Posted on July 11, 2022 by Jeremiah Sooter

If you’re a new homeowner without an established lawn, you’re probably thinking of having sod installed. Your best first step is to hire a local landscaper. They can help you source the grass best suited for you and your family and install it.

By hiring a landscaper, you can rest assured knowing that your lawn installation is professionally sourced and thoroughly completed. Using specific equipment designed for sod installation, landscapers will prep the soil before laying your new sod, which is a time-sensitive project. A project that results in long-term savings for you.

Grass Installation Equipment

Since sod should be moist when laid, it can make it exceptionally heavy, leading to injury if not correctly lifted. In addition, sod installation is a labor-intensive, step-by-step project that, when rushed or delayed, can lead to costly problems for your grass. 

That’s why all the equipment your landscaper utilizes is to avoid injuries by taking all the necessary work safety precautions while saving you money and time later down the road. For example, when you hire a landscaper to install your sod, it’s guaranteed they will use their specialized equipment to lay down your new lawn.

Some of the equipment you can expect to see are:

• Excavators or loaders for leveling and grading that improves and controls sod drainage.
• Sod cutters to remove existing sod and trim sod rolls to fit difficult angles.
• Power rake or till to help turn, rotate, and aerate the soil in preparation for the new sod.
• A Sod laying machine properly aligns each sod roll.
• Seed and fertilizer spreaders to encourage growth.
• Sod roller attachment to tamp down and even out the lawn surface to successfully establish its growth.

Soil Prep

When your team of landscapers arrives to install your new sod, they will prep the soil for cultivating an environment in which the sod will thrive. To do that, they will first clear the sod area, so it’s debris free soil. That means removing rocks, large twigs, and tree stumps, that could inhibit growth.

Afterward, they will grate the surface to ensure water properly drains from your lawn while encouraging sufficient water saturation to keep your grass well-hydrated. Once the grading is adequate, a nutrient-rich topsoil blend gets layered on top of the ground soil. 

In the four states region, there is a lot of clay in the soil, making it heavy and less porous. As a result, the blended topsoil will help improve yard drainage. If, by chance, you have sandier soil, a nutrient-rich soil blend helps retain water too.

Then the topsoil is raked evenly to about six inches deep, ensuring your new lawn slopes away from your home for proper drainage. Then followed by using a lawn spreader to lay down a nitrogen-rich fertilizer.

The final layer is the sod layer, rolled out by hand or by using specialized equipment for laying sod efficiently and evenly. Your landscaper will use sod cutters to trim any sod rolls to fit flush with odd-shaped corners.

Time Sensitive

Your new sod should have minimal thatching and be free of weeds or pests before laying. Because the grass gets rolled to conserve moisture during transport, the installation is considered time-sensitive.

The sod should not sit for an extended time frame, or it will begin to dry out and die off. That’s why laying sod should be completed shortly after delivery to your home. Once laid, your new lawn will need frequent watering and regular sod maintenance to manage its health and appearance.

Contact Your New Landscaper

Hiring a landscaper to complete your sod installation makes a one-time investment that results in long-term satisfaction. So if you’re ready for a worry-free lawn installation, reach out to the team at Ground Up Services to schedule your sod installation today!