Growing a lawn from seed takes time, money, and patience. If the owner has time to plant a seed, it could be a wonderful experience to watch it come up out of the ground. However, if you have a busy lifestyle, and do not want to spend months watching tiny seeds grow into a lawn consider contacting the experts at Sod King (801) 467-3900 (There are many locations to choose from in the Salt Lake area). The sod farms grow only top-quality sod for Utah residents.
One thing to consider when ordering sod is how to prepare the lawn before the sod is delivered. The first thing to do is call Sod King, then test the soil to see how much sand, clay, and silt is in your yard (This is called a Loam). Next, test the soil to see how many different nutrients are in it by contacting your local Utah extension office, and buying a soil test kit. Gather soil samples from several places around the yard. Put the soil samples in separate labeled bags, and send it in. In about two weeks you will receive the results. Then add the nutrients needed to enhance your new lawn’s beauty.
Call the Sod King experts with the information you have gathered, and they will assist you to pick out the best sod for your area. When these decisions are made the preparation for laying the sod begins.
Proper ground preparation is essential for a beautiful lawn. It takes a little work to get the ground prepared for any type of grass grown, but the work will be well worth it when you step on your lush green lawn made of soft sturdy turf. Let’s go through the steps it takes before installing a beautiful lawn from the Sod King (Utah’s finest Sod growers).
The first step if you have grass on top of the dirt is to totally remove it before laying your new sod. Several turfgrass producers thought it was a bad idea to lay sod over existing grass. The decomposing grass below the sod could develop an acid or slime. This would cause problems for the new sod. Laying sod over the grass would also trap air between the sod and the soil allowing the roots to dry out and die.
To remove the old grass, use a glyphosate-based product like Roundup. These products are broad-spectrum systemic herbicide products. They are designed to kill weeds and competing grasses. Spray the old lawn when it is sunny so it will absorb the active ingredients through its leaves. Wait for 3 to 4 days and apply a second application to the grass. When the old grass is all brown, use a rototiller or sod cutter to remove the top layer of grass and debris so the landscape is smooth. Make sure the large rocks (Any rock larger than 2 inches) have been cleared away.
Spread 2 inches of finished compost (Look on the internet to see if there is a free municipal compost center in your city). If the loam has a large clay content add 2 to 3 inches of sand to improve yard drainage. Next, till the added ingredients together. Based on the results from the soil test, lay down the appropriate starter fertilizer with a spreader. Then place on lime if it is needed.
The third step is important when preparing the soil for sod. Level the surface using an iron rake. The rake will knock down the high spots and fill in the low spots, so the soil is level. Leave 1 inch of space below the grade (This allows for the depth of the sod being laid) sprinkle lightly to dampen the soil. When the site is prepared correctly the grassroots have an easier time penetrating deeply and evenly into the soil. Deeper roots make the finished lawn denser and more drought resistant. Denser lawns also use water and nutrients more efficiently, while crowding out weeds and resisting disease and insects.
After the sod is installed by the experts at Sod King simply lay back and enjoy the beauty of your new lawn. You can call Sod King at (801) 467-3900 or visit their web site for all your lawn needs from start to finish.
