Sod: Seeding & Sodding New Lawns
Preparation For A New Lawn
Prior to sowing lawn seed or laying sod you must first establish a desirable slope and grade in your yard. In order to prevent basement water problems slope the soil away from your house. Remember that gentle slopes are easier to maintain than steep slopes and that the installation of poured sidewalks, patios, and large trees is best done before planting a lawn. It is also a good idea to leave shrub and flower beds unsodded. This will eliminate unnecessary sod removal when you are ready to landscape.
If you have less than 6-8 in. (15-20 cm) of good quality topsoil in your yard you need additional soil. Purchase screened loam and spread it evenly over the previously graded subsoil. It is important to level & pack the soil surface before planting a lawn. Use a landscape rake to level the soil surface evenly smooth. Then, pack the soil with a lawn roller until the soil is firm. Finally, apply Root Grow (10-30-10) fertilizer at a rate of five kilograms per 100 square meters. At this point you are ready to seed or sod your new lawn.
Seeding
Almost all lawns in the prairies consist of various mixtures of Kentucky Bluegrass and Creeping Red Fescue. Some lawn mixes also contain Ryegrass; this grass germinates quickly to stabilize the area, but dies out after the first season. As a general rule, a blend or mixture, under average growing conditions will prove the most successful, and withstand the widest range of conditions. Golden Acres supplies several types of excellent quality grass mix. We also carry individual cultivars for specific locations.
Kentucky Bluegrass - Easy to grow in a sunny location, but suffers from summer heat if mowed too close. It is disease prone and requires more fertilizer and dethatching and does not tolerate drought. Kentucky Bluegrass is coarser textured than fescue, stands up better to high traffic, and requires more fertilizer at least twice a year.
Creeping Red Fescue - Mixes well with other seed species such as Kentucky Bluegrass. It is a quick germinating, fine textured, deep green grass. It grows well in shade and has a medium fertilizer requirement. Creeping Red Fescue does not hold up as well to high traffic. Best results are achieved if lawns are seeded in the spring or fall following the directions listed below. When seeding, make sure an adequate supply of water is supplied.
How much seed is required
To determine how much seed you will need, measure the length and width of the plot to be seeded and multiply one measurement by the other; to calculate the area. If for example, the plot to be seeded is 10 m. (38 ft.) long by 8 m. (26 ft.) wide the area of the plot to be seeded equals 80 sq. m. (858 sq. ft.). Check the package of lawn seed to determine how much seed will be required to cover the plot in question. Do not try to spread lawn seed further than suggested on the package. If you skimp on lawn seed your lawn will look bare and unattractive. Likewise do not over seed in attempt to create a more dense lawn.
1. Use a drop seeder to evenly spread 2.5 kg. of seed over 100 square meters. It is best to set the spreader at half this rate and apply the seed in two passes at right angles to each other.
2. After seeding apply a thin layer of peat moss over the entire area.This helps retain moisture and holds the seed to ensure a quality product.
Sodding
Lay sod, usually purchased in 50 centimeter by 2 meter rolls, so that the end seams are staggered. Be sure to fit the seams together tightly. Trim the sod with a sharp knife where it meets sidewalks or other objects and fill in any gaps with soil or peat moss. Roll the sod with a lawn roller to ensure good contact between the grass roots and the soil. Water the newly sodded area thoroughly, two to three hours per area, three to four times per week. Keep the sod consistently moist until there are significant signs of new growth.
