Considerations for Your Sod Installation Project

Grading

The Sod Installation process begins by excavating and removing existing vegetation to be hauled away for recycling. If your soil is still good condition we then use a high-powered tiller to re-oxygenate your soil by creating oxygen pockets. If new soil is required we will then bring this in. Next, a rough grade is established and a layer of screened loam is used to level out any low spots. A landscape roller is used to smooth out any bumps. We will alternate between raking, rolling and adding more soil until we have the desired finishing grade.

Cutting the Sod and Installation

Your new Sod is installed with an offset staggered pattern similar to a brick wall. The offset helps give a better interlock between the sod pieces. After the pieces of sod have been placed it’s not time to make cuts. We go around making with box cutters to fit sod around concrete, landscape beds, sidewalks, driveways and other objects in the work area. Any leftover screened loam can be broadcast over the sodding areas to further increase the interlock between sod pieces.

Watering

Irrigate area for 35 minutes per watering zone or until water begins to run onto pavement or concrete. A watering zone is defined as the area your sprinkler is able to water. Once water begins to run onto concrete the soil has reached it’s saturation maximum and can no longer take in any more water. Under ideal circumstances, you should water 35 minutes per day, per zone, 3 times a day for 3 weeks. However, it is more common for homeowners to water 60 minutes per day and hope everything works out. If you accidentally step on the sodded area and leave an imprint this is ok. Gravity and time will eventually settle out the disrupted area. If you are uncomfortable with the imprint you can fix it sooner by spot watering the affected area and using a flat object to pat down the Sod.

Aftercare

Your first cut will take place three weeks after your sod installation. Your grass will now be quite tall making for a formidable first cut. It is best to set your mower on it’s highest setting for the first cut. The following week you can cut again this time setting the cutting height a little lower. Every successive week you can lower your cutting blades until you have your desired height. Each time you mow the lawn be sure to gather up all your clippings. If clippings are left on the lawn this will create mold and mildew and your grass plant will do very poorly.

You should continue to water once per week for 35 minutes per zone.

Cutting height

The City of Calgary recommends that you leave your grass long and cut frequently to help reduce water usage. By leaving your grass long you reduce the amount of water lost to transpiration. By cutting frequently you will encourage more consistent and regular growth. Frequent cutting will be as often as once per week during Calgary’s active growing season (May 15-July 31).