After the snow melts, you may be a bit disappointed at what you find beneath it. Your lawn might look yellow, patchy, and crunchy—not exactly the idea of a beautiful yard.
Don’t you wish you could hit the rewind button on your lawn? Don’t worry; there’s a quick way to restore its vitality. By laying sod in Winnipeg, you can achieve the luscious lawn you’ve always dreamed of. Your neighbours will be green with envy!
If you’re ready to transform your lawn, keep reading. We’re going to dive into how we lay sod at Cleanr Property Maintenance.
But if you’d prefer to save time and ensure a top-quality result, you can delegate it to a professional sod installer in Winnipeg.
Tools
You’ll need the following tools before you can lay sod:
- Wheelbarrow
- Sod roller or a lawn roller to remove air pockets
- Shovel
- Sod knife or a sod cutter
- A landscape rake (3-4” wide)
Materials
For this job, you’ll need:
- Sod (At Cleanr Property Maintenance, we buy it through Lach Sod Farms)
- Premium topsoil
- Grass seed that matches your sod (You’ll need this to overseed with after you lay the sod)
Duration
How long will it take to lay sod?
The answer depends on which route you go with: hiring a professional, or DIY sod installation. The latter will take significantly longer.
Working with a professional saves you time. Our lawn care specialists base the install time on the size of your lawn. We can typically prep and lay 1000 sq. ft. in a day. But if all the prep work is done, we can lay up to 5000+ sq. ft. per day!
What Direction Should You Lay Sod?
Most of the time, the direction you lay sod doesn’t matter too much—you just need to lay it down in the most logical way.
For example, if your lawn is a rectangle, the sod should be laid so that the long edge runs parallel with the long side of the rectangle.
How Long Do You Have to Stay Off of New Sod?
Once the sod is installed, you might be afraid to walk on it. You don’t want to trample on your new, green grass and make it shrivel up!
You can walk on new sod immediately, but take it easy. Repeatedly walking over the turf after you’ve just laid it and while it’s in the watering phase can create divots in the soil underneath. This may cause permanent cavities in the lawn once the sod roots.
We recommend waiting at least 1-2 weeks before you go outside and let the kids play on the lawn.
How Much Does it Cost for Sod Installation?
When it comes to lawn care services, you get what you pay for. If a company offers you a suspiciously low quote for sod installation, raise your suspicions.
At Cleanr Property Maintenance, we charge $3/sq. ft., installed. This includes ripping out the old sod/soil, installing fresh soil (3″), installing sod, and cleaning up. We take care of all the work so that you don’t have to!
Steps for Laying Sod
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Prepare the soil for sod.
Before you can grow a green lawn, you’ll need to start with a bit of lawn care.
You may want to conduct a soil test before you get started. This will give you an idea of how healthy your soil is and whether it needs a fertilizer top-up.
Start by removing all the old material to a depth of at least 2-3″. Pull up any weeds or other plants. Next, install a minimum of 2″ of fresh soil (you can install up to 4″). A layer of healthy soil will help the turf roots grow deeply within it. Use the soil to fill any gaps in the surface.
Rake, grade, and roll soil to make sure it is compact and level. Raking the soil loosens it slightly, which makes it easier for roots to take hold.
Water the soil so that it’s moist before laying any sod.
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Lay the sod.
Now it’s time to lay sod. Unroll the first row of sod and try to arrange it to be as straight as possible.
Once the first row is laid, you can get to work. Make sure each row of sod fits tightly against each other—you don’t want to see any gaps. Avoid walking on the sod while you install it.
If you plan to install sprinkler heads, be sure to cut holes for them. You may need to use a utility knife to create clean edges. Depending on your lawn, you might need to make cuts to work around trees, fences, and corners.
After laying the sod, press it with a sod roller. This will eliminate air pockets and make sure it has proper connection with the soil. If you skip this step, the roots might not take to the soil.
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Water the new sod.
You’ve just installed living turf grass on your lawn. Like most plants, it needs water and nutrients. Without these things, your new sod won’t last long.
Water the sod every day for the first week. For the second week, water it every second day. Then, water it every third day for the third week. After that, you can move to a regular watering schedule.
When you’re watering, try not to create puddles, which may drown the roots of the sod. If you notice water pooling up on the sod, reduce the amount of water that you use.
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Maintain your lawn.
You may be wondering when it will be safe to cut the grass after installing sod. Wait until it grows 3.5-4” before mowing it down to about 3” to start.
Since the newly laid sod is still delicate, use a walk-behind mower instead of a riding mower to trim it.
As for fertilizer, you can spread some on after the sod has grown for 3-4 weeks.
If you notice any patches, discolouration, or thin areas, try overseeding your lawn.
Your yard is the perfect place for barbeques, pool parties, or get-togethers with friends and family. After investing your time and money into a new lawn, you want to make sure that it thrives.
Installing the sod improperly will result in weeds and dead patches. You may want to hire a professional instead.
At Cleanr Property Maintenance, we offer landscaping services. With our lawn care professionals, you’ll have a lush and vibrant lawn in no time! Give us a call to schedule a sod installation today.
