Sod Lawns Give Instant Satisfaction.

If planting a lawn this way is like buying a "you-bake" pizza, then commercially grown sod is having that pizza cooked and delivered to your door! With sod you can literally go from dirt to lawn in one day. Commercial growers select the best grass mixes and varieties for your area, cultivate and harvest them by slicing them into rolls, then we deliver them by truck and install them at your site.

For many homeowners the payoff is saving the backbreaking effort of fertilizing, planting, watering, then watching, hoping pests and weeds will not undo all the hard work. You can use your sodded lawn weeks earlier than one that is seeded and it will immediately help control erosion. Another big plus is that you can lay sod during those times of the year when seedlings won’t grow quickly.

We look for four things when purchasing sod: freshness, soil type, thickness, and weed content. Sod, like any crop, is perishable. We use sod growers who harvest and deliver the sod the same day.

The best sod should actually contain little soil, allowing the sod to more quickly establish a better root structure. The first few days are critical, however; sod roots are less than half an inch thick, which can dry out faster, and so require more watering while they establish.The soil used in the sod should be similar to that on your property, because different soil types may drain differently or the roots may not penetrate the subsoil properly. Weeds are another concern.

When commercially grown sod is installed, it should be tight, with varying seams like brickwork. When we install your new turf, we will not overlap or stretch the sod, which can shrink as it naturally dries slightly during establishment, forming exposed edges and gaps. Edges that don’t touch can also die, although it is normal for some browning to occur briefly during the first few weeks. Sod should be laid perpendicular to any slope; steeper slopes may require pegging the sod to keep it in place until the roots are able to anchor themselves in the underlying soil.

Sod must be watered more frequently during the first few weeks, at least once a day, and more often in dry climates. Rolling the sod is necessary during the first few days to remove any gaps between the sod and the soil underneath. Avoid foot traffic until the sod is well established.

Mowing should be avoided for the first week or so. Until the sod is well established, plan to mow to a height at least 50 percent taller than you will later want. If you want three-inch grass, you will want to initially mow it to 4.5 inches.

Make sure to add some commercial nitrogen soil amendment one month after planting, and again in the fall. While it depends on the grass variety you choose, remember that taller grass is usually is hardier and more drought tolerant than shorter-cropped lawns.

Our landscaping designers and turf specialist will assist you in identifying the best sod for your site's soil and condition. Then, our professional turf installers will prepare your site and install the sod. At Metro GreenScape, we also guarantee the quality of our sod!