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How should we prepare our soil prior to new sod installations?
- The first step to preparing your soil for a new lawn is to kill the existing grass and weeks. To do this, spray weeks and Master Nursery Kleen Up, a high grade glyphosate herbicide (the same type of product as Round Up). We have found that Kleen Up is a more effective product. All herbicides work better with a surfactant such as master Nursery Spray Grip. Surfactants help the herbicide stick to the plant. Take care that the drift form this spray does not contact any plants you want to keep. At 88 degrees or higher, glyphosate can vaporize off the area you sprayed and drift to other areas within 3 days of being sprayed.
- After the weeds have dies, scrape them off or pull them out.
- Apply high nitrogen fertilizer like sulfate of ammonia to the soil surface. This will encourage weed seeds to germinate during the next step.
- After applying fertilizer, water as if there was lawn there. Do this for two to three weeks. This in an important step. The water and fertilizer will encourage weed seeds to germinate. If you miss this step, the weed seeds will germinate at the same time as the lawn. At this time, the weeds are hardier tan lawn seed and will take over the lawn before it can get established.
- After the weeds have sprouted, spray them again with Kleen Up. You may have to repeat this process 2 or 3 times to assure you get all of the weeds. Rototilling in between applications of Kleen Up to bring up dormant seeds is a good idea.
- Rototill the soil to a depth of four to six inches.
- Put down a two inch layer of Master Nursery Black Forest Organic Compost on the top of the soil. If existing soil is clay-like, add one 40 pound bag of gypsum per 800 square feet. If you need to raise the level of the soil, then add topsoil also.
- Rototill the compost in to a depth of four to six inches. The addition of the organic material (a.k.a the mulch or compost) keeps the soil loosened up and retains moisture for the new roots. Spread the gypsum with the compost and rototill.
- Rake the soil and use a lawn roller. When raking, remove any debris, large clods, rocks etc... Toll the soli to remove air pockets and the make the area smooth and level.
- Now is the time to install a sprinkler system. Check for adequate coverage and low areas.
- You are now ready to seed or lay sod.
- Do not mow until the lawn is at least 3 inches high. Do not fertilize until you have mowed two to three times.
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