Sod For Shade

Posted on April 16, 2009 by admin

People who have read installed fresh new sod will often experience difficulty in trying to grow it in the shade. The reason behind this is that for a sod to grow effectively, it needs to have a certain amount of sunshine for the day. This can be direct for a few hours or filtered for the whole day. If this does not happen, what people will realize will occur is that the installed will have patches of growth and small areas where no grass will grow at all.

Most Effective Ways to Grow Sod in the Shade

  • If you have a highly shaded area, then it is a good idea to trim the tree. An arborist can be called into to professionally cut the tree. This will allow the maximum amount of sunlight to reach the sod.
  • Seed the area as opposed to sodding it. This may work out better as there are different types of sod that do not work well in the shade.
  • Sod needs around 4-6 hours of sunshine to grow properly. Make sure the area where the sod will be installed can accommodate this.
  • When cutting the lawn, make sure that the height of the blade of the lawn mower is not too low, as you don’t want the grass to be cut too short.
  • Use grasses like tall fescue. Tall fescue is a grass that is designed for cooler regions and as a result it can handle shade much better unlike warmer season grasses such as zoysia, bermuda and bahia.
  • St Augustine is also a good grass to be used in shaded areas. Many people do not like the feel and look of this particular grass. However if you are looking for a grass that will work well in the shade, this is one to use.
  • If nothing will grow in the shaded areas, maybe you should consider some other type of ground cover such as rocks, plants, bark and others.
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Sod Lifter

Posted on April 16, 2009 by admin

Sod lifter is a product that is used to cut and move sod. This product is right for people who are looking for an easy way to cut sod and move it without destroying it. Most sod lifters are designed with a forged blade that makes it perfect for cutting. It is also designed in such a way that it makes it easier to lift the sod product from the ground. Most have a handle that is made out of steel or wood. The average weight of this product is around 5 lbs.

How Do You Use The Sod Lifter?

The sod lifter is very easy to use, as the individual who uses this product does not need to stoop or bend to pick up the sod. To remove the sod from the ground, all that is needed is to stick the sod lifter into the soft turf lawn. It is recommended that you use it on soft ground, but it works exceptionally well on hard ground. Once the lifter is in the ground, then individual will begin to “cut” out the shape of the sod that they want. The design of the lifter makes everything easy and a person will be able to cut the sod out in no time. The process can result in sod that is removed and peeled out like a piece of carpet.

This can also be used on large pieces of land that needs to be divided to get squares of sod.

Many sod lifters are designed to be very ergonomic. There is not much effort needed as the sod comes right out. All you are doing is putting the sod lifter into the ground and cutting out the sod that you need.

The sod lifter is perfect for landsacapers as it makes the job that much easier. People who want to cut their own sod should invest in this particular product.  This product is very easy to use and the only thing more effective is those motorized sod cutting machines.

Other Uses of Sod Lifter

The sod lifter can be used to create new edges on garden borders or create new edges in flower beds. It is also good at getting out old roots.

During the late winter and spring, the soil appears to be very sticky and heavy. The sod lifter can be used to break this soil out and disturb it enough where it is loose.

It is also good for use in the winter. When there are problems associated with snow and ice, such as driveways and sidewalks; the sod lifter can be used to remove and clear the obstructions.

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Watering Sod

Posted on April 16, 2009 by admin

When you install new sod, the first and most important thing that should be done is it should be watered. This should be done at all times, except if the sod was laid in the winter. The reason for this is that sod installations that were conducted in the winter will not have to worry about damage from heat. There is also enough moisture available to provide the sod with the water that it needs. Sod installed during the winter will often require less watering as there is less heat to take away the vital moisture that the newly installed turf will need.

The Rules for Watering Sod

  • The amount of water that the sod needs will often depend on the time of year it was installed. Installations done in the winter will require very little water as opposed to the summer months. Watering times in the fall and spring will often depend on the temperature and rainfall.
  • Newly installed sod should be watered for around 2 months.
  • People who install new sod should aim to give their new lawn around 1 inch of water daily. This is the right amount to ensure that the sod grows properly.
  • Skip watering the sod if rains in the day or the night before. The decision to not water based on rain all depends on how much falls.
  • If watering sod in the summer days, it is best to give the turf water everyday
  • If watering sod in the winter days, it is best to give turf water every other day or every 2 days.
  • Do Not Over Water Sod! When watering sod, make sure it is the right amount. Giving too much water can cause the sod not to root.
  • Do not water sod at night. When watered at night, the sod is exposed to the possibility of fungus. Fungi love moist regions and at night the water just sits on the grass. This is the perfect breeding ground for fungus.
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Why Is Sod Not Rooting?

Posted on April 15, 2009 by admin

Everyone likes the look of a brand new lawn. This can often be accomplished by laying down fresh new sod. Once installed, after a couple weeks you should have a proper functioning lawn.

Despite the ease in being able to install and use sod, some people have some levels of difficulty. They often have issues and questions related to the reasons why their sod is not rooting. They will install the new sod and after a couple of weeks when they check to see if the sod has laid down roots as yet, they notice that the sod is still loose and has not rooted itself into the dirt.

Why Does Sod Not Root?

When a situation of sod not rooting occurs, the simplest answer could be how the sod is watered. Generally sod rooting should occur 10 days after the sod has been laid. How you water the sod plays a big role in how it roots. If the sod has too much water, the roots will not have to dig down too far to get the water as it is right there. To ensure that the roots are able to go in search of water, then less water needs to be available to them.

To ensure that the watering is enough, the turf should be allowed to soak 2 times a day for up to a week. Once this happens, then it should be reduced to once a day. Finally it should then be cut back to 2 times a week and finally once a week.

It should be noted that rooting of sod will be very slow if it is located in the shade. Most sod need 4-5 hours of full sunshine or a whole day of filtered light if they want it to root. For that reason it is not advised to plant the sod in shaded regions.

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Sod Staples

Posted on April 15, 2009 by admin

Sod Staples are products that are used to hold sod, grass, fabrics, plastic and other products into the ground. These products are a great alternative to use when trying to bury something like an invisible fence or if it is needed to hold things like sod in place. It is perfect to be used in wooded, landscaped or grassy areas. If using it in a wire system, the wires will be completely hidden with 1-2 weeks.

Generally sod staples range in length from 4″-12″ in length. The staples come available in 100, 200, 500 or 1000 pieces in a box. They are also available in regular wire or galvanized wire. There are also sod staples available that are Biodegradable. These biodegradable staples will often breakdown anywhere from 6-10 months.

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Sod Web Worm

Posted on April 3, 2009 by admin

sod-web-wormEveryone takes pride in their new lawns, however sometimes it can be destroyed by disease, weather and pests. One such pest that can create damage to the lawn are sod webworms.

Sod webworms also go by the name lawn moths. These are small brown caterpillars that eventually turn into gray moths. Sod web worms often grow to a size of length 3/4 “. The colors may vary from light to dark brown. These worms are usually covered by very fine hairs. When they develop into moths, the moths often take shelter in plants or other sheltered places in the day.

Sod worms are known to infest various turf grasses and are a source of annoyance to people who are trying to keep an immaculate lawn. These pests sleep during the day and often feed on the grass during the night. Grass blades that are damaged by these insects often are raggedy and the sides irregular. If you notice brown patches in the lawn, then there is a good chance that it might be sod web worms. If there is a large infestation of the insect, the lawn can be destroyed very quickly. These insects can be found predominantly in bent grass, blue grass buffalo grass, and zoysia grass. During the winter time, Sod Web Worms are not considered to be a major problem. It is during the summer where they are able to replicate and destroy the grass.

The methods to get rid of the Sod Web Worms are to either call an exterminator or do it yourself. Exterminators will be able to solve the problem and destroy these insects, however they are a bit expensive and you can do it yourself.

When it comes to getting rid of these worms yourself, the best thing to do is go to the local hardware or garden store. Here you will find pesticides and chemicals that can be placed on the affected areas of the grass. When applying the pesticide or chemical it is best to do it during early dusk. This is the time that the worms begin to feed and it will be more effective.

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Sod For Dogs

Posted on March 30, 2009 by admin

People love sod, it gives their home a fresh new lawn that will enhance the overall look of their property. A lot of these people own dogs and they often want to know what the best sod for dogs is. They want to know which sod will be able to tolerate dog feces and urine. The answer to the question is that there is no sod out there that can handle a dog. Some stand up better than others. St Augustine and Tifgreen seem to be the ones that handle dog urine really well. Those two will recover pretty well compared to other sod like Marathon.

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Bluebird Sod Cutter

Posted on March 30, 2009 by admin

bluebird-sod-cutter

The Bluebird SC550A Sod Cutter is one of those devices that is built specifically to handle all types of sod.  The Bluebird Sod Cutter has a 18″ Cutting Width. It comes with a 5.5 HP Honda engine and it is 4 Wheel Drive.

The Bluebird Sod Cutter is very easy to use all you need to do is set the depth at which you want to cut the sod. Once that is done then you will start the blade, pick the speed and that is it. It is a very simplistic way to cut sod.

The Bluebird Sod Cutter is very innovative as it will shift down automatically when you are in drive mode. This will allow the system not to be stressed. It is also very comfortable as it contains handles that are rubber insolated that helps to reduce the amount of vibration that the operator experiences. Finally it is very durable. It has ball bearings that need no maintenance as well as an aluminum plate that is very light and helps to reduce vibrations.

Bluebird SC550 Sod Cutter Features

Power – Honda Engine that gives 5.5 HP. Has 5 different forward speeds, 2 transport speeds, 2 cutting speeds and 1 reverse.

Performance – Comes with a 18″ blade that is able to cut up to 2.5″.

Assembly – 10″ wheels

Dimensions –  width 24″, Height 36″, Length 54″, Weight 328 lbs

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Watering Sod At Night

Posted on March 30, 2009 by admin

watering-sod-nightWhen new sod is laid, one of the most important things that is needed is proper watering. Watering of the sod should be done a couple times per day the first week. Many people have questions regarding watering their sod, but one of the most common is if it is ok to water sod ad night? The answer to that question is a solid NO!!!. When you have new sod or a lawn you should never water it at night. The reason for this is that watering at night will more than likely lead to disease. Water that is left to sit overnight on sod can potentially lead to fungus problems. For fungus to develop there needs to be water on the grass leaf which will allow it to move upwards and enter the leaf. When sod is watered at night, the grass leaves will not be allowed to dry until in the morning. During this time the fungus will thrive. It is also much cooler at night and this is another perfect condition for fungus to grow.

Generally most diseases are related to moisture and heat. That is why certain times of the year are perfect for disease to thrive. Humid months make it haven for fungus. Moisture is also another thing that fungus loves. The longer the moisture stays on the sod, the greater the chance of disease. It is for that reason that sod should not be watered at night, as it will keep the moisture till the morning.

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