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How To Lay Sod In Florida

What is the best time of year to lay sod in Florida?

We recommend installing new sod in spring or early summer. This time frame gives your new lawn plenty of time to establish roots and grow with warm temperatures outside.

How do you prepare ground for sod?

How to Prepare Your Soil for Sod. Loosen the top 6 to 8 inches of soil with a rototiller. Spread 2 inches of finished compost (this may be available for free if your town has a municipal compost center). Add 2 to 3 inches of sand to claylike soil to improve drainage.

Can I lay St Augustine over existing grass?

People often think that laying sod over an existing lawn makes sense and saves time. In fact, laying fresh sod over an existing lawn is no shortcut and could kill your sod and cause you twice as much work. Removing your old lawn before laying new sod is crucial for a healthy root system.

How long does sod last in Florida?

How Long Will Sod Last Once It’s Cut? Technically, cut sod will last about 36 hours in the summer and about 72 hours in the winter. But get it installed ASAP, please. The sooner your fresh sod goes from the farm to your soil, the better, so it doesn’t dry out.

How much is a pallet of sod in Florida?

Cost: $226.49 per pallet, plus tax. One pallet covers 400 square feet.

What kind of dirt do you put under sod?

Black loam provides an abundance of water and nutrients to the soil which is extremely important for their health. It provides better drainage that clay-rich soil, which is why it’s commonly used to prepare the soil for sodding.

How long does sod take to root?

Your new sod should root within 10-14 days of application. This is also when you should mow your new lawn for the first time after laying sod. Be sure to set your mower to the highest setting possible in order to avoid cutting it too close to the root.

How do you stop weeds from growing on new sod?

Consider a selective post-emergent herbicide in a spray bottle or tank sprayer with a controllable stream; this way, you can easily spot-treat the weeds in your new sod. Pre-emergent herbicides prevent weeds from growing, but if you lay sod in spring or fall it may be too late to use this kind of herbicide.

Is it hard to lay sod?

Laying down grass sod to start or repair a lawn isn’t the hardest yard task, but it is labor intensive and requires knowing more than “green side up.” But don’t be daunted. If you have a bare or barren patch of yard, sod is a moderately priced way to turn a brown or weedy patch into a thick, green lawn.

Can you put sod over dead grass?

Sod, though, can be applied directly over existing grass.” When the grass dies, it gives off nutrients that actually benefit the new sod above it. The main nutrient that the dead grass layer provides is nitrogen. Applying sod directly over grass is advantageous because it requires less work.

Will gaps in sod fill in?

If necessary cut the sod to the proper shape and size by using grass clippers. Put a small amount of compost in the gap, and then press the patch into place. Water it regularly, and soon it will extend its roots into the ground and become a permanent part of your lawn.

What is the best time to lay sod?

Generally it is best to lay sod during the active growing period of your turfgrass species: cool-season grasses do best when planted during the early fall or early spring and the warm-season grasses do best when planted mid-late spring.

How much sod can 1 person lay in a day?

On average, one person can lay 3,000–4,000 square feet of sod per day. Plan with these numbers in mind when ordering sod. Also, remember that new sod requires specialized rolling and watering, so it’s not as simple as laying the sod and walking away.

How often should you water new floratam sod?

If you’re planting new Floratam sod, it needs to be watered at least once or twice per day for the first couple weeks — even longer, in some instances. After Floratam grass is established, it needs about 1″ of water each week. What’s really important is that the watering is a good, even soaking.

How often do you water new sod in Florida?

Depending on the temperature, you should water it 2 to 6 times a day for 4 to 6 minutes at a time. The hotter it is, the more you should water it. The goal is to keep the sod and soil underneath moist, but no longer soggy, throughout the day. Try to stay off the sod for the first two weeks.

How much does it cost to sod a yard in Florida?

Cost of installing sod based on the size of your yard: 1,000-sf yard > $1,150 to $1,750. 2,000-sf yard > $2,300 to $3,500. 3,000-sf yard > $3,450 to $5,250. 4,000-sf yard > $4,600 to $7,000.