A well-kept lawn is not just for the rich and famous. Even an ordinary homeowner can make their lawn look wonderful. There are times when you will want to start from scratch, but preparing a new lawn is not as simple as it seems.
First, you have to plan. Aside from choosing the type of lawn you want, you need to think about whether you will plant a new lawn from seed or sod. You also have to determine if you have the proper kind and quantity of soil available. Most new construction sites have minimal native soil available and will need to purchase lawn soil to begin your lawn. At Kynock’s, we manufacture a correctly specified lawn soil to take all the worries away.
Planting from seed means spreading grass seeds on prepared soil, either by hand or using a seed spreader. Using sod means laying down carpet-like sheets of grown grass, similar to laying carpet tiles.
How to lay lawn sod: planting a new lawn using sods is certainly easier. For one thing, you are not limited by the time of year, and you can even undertake this project in summer as long as you have a steady supply of water. The results are immediate because even if it takes a couple of weeks for the transplanted sod to grow into your lawn, it looks complete from the very beginning. Sods allow the use of the area within 4 to 6 weeks of application.
The primary downside to planting using sod is the cost. Sods is more costly, after all, someone went through the trouble of planting and raising the grass for you.
Planting from seeds is much less costly, but the challenge level is higher. You will be required to choose the right seeds for your lawn, which also affects the times of the year you can begin these projects. However, this level of control over seeds also means that you can create customized mixes of seeds, which is particularly important for lawns designed to address specific soil conditions.
The most apparent downside to planting a new lawn from seed is that it will take some time before it is ready for use. Usually, a complete growing season is necessary. Add to that the fact that some genuine care is needed for the new lawn to grow properly, and you can have a significant project on your hands. However, planting a lawn from seed is more gratifying than using sod.
Either way, the first step in physically preparing your lawn is to remove all the old grass. Not just the leaves, but the roots as well, and that means churning up the topsoil of your current lawn. It is easier to do this by cutting patches of soil held together by the roots, much like cutting up a carpet. After clearing, you may need to grade the soil, especially if there are unwanted inclines and bumps.
How to lay lawn sod. Once the project area has been cleared, you will need to till or scarify the existing soil to a depth of about 6 inches or add new soil to this depth. This is intended to loosen the soil, providing better aeration and drainage, which both seeds and sod require. At Kynock Resources, we offer a manufactured lawn soil designed to meet the requirements for a healthy lawn.
After tilling the soil, a lawn roller is used to smooth the work surface. If sod is used, it is laid out and cut as necessary, and then a heavier roller is used to compact the soil and eliminate air pockets.
If the seed is used, they are spread and then worked into the soil using a rake. After your seed or sod is applied, it is essential to water your grass daily until the roots are established. Whether you decide to sod or seed, it is necessary to properly maintain your lawn by liming annually, fertilizing periodically, aerating, and using proper mowing techniques throughout the season. This will provide you with many years of a beautiful lawn in return for your investment of effort.