Pro Tips From Central Florida Sod & Turf Experts

Lake Jem Farms – The Trusted Source for Sod & Turf for Over 30 years!

Getting Ready for Spring

Dec 12, 2012 | Turfgrass Products

The cold weather has finally hit in Central Florida, and you may notice your lawn starting to look a little sparse.  If this is the case, you may be considering either sowing new grass seed or laying sod once the weather starts to warm back up in the spring.  If you are planning on laying sod (a great option for many people as it creates a virtually “instant lawn” for you to enjoy the looks of once you have laid it down), there are some steps that you will want to take as soon as you are able to.  The sooner you get started with the preparation, the quicker your lawn will be ready for new sod once the weather heats up.

First, you need to remove any of the old lawn or weeds if they exist.  One of the best ways to accomplish this task is by digging them out.  You can use a flat-bladed shovel for this task, making sure you get the roots while you do.  You could also use a herbicide on the lawn, and then rent a sod-cutter to remove the roots and all other debris from the lawn.  If you go with the latter method, though, you will need to also make sure to have your soil pH tested.

Once you have removed any old grass, weeds, or other debris from your lawn, you can break up the compacted sod with a tiller, or rototiller, as it is also called.  These can be rented if you do not want to purchase them.

Closer to the time you plan on actually laying your sod, you will want to spread a starter fertilizer over the now-loosened sod, one that is high in phosphorus ideally.  A “soil conditioner” bought at the store or compost from home is then spread.  Once this has been done, you can use the tiller again to mix the starter fertilizer and soil conditioner into the soil.

After the soil has been mixed, you can level it out via raking it, which will also help remove any rocks or other debris that have been missed in past efforts, and then use a roller on the soil to ensure that it is completely level.  After this, the preparation efforts for new sod will be almost complete.  It may seem like a lot of work before the sod is even put down, but it will be worth it in the long run if it helps you from having to worry about lawn care in the future. Contact us today to learn more!