Measuring | Installation | Cool Season Grass Maintenance
Warm Season Grass Maintenance: April - August | September - December

Why Use Sod

• Erosion Control
• Fastest way to an established lawn
• Dissipate heat
• Air & noise pollution reduction
• Beauty
• Property values
• Year-round establishment
• Saves time and money - makes a great investment -top-

Measuring: It is recommended that you order slightly more sod than you need to allow for cutting and waste.

• Sketch the area that you want to sod, dividing the area into rectangles
• Measure the length and width of each area in feet.
• Plug the numbers into the product calculator to see how much sod you need or just give us a call and we will help you. -top-

Installing Your New Turf: After you have selected the type of turf that will work best for your application, it is time to prepare for the installation of the turf.

• The first recommended step is to complete a soil test to find out what nutrients your soil needs.
• To prepare the yard for the new sod, your soil should be loose to a depth of 3 to 6 inches.
• Make sure the yard is smooth and free of any debris.
• This is a great time to add lime or fertilizer to your soil. A recommended fertilizer would be one that emphasizes phosphorus to promote root growth, like Home Field Advantage 18-24-12 50% SCU. -top-

Once your soil is prepared, it is time to install your new sod.

• Start installing your sod along a natural straight line in your yard, like a driveway or a flower bed.
• Make sure that when you install your sod, all of the seams are butted tightly together with no gaps or overlaps.
• Place or unroll sod in a checkerboard pattern so that the joints are staggered.
• Use a large knife to cut or trim the sod.
• Try not to use small pieces along outer edges as it is more difficult for these pieces to retain moisture.
• Avoid repeated walking on the new sod as this will cause indentions and prevent sod from contacting the soil.
• It is recommended that you roll the sod to ensure good soil contact.
• If installing sod on a slope, install the sod across the slope. If the slope is severe, sod staples may be necessary. -top-

Once installed, begin watering your sod within 30 minutes of installation. If you can finish one area, go ahead and start watering the finished area before installing sod on the next area.

Immediately after you have finished installing all of the sod, you should water the sod so that there is moisture in the soil to a depth of 2 to 3 inches. Maintain this moisture level for the first 2 weeks after installation, your new sod should be firmly rooted into the soil.

After the sod has become firmly rooted, you should now change your watering practices to longer periods of time with less frequency, to promote deeper root growth. During the hot summer months, you may need to water more than 1 time a day to keep the moisture level up during the growing period.

It is recommended that you avoid heavy use of your newly sodded area for the first couple of weeks to allow time for full establishment. -top-

COOL SEASON GRASS MAINTENANCE

Mowing
Cool season grasses should be normally maintained at a blade height of 2 ½ to 3 inches and can be cut higher in the summer months but should not exceed a total height of 4 inches. No more that 1/3 of the leaf blade should be removed at any one time. Multiple cuttings may be necessary during the growing season to prevent excess blade removal. Remove only those clippings that windrow. If the grass gets excessively high during a wet period, raise the mower and cut off one-fourth to one-half of the present growth; then lower the mower to its proper height in a day or two. Rotary mowers are a standard choice provided the blades are sharp. Limit traffic and do not mow during time of stress, drought or excessive heat. -top-

Fertilization
A soil test is the best way to determine the nutrient needs of the soil. Without a soil test, a complete fertilizer, like Home Field Advantage 18-6-12 2FE 5S 35% SCU, would be a good choice in the fall with 2 to 3 applications starting about mid-September through mid-November. During the early spring apply a pre-emergence fertilizer to control crabgrass and goose grass. This should be split into 2 applications and be complete before mid-March. No fertilizer is recommended from mid-March until the fall season again. All Home Field Advantage products are available at Home Field Fertilizer through Meadowspring Turf. -top-

Irrigation
Watering in the early morning is preferred and water enough so that the soil is moist to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. These grasses usually require a weekly application of about 1 to 1 ¼ inches of water. In sandy soils, apply 1/2 to 3/4 inch of water every three to four days. It takes 620 gallons of water to apply 1 inch per thousand square feet. Probe the soil to detect moisture level. Avoid light, frequent irrigations because they promote shallow root growth. -top-

Weeds
Broadleaf herbicides can be applied as necessary from September through May with some sort of pre-emergence being applied in early spring. Follow the label on the herbicides labeled for turf grass. -top-

Warm Season Grass Maintenance

April - August

Mowing
Set mower to 1-inch cutting height and remove debris before the grass turns green in the spring. The best mowing height during the growing season is 3/4 to 1 inch. Do not allow the grass to grow above 1½ inches before mowing. Two or three weekly cuttings may be necessary. Remove only those clippings that windrow. If the grass gets excessively high during a wet period, raise the mower and cut off one-fourth to one-half of the present growth; then lower the mower to its proper height in a day or two. Reel mowers are preferred for a clean cut. Rotary mowers are a second choice provided the blades are sharp and can be lowered to the appropriate height; however, scalping frequently occurs at lower cutting heights. -top-

Fertilization
Apply 1 pound of nitrogen per thousand square feet two or three weeks after the grass turns green. A complete fertilizer, like Home Field Advantage 18-6-12 2FE 5S 35% SCU, may be necessary only once or twice annually with remaining applications composed of nitrogen sources such as Home Filed Advantage 46-0-0. If growth appears to be slow and the grass is yellowish green, apply a nitrogen source every four to six weeks at 1 pound per thousand square feet as needed. All Home Field Advantage products are available at Home Field Fertilizer through Meadowspring Turf. -top-

Irrigation
Watering in the early morning is preferred and water enough so that the soil is moist to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. These grasses usually require a weekly application of about 1 1/4 inches of water. In sandy soils, apply 1/2 to 3/4 inch of water every three to four days. It takes 620 gallons of water to apply 1 inch per thousand square feet. Do not irrigate again until symptoms of wilt appear (folded or curled leaves, foot printing, or bluish green color). Probe the soil to detect dryness. Avoid light, frequent irrigations because they promote shallow rooting and encourage algae and moss growth. To reduce compaction and wear, do not irrigate for two days before heavy use and minimize use when wet. -top-

Weeds
Bermudagrass turf & Zoysia grass turf with weed problems is a sign that the turf has become weakened by improper management practices or damage from pests. Proper management practices can eliminate most weed problems. If weeds are a persistent problem, herbicides labeled specifically for Bermudagrass & Zoysia grass can be used for preemergent or postemergent weed control. -top-

September - December

Mowing
Follow the April - June mowing guidelines until several weeks before the first expected frost. If fields are not scheduled to be over seeded with rye, raise the mowing height ½ inch above normal. Mowing height is usually raised in mid to late September. Do not exceed a 2 inch cutting height. -top-

Fertilization
Do not apply more than ½ pound of nitrogen per thousand square feet (22 pounds per acre) after September 15. Use a low-nitrogen, high-potassium fertilizer such as 70 pounds of Home Field Advantage 0-0-60 Muriate of Potash per acre. Repeat in three weeks. Turf must be green and growing actively (not dormant) to benefit from this application. Irrigate immediately after application to prevent turf discoloration. Potassium lessens the chance of bermudagrass winterkill. Avoid the use of nitrogen unless fields are to be over seeded with annual or perennial ryegrass. All Home Field Advantage products are available at Home Field Fertilizer through Meadowspring Turf.

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