Tell me how to install sod in my yard

[CatWoman]

I have a huge bald spot, and purchased several patches of fescue sod to cover it up. I plan to lay it down when I get home from work this evening. I'd really appreciate some tips.

[matcom]

1. shave it

i HATE "hairy sod" :*

[CatWoman]

7. I'm mad at you!!!!!!

you slut!!!!!!!!!

:)

[matcom]

23. thats

WHORE!!

DAMMIT :P

[trotsky]

2. What made the grass in that spot die previously? n/t

[CatWoman]

6. LOL

I absolutely have NO idea.

I had the grass mowed last weekend, and that area was previously full of leaves.

Now it's just a huge bald spot.

[CO Liberal]

3. The Green Side Goes Up

:-)

[the Princess]

19. Shit!

You beat me to it!!

[CatWoman]

20. I'm gonna start calling you guys "The Smartass Family"

:)

[CO Liberal]

22. You Wouldn't Be The First, Midori

:-)

[CO Liberal]

21. Well, Honey....

You know what they say about great minds thinking alike...

:-)

[In_The_Wind]

24. my thoughts exactly

:hi:

[BALLandCHAIN]

4. I can tell you how you shouldn't do it

But that won't help you in a couple of weeks. Hire someone else to do it. The crackhead down the street did a good job on my lawn.

[MemphisTiger]

5. Loosen up the soil in the bare spot

plop the sod down and water. easy as pie

[CatWoman]

8. when you say, "loosen"

you mean like with the rake, or should I use a shovel or hoe?

[Imalittleteapot]

10. Loosen enough so the roots have something

to grab onto. Raking should do. Try not to dig with a hoe or a shovel because you could stir up weed seeds.

Do not let the area dry out until it takes root.

[CatWoman]

12. aaahhhhhhhhhh

thanks!!!

:hi:

[MemphisTiger]

28. Use whatever tool it takes to loosen up about 1.5" of soil

a hoe, or a "garden weasel" might work.

[CatWoman]

29. hey!!!! I do have a garden weasel!!! thanks

don't know why I didn't think of it.

[miss_kitty]

9. make it level with the current ground line, don't walk on it for a while

keep well watered until it roots.

[FogerRox]

11. dig an edge around the patch so the sod lays even with existing lawn

The edge should equal the the sod--
put down some fertilizer--not strong--like "5- 10 -5". Then the sod. Take fine soil and "Dress the eges or seams with soil" this will keep the edges from getting burnt and dieing.
Keep it wet-water every day.

after you mow the sod the 1st time water every other day. start watering your lawn every other day for a week then every 3 rd day --then once every 4th day-- then eventually water once a week--twice same day for at least 20 minutes each --for a total of 40 minutes.

Roger--
Rutgers turf program --'89 grad

[CatWoman]

16. I had planned on using "Milorganite"

is that ok?

[FogerRox]

25. Milogranite might be a bit strong--should have 3 numbers on it --

like 18-24-6 or 5-10-5.

18-24-6 is strong you can use it but VERY sparingly. think a large handfull for 10ft by 10ft.

Sounds like some-one didnt rake the leaves-- LOL

[miss_kitty]

30. Don't use a fertiliser with a high N number (the first #)

the reason for this is because Nitrgen encourages green growth, and you don't want that when the roots aren't in the ground yet. Pick something with the first number as 0-3.

[Pirate Smile]

13. Here is a google search for How to lay sod

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWE,RNWE:2005-12,RNWE:en&q=how+to+lay+sod

This one is a how to for do-it-yourselfers. http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com/landscapeprojects/sodlawn.html

When we did it - My hubby dug up the ground - get the dirt all loose (we had a large area so he rented something to do this but a shovel or rake would work on a smaller spot). Put down the sod. Cut off extra pieces so it fits where you want it. Water the hell out of it every day.

[barb162]

14. was the spot a circle shape? You might have a fungus there.

You might want to dig that dirt out a few or more inches, put some new dirt in and then lay the sod. Look up " lawn grass fairy rings" on the web

[barb162]

15. dupe

[Mizmoon]

17. water water water

we put some sod down that grew beautifully. we didn't do big prep stuff or go to a lot of trouble - we lucked out. It rained every day nearly all day long for two weeks. The sod grew like it was meant to be there. So - I suggest you water until you can't water no mo'!

P.S we walked on it to get it smushed down on the ground - I saw someone else said not to so I wanted to mention that we did with no problems.

edited grammar

[bettyellen]

18. fill in the cracks w/ dirt and water, water, water.

and then water.

[LuminousX]

26. Zod?

[CatWoman]

27. I'M KNEELING ALREADY!!!!!!

:)

[RedCloud]

31. Maybe you are just feeding the grubs?

I would dig around a bit, count the number of grub worms you see. If you have 10 or more in a cubic foot, you have an infestation on hand.

I bought the nematode parasite from Gardens Alive to murder both forms of grubs common to grasses and today to paraphrase LBJ talking about Goldwater supporters,"They are getting fewer and fewer as the days go by..." Now (one year later) my front lawn is a veritable jaw dropping sight to my pesky yet full of envy neighbors. Lush green. I put in really slow growing fescue, highly tolerant of drought.

So now, I don't mow much. Maybe every three or four weeks. Almost never water. And I sip lemonade watching my Bush loving neighbors "intelligently" working their lawns.