Any Tips on Maintaining Sod

Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
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651
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Just had sod installed in my backyard. Soaked it thru to the soil underneath. The next day some of shrunk in the sun, so I had to reposition some of it close-up the gaps. I'm thinking if it continues, I'll just fill the gaps with top-soil and grass seed.

Anybody go thru this before?
 

RKS

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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81
You gotta water the crap out of it for a while but you stop-gap measures seem fine.
 

imported_Imp

Diamond Member
Dec 20, 2005
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Do the grass seed thing. I replanted a third of our front lawn last year with seed cause the stores were out of sod. The two thirds that were sodded still have 'gap' issues. We just fill the gaps with some seed. You won't notice it once the sod portion lengthens. However, grass seed is pretty unreliable so you will have to go back a few times over the next few months.

Another idea is to buy a bit more sod and cut some strips to full the gaps.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,344
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Water. Water. Water. More water. The only way you can overwater sod is if it's floating away. It'll do the rest.
 

Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
34,543
651
126
Originally posted by: fossilburner
did you get instructions from your installer?

Just to water it deeply and often. The installer was just the gc for the developer.
 

edro

Lifer
Apr 5, 2002
24,326
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Water it daily for 3 months...

It sucks... but it is the only way to ensure it's survival.
 

bctbct

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 2005
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I walked on the seams each day to keep them imbedded in the soil. I watered daily but not to the point of flooding it. I did mine early in the spring though.
 
Sep 29, 2004
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<== 5 summers of landscaping:

When you install that stuff, you need to make sure it is very tight to neighboring pieces. If you don't do this, it will die. You probably will need to fill in the gaps if you did not.

And the soil beneath the sod should have been looser. The best phrase is to say that it should not have been compacted. If it was, the sod will never (or take a long time atleast) to take root i nthe soil below. That is what you really are trying to do with sod is make sure the root structure joins the existing earth below. Until this happens, you need to water it and water it alot. A good soaking every morning should suffice. In the afternoon also on very hot days. You need to keep that sod moist.
 

Chunkee

Lifer
Jul 28, 2002
10,391
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i sodded last year when i put in irrigation system... tight fitting....throw the crap pieces out...order 10%-15% extra. water the crap out of it the first season. best to do it in the fall water it well...and of course give the treatments of weed and feed, aereation, lime...etc... best way to get a nice yard..i had my yard tilled, and fluffed first...ahole came at 5am..sposed to be there at 630 ...my neighboars where pissed...so was i.