Revitalizing Your Calgary Lawn: A Quick Start Guide to Sod Installation in Calgary
A few cold winter months shouldn’t get between you and a beautiful lawn for your abode. Installing a layer of sod will give you that lush green look that will make you the envy of the neighborhood. Find out how sod installation can help revitalize your Calgary lawn.
The Basics: How Sod Works
Sod is an upper layer of soil with growing grass that homeowners overlay on top of their lawns. Also known as “turf” in other regions, sod is a popular tool for ensuring beautiful soil throughout the year.
Commercial properties like golf courses and sports stadiums use it often, but even residential landscapers and homeowners pick up sod to avoid soil erosion and clean up parts of the lawn that need patching.
There are many types of sod.
Cold-season sod, such as bluegrass and rye, grow best between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius.
Warm-season sod, including St. Augustine and Zoysia, grow best between 27 and 35 degrees Celsius.
On top of climate and temperature, you also have to consider other factors, such as:
- The amount of sunlight your lawn receives during the day. Some sods are more tolerant of sunlight, while others dry out too quickly without shade.
- How much time you want to spend maintaining the lawn. From fertilizer to mowing, different grasses require different levels of maintenance.
- The budget you have available. Compare the amount of space you need to cover with the price of the sod.
It's worth choosing a variation that matches well with your specific lawn and
the cold climates of Calgary.
How to Prepare Soil for Sod
Make room in the schedule to prepare your lawn prior to sod installation. Some of the essential steps to take in this regard are:
- Clearing the site of rocks, bricks, and other debris.
- Rough grade the installation area to ensure drainage problems don’t arise.
- Begin tiling to a depth of 2 to 4 inches depending on the level of new topsoil you’re adding.
- Test the soil pH and adjust it by adding materials like sulfur, gypsum, or lime. Certain types of sod work best at specific pHs, so do your research first.
- Check that the final grade of the soil is approximately 0.75 inches below the driveway level.
- Apply a starter fertilizer with a rake to massage it into the top couple inches of soil.
Once you’re finished, let the surface settle, possibly with a lawn roller. Keep in mind that you must install sod immediately as it arrives, so plan accordingly.
How to Roll Out Sod
Sod often comes in rolls, which roll out to deploy onto a flat surface. Proper installation best practices will ensure your new grass grows optimally.
- Start with a straight part of the lawn to use as a benchmark. The sidewalk or driveway is a viable option. Work along this line to ensure even rollouts.
- Lay the sod from top to bottom in straight rows, as if you’re laying out brickwork. Be sure to avoid overlaps.
- For sloped areas, lay the sod perpendicular to the slope. Sod staples may be necessary to secure the layers onto the slope.
- For laying out sod around trees, borders, or other obstructions, take a knife and cut the sod to the correct shape manually.
- Finish the job with a sod roller to remove any bumps and pockets of air. Don’t apply too much pressure that you compact the soil underneath.
The process of
sod installation doesn’t end here, however. Know how to maintain lawn sod to promote longevity.
How to Maintain Sod
After sod installation, don’t forget to start watering the surface immediately. Schedule watering times twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Water the lawn for approximately 20 minutes, adjusting your schedule according to precipitation. If you use automatic sprinklers, manually water any patches of grass that they don’t entirely reach.
Also consider applying fertilizer approximately a month after applying new sod to promote root growth. You want to wait until a root system develops before mowing.
The remaining considerations now are weed removal and pest control. Look for appropriate lawn care products that specialize in these areas if you ever notice issues cropping up.
Where to Find Quality Sod Installation Services in Calgary
Interested in a quality layer of sod to freshen up your Calgary lawn but aren’t sure where to look? Get in touch with Scott’s Sod, one of Canada’s most trusted sod suppliers and providers of lawn care services. Get a free quote today to prepare your home for the upcoming winter.
