Establishing a lush, beautiful lawn is a rewarding endeavor for any homeowner. Before beginning either sod or seeding projects, many factors must be taken into consideration before commencing them.
Sod installation offers fast results, though more costly than hydroseeding. Sod consists of mature turf grass transplanted from one location.
Cost
Cost estimates of new lawn installations depend on both type and labor expenses, with sodding being the costliest method despite providing fast results that require staying off their yard for 10-14 days after installation.
Grass seed costs far less than sod yet takes longer to fully develop and creates less dense lawns than sod does. Furthermore, it may be difficult to achieve a uniform look using seeded lawns.
Professional lawn services offer invaluable help in selecting and installing grass that thrives under various weather conditions, while their experienced crews know exactly how to prepare for a lawn installation with optimal performance. Furthermore, these companies can recommend specific varieties based on climate, usage, and aesthetic considerations for your property.
Add fertilizer or herbicide to help the new sod take root and establish itself into a lush lawn, available from gardening stores or landscaping retailers in your area.
If the soil is not in excellent condition, it may need to be regraded or leveled before sod can be installed.
This can add significantly to project costs and may necessitate renting additional equipment such as a dump truck or backhoe. You can click here to learn more about how this works.
Furthermore, new topsoil may need to be purchased, an expense which may become quite significant when working on sloped or difficult-to-reach yards.
Time
Timely completion of a lawn installation depends on many variables. Seed, sod or hydroseeding installation takes most of your attention initially while there may be delays before the new lawn can be cut regularly. Furthermore, allow three weeks until its ready for mow time!
Prep work involves loosening up soil, clearing away existing vegetation, and installing a weed barrier to stop future seeds from germinating. Core aeration or rototilling may also be needed to improve lawn health before sodding or seeding occurs - this should ideally take place either spring or fall.
Once the ground is ready, it's time to lay your turf. Depending on its size and complexity, this process may take from hours or days. When finished, infill should be added - either manually or using a power brush - which adds texture underfoot while keeping flat areas from becoming overgrown.
Once the turf is laid, it must be watered regularly until its roots take hold. For optimal results, avoid walking on or cutting it for at least 14 days in order to stimulate its growth and encourage root formation. You may then begin mowing and fertilizing it, taking special care not to damage its young roots while doing so. You can click the link: https://waterquality.colostate.edu/FertilizingLawn_www.pdf to learn more about fertilization.
Experience
An attractive lawn can add significant value and increase its resale potential, but for its installation to be successful it requires several key considerations.
Selecting the appropriate type of grass and knowing its care are both key components in successful installation; to help make that process simpler and faster hire an expert in lawn and landscaping who can help create beautiful healthy grass in as little as one day! You can learn more about grass types by clicking the link.
As the initial step in cultivating a lush lawn, soil preparation is of key importance. To do so effectively, rent a sod cutter or rototiller to remove existing turf before core aerating or roto-tilling the soil 1-2 inches deep to promote growth while discouraging dormant weed seeds from germinating and taking hold.
Once the soil has been prepared, sod should be laid within 24 hours of delivery as living sod needs oxygen and nitrogen to grow properly; leaving it out for any longer could result in yellowing or browning of its leaves.
Warranty
A quality lawn installation company should offer an extended warranty period, which should cover both work and material purchases as well as total costs including taxes. Furthermore, it should include maintenance schedules as well as plant specifications listing. Finally, terms and conditions should also be in place.
Sod installation may be more expensive than seeding, but it provides instantaneous lush lawn. Sod is also great for shading areas where grass cannot grow easily; however, sod does need initial watering to stay alive and flourish; additionally, it may become susceptible to weed growth over time.
A landscaping warranty typically covers labor for one full year, including one replacement plant per shrub or tree, however this warranty does not extend to diseases, insects, fire, wind, or drought damage that is beyond their control. Be sure to check with your installation company to see what their warranty covers.