How To Install New Sod in Lynnwood?

Preparing your soil is essential before you can lay your new grass. Preparing your soil is essential to ensure a healthy lawn and beautiful yards for many years. These are the steps you need to follow before you lay your new lawn.

Clearing the soil

You can remove old grass, weeds, and other debris. To remove existing grass and sod, use a sod-cutter. Remove weeds, branches and bark, and large rocks.

Tip: Do not cover any old plants with dirt or sod. 

To reduce future weeds, you can treat the area before you start to work the ground. You can leave weed seeds and rhizomes in the soil, waiting for their chance to grow. Use a non-selective herbicide that is effective against both broadleaf and grass weeds. Before you start to remove the soil, apply glyphosate (a non-selective herbicide that works on both types of grass and broadleaf weeds). 

You must wait for the recommended time according to the label before you start working with the soil. Once the herbicide is installed, ensure that it does not cause any damage to the grass.

Tip: You can use herbicides to kill weeds after you have laid the sod. Most woody weeds will be killed by regular mowing at the correct height. After the sod has grown in your yard you can spot-treat broadleaf plants with a broadleaf herbicide. Unwanted grasses can't be effectively treated after the fact.

Grading

Your new sod lawn should have a level and smooth surface. If necessary, remove high-traffic areas. Fill in low spots to prevent the soil from being constantly wet. Make sure your house has good water flow. You can remove any rocks or debris by using a rake as you work the soil. To smoothen and level the soil, you can use a straight object such as a ladder or a post made of wood.

Tip: Grading your soil should be done to 3/4" below any hard edges, such as driveways or sidewalks. This will ensure that the new sod is at the correct height for appearance, and efficient mowing.

Adding topsoil

To level out low spots and improve soil quality, add soil to your yard. Use a rototiller to mix the soil. Mix the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches.

Tip: Make sure to buy topsoil from a reputable company. Topsoil made from sandy loam and screened for rocks and debris is best because it drains easily and is less likely to have weed seeds. Avoid soils with high levels of nitrogen or organic matter that are not designed to grow vegetables or flowers.

Tip - Never use a tiller or any other equipment to work in saturated soil. This can cause soil damage and drainage problems as well as compaction in the future.

Adding lime

Lime can be beneficial for soils in Western Washington as they are acidic. You want to raise the soil's pH. Turfgrass thrives at pH levels between 6.0 and 7.5. After installation, spread the lime on the soil or the lawn. You can contact sod installation Lynnwood for the proper installing and to avoid any mishap. 

Tip: To determine the pH level of your soil, you can have it tested. The soil will almost always have a low pH level. For yards, add 50 pounds of lime to every 1,000 square feet.

Final raking

Once the soil has been graded to your satisfaction it is time to plant the sod. Hire a water roller. This is a large drum with handles. Fill the drum with your hose until it is about a third to a quarter full. Simply move the drum around in your yard. This will fire the soil without it being compacted. Next, lightly drag a rake across the soil. 

The soil is now ready for sod. After a thorough watering, you can moisten the soil to one inch. Then you can start placing your sod rolls. The soil will not draw moisture from your sod by being wet.

Tip: Continue to clean up debris and large rocks as you prepare for your final raking.

How to deal with clay soil

There are many soil types in Lynnwood, including sandy loam and gravelly loam. Snohomish County is one area that has clay soil. If your soil is sticky, slick, or soupy in the wet and dry, then you are in Lynnwood. 

The first thing that comes to mind is adding sand. It would take a lot of sand to make soil change. Sand and clay together create concrete. Rototilling in organic compost is the best way to prepare clay soil. Tilling loosens the soil and creates a structure that is suitable for turfgrass roots. It should be tilled to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. Rototill the soil again to mix any topsoil you have added.

Call Coopers Landscape LLC! 

Sod installers in Lynnwood are proud to offer the best quality agricultural products in the Northwest. Coopers Landscape LLC has been providing high-quality sod since 1988 to satisfy any turf needs. We not only grow and deliver sod for various service needs but also offer many other services that will help you get the best solution.