Getting a lavish, carpet-like lawn starts with knowing how to install St. Augustine grass sod without making the usual rookie mistakes. It's a single of those weekend break projects that seems a bit daunting when you see a huge palette of grass sitting within your drive, but when you obtain into a tempo, it's actually pretty satisfying. If you're tired of looking at a scrappy, weed-filled yard plus want that deep green look that St. Augustine is famous for, you've come to the right place.
Prepping the Ground Prior to the Sod Comes
I can't stress this enough: the success associated with your lawn is dependent almost entirely upon what you do before typically the grass even touches the dirt. In case you just throw sod over existing weeds or compacted soil, you're generally throwing money apart. You want to start by cleaning out the junk. Use a sod cutter or the sturdy shovel to remove existing grass and weeds. A person want a clean slate of uncovered soil.
When the area is clear, take a look at the dirt itself. St. Augustine grass loves a bit of breathability, so if your ground is hard as a rock and roll, you'll want to till it up a few inches deep. This really is also the particular perfect time to mix in several organic compost or even a high-quality topsoil. In case your soil is sandy, the extra natural matter helps hold moisture; if it's heavy clay, it helps with draining.
After tilling and amending, grab a rake and level every thing out. You aren't just looking for "flat"—you want a small slope away from your home to avoid water from pooling. Also, keep the particular soil level about an inch decrease than your sidewalks or driveway. This particular ensures that as soon as the sod (which has its thickness of dirt) will be laid down, this sits flush along with the pavement instead of sticking up just like a tripping hazard.
Measuring and Buying Your Grass
Measuring sounds easy, but it's in which a lot of individuals trip up. You'll want to calculate the square video of your yard simply by breaking it down into smaller rectangles. Once you possess your total, add regarding 10% to the order . You're going to have to cut parts to fit around curves, trees, or even corners, and you'll inevitably end up with some waste. It's very much better to have three extra slabs at the end than to be three slabs short and have to drive back to the nursery.
Whenever you call the sod farm, request when the grass had been cut. You want it delivered mainly because fresh as possible—ideally within twenty four hours of being harvested. St. Augustine is the living thing, plus it starts to heat up and decompose if this sits on a pallet for too long, especially within the humidity. Strategy to have it delivered on a day time when you (and perhaps a few friends) are prepared to hit the ground running the moment the vehicle pulls away.
The Actual Installation Process
Right now for the fun part. Start by laying your first row of sod together the longest right edge of your yard, like the fence line or the edge of your house. Lay the slabs end-to-end, making certain the edges contact firmly but don't overlap. You desire them "snug, " but you shouldn't be forcing all of them to hump upward.
For the second row, you want to stagger the particular seams , very much like how a brick wall is made. This prevents long, continuous lines where water can wash away the dirt or where weeds can easily get root. If a person have a complete slab in the particular first row, begin the second line with a half-slab.
As you go, you'll probably run directly into obstacles like sprinkler heads or curved flower beds. Grab a sharp utility blade or perhaps a specialized sod knife to cut the pieces. Don't try to tear it with your hands; you'll simply end up with a ragged clutter that won't get root well. Pro tip: keep the knife sharp, as cutting by means of the thick root mat of St. Augustine can dull a blade quicker than you'd believe.
Tucking and Rolling
Once the grass is down, you may notice some little gaps between the particular slabs. Don't worry too much, but when you see a gap wider than the usual finger, fill it in with the little bit associated with topsoil or potting mix. This keeps the edges of the sod from drying out and dying off prior to they can knit together.
A single step many individuals skip—but shouldn't—is using a lawn tool. You can generally rent one through a local equipment store. Fill this with water plus roll it over the entire fresh lawn. This forces the roots strongly into the soil and gets free of any surroundings pockets. If the roots aren't touching the dirt, they can't drink, and the grass will certainly die. It's the simple step which makes a massive distinction in how fast the lawn determines itself.
The Critical First 2 Weeks
In the event that you've followed this particular far on how to install St. Augustine grass sod , you're through the most difficult physical labor, yet the most important part is just starting. For your 1st 7 to 14 days, your major job is to keep that sod wet. I'm talking "squishy" wet.
Depending on how hot it is, you may need to drinking water two or three times per day. You don't want serious soakings that result in runoff yet; a person just want to make sure the particular sod and the inch of soil beneath it stay regularly moist. If the edges of the slabs start to convert brown or relax, they aren't obtaining enough water.
During this time, stay off the grass! It's tempting to go out plus admire your function, but walking on new sod can create divots plus break the delicate new roots that are trying to grab onto the soil. Keep the kids and the particular dogs within the patio for at least a couple of days.
Long-Term Care and First Mow
After regarding two weeks, provide the "tug test" to a few different spots in the yard. Gently draw on the grass. If you experience resistance, this means the roots have began to grow straight into the ground. Once it's rooted, you are able to slowly start to back off on the watering frequency while increasing the amount of water you give this during each program. This encourages the roots to grow deeper in search of wetness.
You'll possibly notice the grass getting pretty high and shaggy close to week three or even four. Don't rush out with the mower too early. Wait around until it's tightly rooted and from least 3 to 4 inches high. If you choose mow with regard to the first time, set your blade to the highest setting. Never remove even more than one-third from the grass blade at any given time. St. Augustine likes to be kept a little taller than some other grasses (usually close to 3 inches), which usually helps it tone its own roots and crowd out there weeds.
Finally, wait at minimum a month or even two before a person think about fertilizing. The particular sod usually arrives from the plantation pre-loaded with nutrients, and you don't want to burn the new, tender roots with large chemicals right apart. Let it settle in, get set up, and enjoy the fact that you now have the best-looking yard on the block.