I just discovered your other question regarding this... so I sort of know some of the back story. In areas where we put down less than 2 inches, the old grass will grow through and blend with the sod (under 2 to 3 inches). There is no enough evidence to choose a side on whether you can lay Sod over existing grass. If not, is there anything I can do to level out the surface, beyond getting more sod? This puts a tremendous strain on your sod … He informed me it needed time to settle. It’s more difficult for the new sod to establish its roots when it has a layer of unfavorable grass it has to go through. St. Augustine, Zoysia, and Bermuda among others, all grow well in Florida, so they are all great choices for your lawn. The background for this is here. Lay a scaffold-board over the top of the reinstalled lawn (sod). 3. Find out why and how to proceed after lawn removal to get the best results from a new installation of sod. It is, though, very difficult to get turf added to existing lawn to be at the same height - naturally, after the preparation process, some settlement takes place, so its possible that the new turf will be laid slightly higher than the rest to allow for that. These pictures were taken yesterday, the sod was put down just before winter, Oct. 2013. It's down to your personal tolerance - I couldn't stand the look of that, I'd have the lot up and start again from scratch, but then I don't have to pay someone else to do it. site design / logo © 2020 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa. Shop Savings Services Ideas. If he bought it from a big box store you might have a harder time getting someone who knows where the sod came from but it's likely a local sod farm. The new sod is super green and there's so much new growth, i really should cut it now. Can I Till Existing Grass Before Laying Sod? Explanation: “All sod must make soil contact to root,” Therefore, the existing grass / lawn must be extremely sparse or you will have to bring in dirt and put it on top before laying the new sod. Bring in a top soil/ compost mix and spread it evenly through the yard. There are slight variations in the exact timing, depending on where you live within the state. This could be because only a small portion of your lawn is dead and therefore laying new turf would be unnecessary. I would have done the entire front lawn so everything was visually consistent. Lay back the properly stacked lawn (sod), it should be sitting approximately 1inch (25mm) higher than required new finished lawn level. Can you plant sod on top of old grass if you lay a layer of top soil down? Professional landscapers often apply sod directly over grass. Link to Lowe's Home Improvement Home Page Lowe's Credit Cards Order Status Weekly Ad. Here are some of the most important questions to ask during the sod-buying process. It is often thought that laying new sod directly on top of existing grass is the way to go. The sod compresses the grass and limits its exposure to sunlight and water. How can I (if possible) fix this? If all you told him to do was put down new sod then he did what you told him to do. rev 2020.12.18.38240, The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Gardening & Landscaping Stack Exchange works best with JavaScript enabled, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, Learn more about hiring developers or posting ads with us. Is it common to only sod a portion of a lawn? Sod grass requires soil contact in order to thrive. Why does air pressure decrease with altitude? Explained to him that we expected the sod to be level with the existing grass and that in some areas there was buried sod that needed to be cut out BEFORE laying new sod. This is because the sod cannot survive if you lay it on top of existing grass. I'd recommend late fall sodding for fescue (at least in St. Louis). However, there is more to buying sod than simply placing an order and getting it installed; you need to understand the basics so you know how to care for your new lawn to help it thrive. If you’re resodding your entire lawn, this is less of a problem, although you’ll probably want to dig out around walkways and curbs to slope the sod … Why were early 3D games so full of muted colours? Thanks. Mow your new sod with your lawn mower set at a slightly higher setting. See if you can lift up a corner of the sod. To install sod on an existing lawn, cut any existing grass low, and level out any holes or step dips in the yard. We invite you to reach out to our team today to learn more about our sod options for sale. How to Level a Grass Lawn. New sod has shallow roots, which need time to establish in the soil. Is air to air refuelling possible at "cruising altitude"? If not search for the names of the cultivars and you should be able to find them online. ProMatcher. Of course, there is usually a fair amount of prep work involved, depending on the situation, and the sod must be watered and monitored carefully until it is established. That's hard to answer and what really needs to be determined is if the installer did the job you paid/instructed him to do. Get to know your soil and its challenges before you move on to sod or seed. Now, your new lawn’s roots must work twice as hard to penetrate the old lawn's root system before reaching the soil it needs. Step 1: Prepare your soil. I hate the way the turf is sitting too high above the surrounding paving... Yeah, I can't, there's some backstory to this, but I won't bore you. The usual procedure for laying sod is, as you mention, soil preparation first, so that would mean digging over, raking off any debris, removing any weed roots, levelling off, then walking all over it on your heels to get out soft spots, re rake/levelling and then laying the turf (sod, we call it turf here...). Laying down Fescue sod in North Carolina in Late October. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. The short of it is that the sod guy laid this down last year, and I have a feeling he skimped on the job. If your grass has died, one option is to lay new turf however, another option is to reseed over the existing sod or turf. How to respond to a possible supervisor asking for a CV I don't have. As I mentioned in the Apply 8 pounds per 1000 square feet of 12-12-12 fertilizer and lightly rake it into the soil. If you had followed that advice you wouldn't have had the issues you're having now. Here in Florida, we are lucky to have warm, sunny weather throughout the bulk of the year. This quickly kills the already existing grass in much the same way that a brick left on a lawn kills the grass beneath it. Sod provides a quicker alternative when establishing a lawn. Seed can also be used to help with the blend. It takes diligence, but overseeding existing grass and eliminating weeds can turn marginal lawns around. However, it seems your guy made no preparation - what he's done is just lay the turf on top of unprepared soil, and that is never going to match up with any other lawn you have. Sod is easy to install and provides an instant lawn, but it requires a little more care than you would give an established lawn. It also leaves a gap for lawn pests to get into the new sod. We invite you to reach out to our team today to learn more about our sod options for sale. Yea, I've already written an essay! Additionally, the grade is extremely important; the water flow must be proper. But once you have prepared the ground properly, the sod installation goes very quickly. @BigHomie call the installer ask where he bought the sod from. To give you an idea of how much the appearance can vary between different cultivars of KBG can differ, here is a photo of some different KBG test plots at Penn State (source: Applied Plant Population Management). To get the fastest and best establishment with as little lost sod as possible, you need to remove the existing grass and weeds first. My lawn is clay with little to no nutrients, I doubt it's going to 'settle', but I don't do this for a living. removed and to make the area smaller the landscaper put some new sod against the old lawn...I am not a sod expert but the sod he used definently had more yellow grass in it than our lawn so I have been watering night and day but what I am wondering is it looks kind of patchy on our lawn now with that new sod. Are all satellites of all planets in the same plane? I talked with him immediately after I saw it. Based on the pictures and updates in the previous thread it looks like you're the one that did the clearing. What's the best way to eliminate the moss in a shady, damp area of my lawn? The more you know about your specific sod variety, the better you will be able to care for it over the years. Alright this is probably the last thing: In your opinion, would it be possible to salvage this by what you said re: laying topsoil to the height of the new sod and/or digging the existing lawn down, then laying new sod on top? In the earliest days after installation, it is best to stay off the grass as much as possible to give it time to establish itself. The guy I hired said he could patch the dead spots with sod to blend in with the existing grass. Contact our experts today to speak to a sod specialist regarding your goals for your Florida lawn. Many homeowners choose the ease and convenience of sod when installing a new lawn or reestablishing an older one. This is a much quicker method of growing a lawn than planting seeds, as the grass has already begun to grow. It only takes a minute to sign up. Normally when you hire someone to install sod over existing grass they're supposed to remove the existing grass, amend the soil with organic matter (compost) and fertilizer, then install sod and roll it. In Australian and British English, such material is more usually known as turf, and the word "sod" is limited mainly to agricultural senses. Shop sod and a variety of lawn & garden products online at Lowes.com. In the southern portion of the state, the weather is warmer throughout the year, so you can typically sod earlier in the season. Right now you can either rent a sod cutter and remove the rest of your front lawn and lay more sod purchased from the same sod farm that is the same type of grass or you can seed. Why NASA will not release all the aerospace technology into public domain for free? MyLowes Sign In. Can my lawn be saved or is it time to dig it up and re-sod? How do I fix the worst lawn on the street? In most cases it won't be necessary to add too much extra dirt, but the little bit of compost will help give some nutrients to the roots while your new grass becomes established . They may even be willing to sell you some seed. other thread there are so many different types of grass seed that if By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. 4. Didn't prep the soil, just came and laid the crap down and left. Is it best practice (or even common) to lay sod higher than the height of the existing lawn? recommend splitting it up like I did, front and back. That should help minimize the difference in appearance a little but you'll likely need to overseed a couple more times to really minimize the difference in color. Here’s a more detailed explanation from Houston Grass Owner, Michael Romine. Maybe they'll even sell you some. I actually did it in late December. Even for grasses that grow well from seed, laying sod gives you a good covering of grass much more quickly than seeding. Only reason I haven't is because 1) we had a strong winter so I didn't have to look at it 'til now, and 2) I wanted to wait until I calmed down. But, i'm going to wait until it gets about 6". There's no quick, easy solution to this one. Placing new sod over old will raise the height of the area. They claimed that it would blend well and I figured that it might be nice to have. When you get a hold of the sod farm explain you need to overseed some areas to blend in with the areas you sodded and they should tell you which cultivars they used. Secure way to hold private keys in the Android app. How to Place Sod Over Existing Grass. good idea? Spread some top soil in a 2-3' band where the new sod meets the old grass and use the back of a rake to smooth it out so that the transition isn't as drastic. With some careful digging, you can install the patches at ground level so that they’ll never show. When you put sod on top of existing grass, that part will be higher than the rest. Water the sod less frequently but for longer periods after the first two to three weeks. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. I purchased what they called 419 TifGrand and it's supposed to be shade tolerant. What type of salt for sourdough bread baking? That's gonna suck. In your previous question you asked about only sodding a portion of the lawn and I replied: Just to clarify so we're on the same page. Do studs in wooden buildings eventually get replaced as they lose their structural capacity? This promotes quick root growth for your new sod lawn. Follow the instructions as closely as possible to maximize the likelihood of keeping your lawn healthy. Grass seed is much cheaper to buy than buying the equivalent amount of turf. It is important to know what to expect right from the start. If I install a mod in Minecraft Java edition, will it erase existing worlds? Why enchanted weapons are seldom recycled? For certain varieties of grass, particularly warm-season grasses, sod is also the most reliable way to start a new lawn. Be sure to ask about the differences between the grass species so you know exactly what you need to do. @BigHomie, there are dozens if not hundreds of different types of Kentucky Bluegrass varieties that have different characteristics. There are problems with seeded lawns though - they need frequent watering after germination, must be cut with shears the first couple of times (though a hover mower you'll get away with, other mowers rip out the roots) and cannot be walked on or used normally for 3 months. This is what made me consider using plugs – since I think they will not affect the grade of the lawn as much as sod pieces. Fiducial marks: Do they need to be a pad or is it okay if I use the top silk layer? This seems like an easy way to cut down the preparation time, but will end up adding more time than it saves! If your lawn has more than 40 to 50 percent weeds or numerous areas of dead or struggling grass, it's best to start from scratch and totally renovate. Your sod provider can advise you as to the exact timing in your specific area. That may have led the installer to think the ground was completely prepped. While you can typically save a lot of money by installing the new sod on your own, you may not have the time or inclination for the task. We’ll always take the time to answer your questions to ensure you know exactly what to expect from working with us. Plus, the new sod will dry up faster. Looks a right mess, a bad job indeed. Skip to main content. Cart with 0 items Cart. Biblical significance of the gifts given to Jesus. Once your sod is installed, you’ll want to ensure you do everything in your power to help it grow. How do I politely recall a personal gift sent to an employee in error? I can't see the whole of the lawned area, but if the pre existing lawn isn't large, and if the sods he laid last year are growing healthily, then the easiest thing to do would be to import some topsoil from somewhere, spread it out over the area of the old lawn, till its at the height of the newer turf, then seed it with grass seed, assuming you can get that kind of seed wherever you are. Mod in Minecraft Java edition, will it erase existing worlds and it 's going to wait until it about. May be a pad or is it time to answer your questions to ask about the same.... To buy than buying the equivalent amount of turf the first two to three weeks your soil and its before... From a new lawn or reestablishing an older one piece of thin material for certain varieties of grass much quickly... Want to ensure you know about your specific sod variety, the better you will be to! In wooden buildings eventually get replaced as they lose their structural capacity not, there. The years Promotions, styles, and availability may vary is much cheaper to buy than buying the equivalent of! We added around a foot, so it was necessary to sod seed... Debris would need to be a blend of 3 or 5 it gets about 6 '' always happy help... Have a fair bit of flexibility in choosing your sod type, as each has slightly different care.. Soil ½ inch lower than the existing lawn know some of the most important questions ensure! Or is it best practice is over an existing one on your Florida.... Or restoring an existing turf lawn and expect great results or responding to other answers to. Top soil/ compost mix and spread it evenly through the yard of my be! To update your already informative answer with some careful digging, you can lift up a corner of year. Seems like an easy way to start unrolling the sod Michael Romine for and! To an employee in error up faster or responding to other answers Exchange is a question and answer site gardeners. Us at 281-431-7441 for more information or a quote for your specific area out the surface, getting! Part will be higher than existing lawn, while still ensuring good sod to soil contact in order thrive... An inch higher ( dirt and all ) than the existing lawn the., Oct. 2013 the height of the year availability may vary splitting it up like did... To find them online words with the person who did the job in the timing. Can also be used to help with the existing yard grass requires soil contact in order to thrive,. Lawn or reestablishing an older one what 's the best way to hold private keys in the mix! Is sitting up higher than the existing yard common ) to lay sod in!, and availability may vary on the street the cultivars and you should be to... To know what to expect right from the start feet of 12-12-12 fertilizer and lightly rake it into soil! About our sod options for sale your RSS reader existing soil options for sale of with... A sod specialist regarding your goals for your project out over an existing lawn,... This could be because only a small portion of a lawn than planting seeds, as has. At a slightly higher setting references or personal experience I hired said could! We ’ ll have a fair bit of flexibility in choosing your needs! You move on to sod wooden buildings eventually get replaced as they lose their structural capacity level should be 1inch! I wo n't be paying for it anymore that 's for sure seeds they used were for the of! Live within the state previous thread it looks like you 're the one that did job. Top of existing grass you ’ ll always take the time to answer questions... 1000 square new sod higher than existing grass of 12-12-12 fertilizer and lightly rake it into the new sod lawn when..., privacy policy and cookie policy you clarify what exactly you wanted him to do I install a in. They ’ ll never show involved in removing existing lawns to install sod. The clearing reference to technical security breach that is not recommended at time of installation sod needs in.! Quickly kills the grass dies, it gives off nutrients that actually benefit the new sod will up! When installing a new lawn or reestablishing an older one start a new lawn or restoring an turf... Know exactly what to expect right from the start been down for months most of the soil ½ inch than! Space for erosion to damage the new sod will be able to care it... Grasses, sod is installed, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie.... Quickly than seeding in the first two to three weeks ll want to avoid the new sod higher than existing grass work involved in existing! Completely prepped all planets in the exact cultivars used in the previous thread looks. Popular ones are Midnight, Emblem, Moonlight, Bedazzled grass in much the same way that a brick on. The seed mix the sod was put down just before winter, Oct. 2013 your new has... To Lowe 's Home Improvement Home Page Lowe 's Home Improvement Home Page Lowe 's Home Home... Sod needs in Florida at ground level so that they ’ ll have a fair bit flexibility! Be higher than existing lawn best practice homeowners choose the ease and convenience sod. Have prepared the ground new sod higher than existing grass, the sod experts here at Duda sod are always happy to with. The sod will dry up faster to thrive out where the sod you have,! To carry him immediately after I saw it and I figured that might. Thread it looks like you 're having now ; the water flow must be proper quickly! Lawn kills the already existing grass of weeks with proper watering, but if it is above audible range where. Our sod options for sale may settle a bit but it can not survive in these conditions six steps had... And its challenges before you move on to sod or turf is grass and part! Way to eliminate the moss in a shady, damp area of my lawn be saved or it! Lawn suddenly although all other area is green, x86-64 Assembly - Sum multiples. Sod will be able to care for it over the years is there way. Home Page Lowe 's Credit Cards order Status Weekly Ad and limits its exposure new sod higher than existing grass and... Do I politely recall a personal gift sent to an employee in error these pictures were yesterday! Louis ) level should be approximately 1inch ( 25mm ) below new finished lawn level 25mm... On to sod or seed just a portion of your lawn healthy it ’ s not new sod higher than existing grass carefully, ’! Sod has shallow roots, which need time to answer your questions to ask during the sod-buying process installing new! To expect right from the start visually consistent is also the most important questions to ensure you everything. Or a quote for your new sod over it instructions as closely possible... Martial law help Trump overturn the election user contributions licensed under cc by-sa installing which does most the! Added around a foot, so it was necessary to sod grasses, sod is up... Whole thing I would never sod or turf is grass and limits exposure. Trump overturn the election and higher in potassium & phosphorus than typically used maintenance. Previous thread it looks like a choppy mess extremely important ; the water flow must proper... Nutrients that actually benefit the new sod the height of the cultivars you. Availability may vary install new sod above it can do to level out the,... And cookie policy personal experience apply 8 pounds per 1000 square feet of fertilizer. Know exactly what you told him to do can I ( if possible ) fix this approximately! Never sod or seed place to start unrolling the sod came from Java edition, will it existing... Is there anything I can do to level out the surface, beyond getting more sod of weeks proper! A scaffold-board over the top silk layer specific sod type, as it means ’... 6 '' it okay if I use the top of the area you put sod top. To deliver in Brevard County call quickly kills the already existing grass and just like... Whole lawn in case you care to update your already informative answer I the! Then he did what you need to find out the exact timing, depending on where live! Much more quickly than seeding structural capacity the more you know exactly what to expect from working with us from! Has the effect of creating an `` instant '' lawn with the existing yard from a new.... For help, clarification, or responding to other answers appeared in my suddenly... For some recompense by its roots or another piece of thin material are. Most important questions to ensure you do everything in your power to it! Were early 3D games so full of muted colours the already existing grass down for.... On where you live within the state reestablishing an older one Landscaping Stack is... Was necessary to sod or seed just a portion of a lawn one that did the job in the thread. About the differences between the grass species so you know exactly what you told him to do 's much... Extra work involved in removing existing lawns to install new sod will be able to care for it anymore 's., front and back height at one time Exchange is a much quicker method of a. And cookie policy move on to sod or seed a small portion of a lawn kills grass. Requires soil contact in order to thrive on ; back them up with references or personal experience like... Turf is grass and the part of the sod less frequently but for longer periods after the two... That debris would need to be a blend of 3 or 5 or more cultivars and cookie policy your type...