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Is sod an environmentally friendly choice for my home? |
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Absolutely. In fact, the U.S. Congress reported: "Turfgrass sod in urban areas and communities aids in reducing carbon dioxide emissions, mitigating the heat island effect, reducing energy consumption, and contributing to efforts to reduce global warming..." |
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How long does a typical installation take? |
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A high-quality sod lawn can typically be installed in a matter of hours. |
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How long must I wait after installation before my lawn is ready to be used? |
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ESF uses only healthy, mature sod, so your sod lawn will be ready for full use within days of installation. |
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What type of special care will my sod lawn need? |
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Sod lawns do not require any special care, unlike seeded lawns that must be nurtured to maturity. Proper soil preparation and the initial watering are critical.
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Is a sod lawn appropriate for more than just my home? |
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Sod is an ideal choice for community parks, golf courses, athletic fields, business boundaries, and roadside rest stops.
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Can a sod lawn impact the resale value of my home? |
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A well-maintained lawn and landscaping can add up to 15% to your property value. |
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How does sod compare to seeded lawns when it comes to water consumption? |
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Sod lawns require less water than seeded lawns, thus reducing water consumption as well as the cost to you once the sod is rooted and established. |
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Q |
How long can the sod sit on pallets before it must be installed? |
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Sod is a live, perishable commodity that needs to be installed immediately and watered thoroughly. It should be left on the pallet no longer than 12 hours. |
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How much does sod cost compared to seeded lawns? |
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Sod is initially more expensive but if you decide to seed your lawn then you will have to invest more time and effort in trying to get your seed to mature and provide uniform coverage. This process could take up to two years for the lawn to be as lush as a lawn that was laid with sod. Also, the cost of fertilizing and tending to the seeded lawn will lead to a higher cost in the long run. Therefore, to save time and money, the best investment for your lawn is to sod it. |
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Q |
What is healthy sod and how can I tell the difference? |
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The sod you purchase should be lush and full but not thatchy no matter what the season. You should inspect the bottom-side of the sod, or the roots, to make sure they are plentiful and white, indicating good health. |
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I'm removing old sod and replacing with new sod. What's the best way to remove old grass? |
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If the old sod is thin, then rototill and simply remove any clumps of grass that remain. If the sod is thick and more lush, then use a walk-behind sod harvester to lift the old sod. Remove the old sod and begin soil preparation. |
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What should I do for ground preparation before installing sod? |
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A lush lawn can be only as good as the ground preparation, just like building a good foundation for a house. This process should start days in advance. Remove all weeds and debris, rototilling or working the the soil as deep as possible (4 to 6 inches). Mix in a minimum of 1 cubic yard of organics per 1000 square feet of area and establish a smooth and consistent grade for the sod installation. Water the area a few days ahead to allow the soil to settle before installation. |
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Q |
Do you have any tips for taking care of new sod? |
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Water is key to healthy and lush sod. You must water your newly-laid sod every day for two weeks to insure it is getting the hydration and nutrition it needs to root and secure itself. Water should penetrate 6 inches below the sod in order for the sod to knit with the soil. |
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How many pieces of sod are on a pallet and is there a standard size of each piece? |
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There are a total of 54 rolls on a pallet. Each roll is 10 square feet, therefore the entire pallet contains 540 square feet of sod. The Colorado industry standard is usually a 10-square-foot roll, however some farms do slabs and smaller and larger rolls. |
