If you're tired of looking at a lawn full of weeds and dead grass, you should think about putting in some sod. It's the quick way to get a lush lawn, since you don't have to wait for grass to grow from seed. If you have an average sized yard, you can probably do the work yourself if you rent the right equipment. Here are a few things you'll need.
A Sod Cutter Removes The Old Lawn
Before you can put in new sod, you have to remove your old lawn. The easiest way to do that is to use a sod cutter. A sod cutter looks a little like a push lawn mower. However, when you push it across your yard, a blade goes underneath the grass and cuts it off at the roots, so bare soil is left behind. The job may go easier if you use the sod cutter shortly after a rain, or after you water the lawn, so the soil is moist rather than dry and hard.
A Tiller Prepares The Soil
Next, you'll need to prepare the soil so it is in ideal shape for nurturing the roots of the new sod. One way to do this is to use an ordinary garden tiller. When you run the tiller across the yard, it breaks up the soil for a depth of a few inches. When the soil is loose, you can rake it to remove rocks and big roots. It's also much easier to mix in soil treatments when the soil is loose. Depending on the condition of your soil, you may want to add nutrients or fertilizer that will help the sod grow strong roots.
A Lawn Roller Tamps The Soil And Sod
A lawn roller is a device that has a big barrel on the end that you roll across your yard. You fill the barrel with water to make it heavy. You can use it in two steps when planting sod. You can roll it across the soil after you churn it up with the tiller. This helps the soil to settle evenly and make a slightly compacted bed for the roots. Then after you put down the new sod, you can run the roller across your lawn one more time. This presses the roots into the soil so they are encouraged to take hold and grow.
Sod for residential use is delivered in small rolls you can lift and carry. Installing the sod involves laying it in place and rolling it out like a carpet. If your yard has an irregular shape, or is very small, it may be easier to buy sod squares instead. Since you'll need to move large amounts of sod around your yard, a wheelbarrow or wagon comes in handy so you don't have to carry the heavy sod very far. Although putting in sod is a lot of work, it is much easier when you use the proper equipment. If you rely on using yard tools like a shovel and rake, the job will take a lot longer and be much more labor intensive. For more information, go to sites that specialize in sod.
