Prepare the soil by turning it over, raking out all trash and rocks. Spread a good soil amendment at the rate of one yard per 160 sqft. ( Sod Mix & Treated Redwood Compost are good ) This will give you a two inch coverage. Rototill 4 to 6 inches deep for best results.
Go over area with a heavy roller ( about 3/4 full ) and level with a rake. You will need to do this several times to get a good smooth surface. The smoother the ground the better the results !
The day of installation, spread HOME TURF STARTER FERTILIZER on the prepared soil. Use a spreader or throw on by hand .
Starting from a straight edge ( if possible ) lay sod out making sure that the sides butt up evenly and are not overlapped. You will have best results if you stagger the rolls as if you were laying bricks, this helps the seams fill in quickly. (You can use an old sturdy kitchen knife to cut sod). It is very important to water the sod as you lay it to prevent it from drying out in the sun as it's installed. Do not use a spray gun type watering device; instead use a gentle rain water wand or a sprinkler.
After all sod has been laid out, roll it with a half filled water roller to ensure good contact between sod roots and underlying soil. Roll perpendicular to the length of the strips. Then water sod thoroughly, the soil underneath should be wet to depth of 6 to 8 inches.
For the next 7 days you will need to water 20 minutes in the early morning and 20 minutes at noon. Do not water in late afternoon or evening. Always take care when watering, you may need more or less water depending on your sprinkler system, soil and or weather conditions.
Once the lawn begins to knit with the soil, you can begin to approach a normal watering schedule. Water your lawn when the soil begins to dry out or before the grass wilts. This could take 1-2 or even 3 days between watering. Early morning is the best time to water your new lawn. Light watering in the early afternoon on very hot days can help alleviate the heat stress of your lawn by wetting it just enough to moisten and cool the blades. Always apply water as uniformly as possible no faster than the soil can absorb it.
You should mow your new lawn in 1 or 2 weeks after installation. Like all plants in your garden lawn maintenance is very important. A lawn that is properly watered, mowed and fertilized has fewer problems with weeds and disease. Home Turf Inc. recommends “HT PRO FORMULA OR HT PRO FORM WC” . Follow product instructions for safety & proper application. Don't forget to have HOME TURF INC. PROFESSIONALLY AERATE your lawn twice a year.
For further information call one of our HT Specialist at
(831) 688-2700 (408) 984-1500 (916) 691-4433 