According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, healthy grass prevents soil erosion, filters contaminants from rainwater and absorbs many types of airborne pollutants, like dust and soot. Grass is also highly efficient at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen, a process that helps clean the air.
Grass sod is an alternative to seeding when laying a new lawn. Laying grass sod is more expensive than seeding, but you get instant results. A healthy lawn gives environmental benefits whether it’s cultivated from grass sod or seed.
Below you will find some tips for laying grass sod:
- While there are prime times for sowing grass seed (Spring and Fall), grass sod can be laid almost any time during the growing season, except during very hot weather when the grass sod will dry out quickly.
- Prepare the soil for grass sod by tilling, preferably to a depth of around 6 inches, then rake it level and gently flatten it.
- Plan to lay your grass sod the day that it is delivered. It’s important to always keep grass sod moist.
- Start by laying the first grass sod down the longest straight edge, then tap it down firmly to ensure that the roots contact the soil below.
- Stagger the joints of the grass sod pieces, similar to the design of a brick wall. Try not to walk on the grass sod during the laying process – place a piece of wood on the already-laid grass sod to reach the soil.
- Trim the edges of the turf or sod using a half-moon spade.
Give the newly laid grass sod a good watering, enough to soak through to the topsoil below. Then ensure that you keep your new lawn adequately watered, particularly during the first month, as grass sod will lose moisture very quickly until the roots bind with the underlying soil.
Your new grass sod should quickly develop into a healthy lawn if you follow these tips.
