If your lawn needs a little repair or a complete restoration now is a good time to install sod. Sod grasses give a carpet-like richness to your lawn. Sod is available in Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede and St. Augustine varieties. Bermuda sod is great for sunny areas and spreads fast. Centipede and St. Augustine like sun to semi-shade and spreads fairly fast. Zoysia is good in sun to semi-shade also but spreads more slowly. Meyers Zoysia is the most popular variety of sod. It has a dark green blade and is slower growing which means it requires less maintenance.

When installing sod make sure the soil is prepared properly. Loosen up the soil where the sod will be installed, rake up all the clumps and rocks, and smooth out the soil. You may want to moisten the soil a little before laying down the sod. Once the preparation is finished, start laying the sod in straight rows. Run the rows opposite the grade. For example, where the water runs down lay the side ways, opposite the flow. Always make sure the pieces are tight together. The second row is lined up with the first but the pieces should be staggered so that the ends do not align. If this step is not done, water can erode the soil between pieces. When installing sod always use a starter fertilizer that aids strong root growth to help get the grass established quicker and help in good blade growth. After installation, keep the grass watered to allow the roots to take hold.

If you have a sprinkler system sure to check to make sure, it is operating properly and replace or add new heads as needed before installing new sod. Check with your garden center professionals to determine the correct amount of water for your sod and soil type.

Happy Gardening.