Sod the Lawn You're With

Sometimes when people think “landscaping,” they think “lawn mowing.” It makes sense from an experiential perspective. For many, mowing the lawn is the part of landscaping they do themselves or one of the first chores they ever took on, and for everyone, lawn mowing is the most frequent landscaping task.‍ ‍Lawns take up so much space in both our landscape and our schedule! But what if your lawn is lacking? That’s when sod installation comes in! Sod is the repair for large missing lawn patches or the place to start when you don’t have grass yet.‍ ‍But like mowing itself, installing new sod takes more than you might think at first glance. Here’s how Southern Love installs sod in Lakeway.

Where Does Sod Come From?

When a friendly homeowner decides it’s time to get a new lawn, they contact a stork, and when the perfect sod is ready, the stork delivers sod to the owner’s home.Actually, like most plants that are part of human life, we get our sod from farms. Farmers grow sod from high-quality grass seeds. First, they prepare the soil (similar to how we aerate and overseed), then plant the seeds and keep the grass healthy as it grows with adequate water and fertilizer.Sod takes up to two years to grow to maturity! That’s because good sod has root systems that grow into each other and intertwine to create a thick carpet.

Harvesting Sod

Farmers prepare the sod by watering it thoroughly, so it stays hydrated during travel. Then they use a sod harvester to cut out strips of sod along with a few inches of soil beneath it. You’ve probably seen sod on pallets or in rolls at the hardware store.

What Should I Look for In Sod?

The essential thing to look for in sod is freshness. Ideally, sod installation should use sod that was harvested that morning! It would be a shame if over two years of growth were ruined because your grass wasn’t fresh.The best way to get fresh sod is to work with a landscaper like Southern Love, who knows how to source it properly and will ensure it gets to your property and into your ground as quickly as possible.

How Do You Lay Down Sod?

Sod installation should respect the work those sod farmers put into it! Like other landscaping, it’s a three-part preparation, installation, and care process.

Ground Preparation

Prepping the ground for your new sod may be the most labor-intensive part of the installation process, depending on the current state of your property. It may not be too difficult if you already have a lawn and are only replacing a piece of it. But if it’s brand new, it may take more work.The first thing to do is level the ground, so it’s ready for a new lawn. A flat yard is perfect for installing new sod.Once your ground is level, you’ll want to ensure it has the proper growing conditions for a new plant. That means making the soil light and fluffy with an aerator or tiller. During this time, we’ll also fill the soil with the nutrients your sod needs to grow.Finally, before laying down the sod, soak the soil thoroughly. Your new sod will be thirsty from its trip and will need plenty of moisture to survive its transplant.

Sod Installation

Sod installation itself is the process of laying it in strips on the prepared ground. Here the goal is to evenly carpet the floor without any overlaps. It may require some cutting of strips to align all of it properly.Laying sod is a straightforward process, but it takes attention to detail to get it right. The pros at Southern Love will do it best.

How Do We Take Care of New Sod?

Now that your sod is installed, it’s time to take good care of it, so it grows into a healthy lawn. The first step is watering. Even though we soaked the ground, we water the newly planted sod.Regular watering is necessary afterward. Depending on the species and the growing and climate conditions, it may need daily watering.You also must be careful with your new sod. Don’t walk upon it or lay anything on top of it. For the first few weeks, we let the sod grow without it mowing it. Then for the first mow, we use a lighter mower.

Professional Help For All Your Sod Needs

Southern Love knows what your landscape needs and how to get it. It pays to have the pros care for the land you love and get the sod you need to keep it beautiful.