So your lawn has seen its share of better days, and no amount of mowing or trimming will make it as even or pleasant as it should be. And you’re planning on a grand backyard barbecue within the month, with all your coworkers and superiors at the paper factory invited. You need to put up a great façade, even if it means that it will only be really useful to you for a day. Many people who decide on starting over with their lawns choose between seeding and sodding; in your case, laying out fresh sod is better since it results in an ‘instant,’ golf-green lawn. Of course you could hire a contractor to do it for you, but you can’t take pride in something you didn’t do, not with your boss around.
You have to get rid of your old lawn first. Get to the roots of weeds with a flathead shovel; if this task is too much trouble for you, you could spray herbicide and then use a sod cutter to pull them off by the roots. After you have the lawn started over, test its pH level; most types of lawn grass only work well with soil pH levels of 6 to 7.5. If the results show that you have to adjust it, do it after you’ve broken up the compact soil with the use of a rototiller; you can rent one from gardening store.
Apply a starter fertilizer on the loosened soil; it should have high levels of phosphorus (ask about it at the retailer, it’s the middle digits in the NPK sequence, as indicated on the fertilizer bag). You’ll also need to apply soil conditioner (you could buy it at the same store), but if you have enough buildup with a compost pile or pit back at home, you could use it as a replacement. Work the fertilizer and conditioner well into the soil with the rototiller, and level it out with a rake, picking out any good-sized rocks or other objects. Rent a roller, fill its container with water, and then use it to level the soil.
Lay out the sod; start with the outer perimeter and on either far side. After laying out two rolls on both sides, make your way to the lawn’s center with the next strips. One roll may not cover for an entire length, so you’ll have to lay them out on their ends, pressing them together so as to make a seamless appearance; do not overlap the ends though. Lay the rolls next to each other like bricks – don’t align the seams, and if a strip doesn’t lie on the level with the others, skim or insert topsoil underneath it. When you’re done covering the lawn, use the roller to press the sod firmly into the soil; this eliminates air pockets, allowing the sod to take root quicker. Don’t forget to water it on a daily basis, over the following weeks; otherwise it’s best to consider automatic irrigation systems if you believe that you can’t tend to it as much you’re supposed to.
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