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Roche Landscaping installs
thousands of rolls of sod every year. We install
sod from a number of different suppliers throughout
the Chicagoland area. These suppliers provide
competing products suitable for different applications.
Why
use Sod?
Sod is an instant lawn that
will require no over-seeding if watered properly.
Even on steeply graded areas sod can be successfully
established with minimal efforts.
How to Prepare
for Sod
In most cases, the existing
lawn is removed and the ground is graded (leveled).
Without removing the existing turf, the area
cannot be accurately and effectively graded.
Certain situations may require the area to
be sprayed in order to kill weed infestation.
Prior to installation of the sod, we apply
a fertilizer to the soil, which helps the sod
develop into a beautiful and long-lasting lawn.
Various
type of Sod
We select the type of sod that
will be more successful in our environment.
Typically, homeowners and businesses will have
a different needs and budgets for maintenance.
Different types of grass have advantages and
disadvantages. We assist our customers in determining
which type of sod is suitable for their applications.
RTF - This is a patented new variety of sod
that develops a very deep root system. More
information is available at the following website:
http://www.aboutrtf.com/.
Seeding
is also an option
Sod has it benefits, but
seeding is a functional choice in certain applications.
An area that tends to be in shade is a prime
example of a potential seeding application.
Because sod is grown in the sun, it tends to
grow better in sunny areas. Certain varieties
of seed are better suited shady environments.
Seeding can be more cost effective during the
initial installation. This is more pronounced
in an area with a larger square footage. Some
applications may require over-seeding at a
later date.
Watering Sod
Timing: Always
water early in the morning between 5:00 A.M.
and 7:00 A.M., when there is dew already on
the lawn. Water in the evening or night causes
many issues (mainly fungus related). After
the initial installation of sod, we recommend
that the homeowners water everyday for two
weeks. Once a lawn is established, the watering
will be less frequent. After the initial installation
when the lawn has established itself, the customer
should apply approximately 1-1.5 inches of
water per week.
Tips to Check Effectiveness
- We recommend that a customer
measure the amount of water that is being
put on the lawn to ensure adequate and consistent
watering. This can be done by simply putting
a number of small tin cans (e.g., tuna or
cat food cans). The cans will allow a customer
to see if they are wasting water and verify
that a sprinkler is getting water to some
of the more remote parts of their property.
The depth of water in each test can will
help the customer gauge how much water they
have used. The method will help to set timers
on the sprinklers, sprinkler systems and
spigots to assist in their water program.
The timers available for spigots are inexpensive
(usually around $30) and allow the water
to be turn on and off during the customer’s
absence.
- After a watering,
the customer can test the effectiveness by
taking a small tool and monitoring how deep
the water has penetrated. The depth should
be 4-6 inches after watering. It is better
to water less frequently and deeper. Deeper
watering allows the roots to grow deeper
into the ground instead of remaining on the
top part of the soil (the result of daily
lighter watering).
- Lastly, the customer can
gauge the effectiveness of watering by observing
the grass response to foot traffic. If footprints
are left in the grass, the grass should probably
be watered. The grass should have some spring
to it and recover from the foot traffic.
Hopefully these tips will
allow the customer to effectively keep their
lawn properly watered.
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