on it or you risk it sliding around. In addition, if you choose to have someone else install your new sod installation, you should avoid walking in that person's grass. They may try to move it while it's still wet, which could cause a big mess.
Most importantly, once the installation has been completed, be sure to water properly. Watering can help the grass to recover and stay healthy during dry times. If you do fall behind in watering, it's important that you get everything fixed immediately. If you have a sprinkler system and a sprinkler head that need to be repaired, be sure to contact the provider to make sure they know what to do for your installation so you don't end up with even more work after your installation is complete.