McDugald-Steele Landscape Architects
In Gainesville, sod can be laid nearly year-round if the weather is mild enough. Spring and fall are typically the optimum times, however, because the temperatures are mild and the chances of rain are higher, leading to better root development. Check with the experts in your area for the best times to lay sod in your landscape.Why start a lawn from Gainesville sod? • You want instant gratification.
• You want a type of lawn grass that is not easily grown from seed (for instance, St. Augustine, zoysia, or centipede).
• You want to quickly establish a new lawn that is weed free.
• You have a big lawn budget. Sod is sold by the pallet, and costs vary widely depending on the type of grass. Plan to spend anywhere from .90-1.25 per square feet for preparation, delivery, and installation.
Breckenridge Design, Construction & Maintenance
How to Plant Sod 1. Prep the ground. Properly prepare the soil before you lay the sod. Incorrectly prepared ground will result in a lawn that is nutrient difficient, creating more than simply aesthetic issues. The lawn will need more Gainesville lawn fertilization, pest control, and weed control to keep it completely healthy. By prepare, we mean you need to kill and remove the current weeds, grade the soil, take a soil sample, and add any nutrients that are missing from the soil needed to grow sod. Soil samples can be taken to the Alachua County Extension office for a small fee.
C.O.S Design
2. Choose and order your sod. Get recommendations from your local Gainesville landscape professionals for grass types suggested for your area. Many Gainesville grasses are perfect for installing using sod pieces, while other types of grass are better started from seed. If you have a small area to work with, you can likely buy a small amount of sod pieces or rolls at your local home improvement store or landscape supply yard. If you need larger quantities, you'll need to place an order with a sod farm.Plan to lay your sod lawn on the day that it is delivered.
Stephanie Ann Davis Landscape Design
3. Lay the sod. Once your ground is prepared, lay the sod pieces along a straight line such as the driveway or a sidewalk. Push the joints of the sod pieces tightly against one another, avoiding overlapping or gaps, and stagger pieces like you would with rows of bricks. Use a sharpened shovel to cut pieces for irregularly shaped areas or to fit around irrigation heads or plants, and water in your sod within 20 minutes of laying it.
J. Peterson Garden Design
4. Establish a mowing and watering schedule. During the first week after laying your new sod, use your Gainesville irigation system to water four times to a depth of 1 inch each time, and do not mow until after it is rooted. During the second week water three times, and during the third week water twice.Never remove more than one-third of the height of your leaf blades in any single mowing. Blade height is dependent upon the type of Gainesville lawn you have just installed. Always mow with sharpened blades for the best result.
McDugald-Steele Landscape Architects
Additional sod tips:• Always inquire about delivery charges when ordering your sod.
• For the first 2-3 weeks, until your new sod has had a chance to establish a good root structure, avoid walking on it.
• For a week or two after that, avoid very heavy activity, such as heavy foot traffic, concentrated activities and dog traffic.
• Be sure to gather more specific information and recommendations about sod care in Gainesville from the Gainesville landscape and lawn care professionals.