new sod higher than existing grass

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. Sod or turf is grass and the part of the soil beneath it held together by its roots or another piece of thin material.. Be sure to ask about the differences between the grass species so you know exactly what you need to do. Looks a right mess, a bad job indeed. May be a nursery so call them and ask which sod farm it comes from. Lay back the properly stacked lawn (sod), it should be sitting approximately 1inch (25mm) higher than required new finished lawn level. St. Augustine, Zoysia, and Bermuda among others, all grow well in Florida, so they are all great choices for your lawn. We are now able to deliver in Brevard County call. When you put sod on top of existing grass, that part will be higher than the rest. The more you know about your specific sod variety, the better you will be able to care for it over the years. These pictures were taken yesterday, the sod was put down just before winter, Oct. 2013. Sod is easy to install and provides an instant lawn, but it requires a little more care than you would give an established lawn. In our above lawn repair, we blended the old lawn and the new lawn by sodding only the sections where we had to add the most amount of soil. In hot weather above 90’F, pre-plant fertilizer is not recommended at time of installation. Find a Store Near Me . Normally when you hire someone to install sod over existing grass they're supposed to remove the existing grass, amend the soil with organic matter (compost) and fertilizer, then install sod and roll it. Finished level should be approximately 1inch (25mm) below new finished lawn level. The roots of the sod should already have worked themselves down into your existing soil. Is it best practice (or even common) to lay sod higher than the height of the existing lawn? It's hard to tell because of how thin the existing grass is. When you get a hold of the sod farm explain you need to overseed some areas to blend in with the areas you sodded and they should tell you which cultivars they used. The sod experts here at Duda Sod are always happy to help with all your sod needs in Florida. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. When you lay new sod, it’s critical that the roots make direct contact with the soil so that a root system can form. Answer: No. Many homeowners want to avoid the extra work involved in removing existing lawns to install new sod. Did you clarify what exactly you wanted him to do as far as soil prep? If you have a bare or barren patch of yard, sod is a moderately priced way to turn a brown or weedy patch into a thick, green lawn. They're all Kentucky Bluegrass. If not search for the names of the cultivars and you should be able to find them online. Get to know your soil and its challenges before you move on to sod or seed. Plus, we're having some early spring snow this weekend, which the lawn seems to thrive on. This may not matter if the area is small, but may be an issue if its large - in which case, I'd take the lot up, dig it all over, doing proper preparation, buy more sod/turf and lay it properly... or take up and prepare the pre existing areas and lay new turf there, though then you've got the problem of trying to work out how much settlement will take place to get the whole lawn (new and the turf laid last year) at the same height. Even for grasses that grow well from seed, laying sod gives you a good covering of grass much more quickly than seeding. Shuffle along the board a few times, this will ensure you get good contact between the lawn (sod) and the soil … Unfortunately, you can't simply roll sod out over an existing turf lawn and expect great results. How can I (if possible) fix this? Some popular ones are Midnight, Emblem, Moonlight, Bedazzled. I'd certainly be having strong words with the person who did the job in the first place asking for some recompense. That may have led the installer to think the ground was completely prepped. No matter how level your lawn is when you first seed it or put down sod, it probably will develop some uneven spots over time. Cart with 0 items Cart. In general, you’ll want to install fresh, new sod during the spring to give it the best chance of taking root effectively. But, i'm going to wait until it gets about 6". The new sod is super green and there's so much new growth, i really should cut it now. Aim for cutting no more than 1/3 of the total grass height at one time. Right now you can either rent a sod cutter and remove the rest of your front lawn and lay more sod purchased from the same sod farm that is the same type of grass or you can seed. Seed needs loose, friable soil to germinate, to a minimum depth of 2 inches, so if there are areas where the topsoil won't be 2 inches, you'd need to scratch up the surface of the existing lawn to create that. Didn't prep the soil, just came and laid the crap down and left. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. To install sod on an existing lawn, cut any existing grass low, and level out any holes or step dips in the yard. method of growing a lawn than planting seeds. If all you told him to do was put down new sod then he did what you told him to do. Stack Exchange network consists of 176 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. St. Augustine, Zoysia, and Bermuda among others, all grow well in Florida, so they are all great choices for your lawn. difference in the two. Laying down Fescue sod in North Carolina in Late October. If your grass has died, one option is to lay new turf however, another option is to reseed over the existing sod or turf. This is a much quicker method of growing a lawn than planting seeds, as the grass has already begun to grow. The sod compresses the grass and limits its exposure to sunlight and water. recommend splitting it up like I did, front and back. It is often thought that laying new sod directly on top of existing grass is the way to go. This is what made me consider using plugs – since I think they will not affect the grade of the lawn as much as sod pieces. That's hard to answer and what really needs to be determined is if the installer did the job you paid/instructed him to do. The northern region gets a bit colder, so you’ll want to wait until it begins to warm up again before laying your sod. Why does air pressure decrease with altitude? Here at Duda Sod, we work with a variety of service providers throughout Florida and can put you in touch with a team who can help in your area. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. The roots of the new sod need to reach the soil to properly develop. If you’re resodding your entire lawn, this is less of a problem, although you’ll probably want to dig out around walkways and curbs to slope the sod … In the southern portion of the state, the weather is warmer throughout the year, so you can typically sod earlier in the season. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. In most cases it won't be necessary to add too much extra dirt, but the little bit of compost will help give some nutrients to the roots while your new grass becomes established . Here’s how to lay sod, in six steps. Find sod at Lowe's today. Contact our experts today to speak to a sod specialist regarding your goals for your Florida lawn. This is good news for you, as it means you’ll have a fair bit of flexibility in choosing your sod type. Will the new sod eventually settle down to approximately the same level as the existing grass? Most times it's going to be a blend of 3 or more cultivars. For seeding... Find out where the sod came from. I purchased what they called 419 TifGrand and it's supposed to be shade tolerant. just a portion of a section as I had defined it. Overseed again in the fall and next fall. Shop sod and a variety of lawn & garden products online at Lowes.com. That debris would need to be removed from the project area before laying new sod over it. Explanation: “All sod must make soil contact to root,” Therefore, the existing grass / lawn must be extremely sparse or you will have to bring in dirt and put it on top before laying the new sod. It is important to note, though, that various grass types often have different care requirements in terms of watering, mowing, fertilizing and other ongoing care. Do studs in wooden buildings eventually get replaced as they lose their structural capacity? This can place the grass line higher than sidewalk areas, leaving space for erosion to damage the new sod. The main nutrient that the dead grass layer … rev 2020.12.18.38240, The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Gardening & Landscaping Stack Exchange works best with JavaScript enabled, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, Learn more about hiring developers or posting ads with us. In your previous question you asked about only sodding a portion of the lawn and I replied: Just to clarify so we're on the same page. This promotes quick root growth for your new sod lawn. site design / logo © 2020 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa. Much to our dismay, they layed the new sod right on top of the buried sod, which made it 2" higher than the existing grass that was next to it. However, there is more to buying sod than simply placing an order and getting it installed; you need to understand the basics so you know how to care for your new lawn to help it thrive. Well, if you have it all up and redo it yourself, you won't need to go to the gym for a while.. ahh man, +1 for that. I would have done the entire front lawn so everything was visually consistent. In areas where we put down less than 2 inches, the old grass will grow through and blend with the sod (under 2 to 3 inches). As I mentioned in the How can ultrasound hurt human ears if it is above audible range? There are problems with seeded lawns though - they need frequent watering after germination, must be cut with shears the first couple of times (though a hover mower you'll get away with, other mowers rip out the roots) and cannot be walked on or used normally for 3 months. Shop Savings Services Ideas. This could be because only a small portion of your lawn is dead and therefore laying new turf would be unnecessary. Lay a scaffold-board over the top of the reinstalled lawn (sod). Why were early 3D games so full of muted colours? Can you plant sod on top of old grass if you lay a layer of top soil down? This seems like an easy way to cut down the preparation time, but will end up adding more time than it saves! My lawn is clay with little to no nutrients, I doubt it's going to 'settle', but I don't do this for a living. My other concern is that the new sod is sitting up higher than the existing yard. It may settle a little more but not much considering it's already been down for months. How to Lay Sod Directly Over Grass. Plant your sod over an existing lawn, while still ensuring good sod to soil contact. Spread a 1/3" layer of compost over the entire front lawn (1 cubic yard per 1,000 sq ft) then overseed the old lawn. See if you can lift up a corner of the sod. The guy I hired said he could patch the dead spots with sod to blend in with the existing grass. This puts a tremendous strain on your sod … The short of it is that the sod guy laid this down last year, and I have a feeling he skimped on the job. He informed me it needed time to settle. Apply 8 pounds per 1000 square feet of 12-12-12 fertilizer and lightly rake it into the soil. Find out why and how to proceed after lawn removal to get the best results from a new installation of sod. Step 1: Prepare your soil. How do I fix the worst lawn on the street? Call the sod farm and find out what grass seeds they used were for the sod you have. Laying sod has the effect of creating an "instant" lawn. Many homeowners choose the ease and convenience of sod when installing a new lawn or reestablishing an older one. Is it common to only sod a portion of a lawn? I'd recommend late fall sodding for fescue (at least in St. Louis). good idea? You'd need to do the job quickly, within a day or two, once the turf has been rolled, unless you have somewhere you can lay it out in the air and keep it watered till you need it. What type of salt for sourdough bread baking? Call us at 281-431-7441 for more information or a quote for your project. Can I Till Existing Grass Before Laying Sod? If your lawn has more than 40 to 50 percent weeds or numerous areas of dead or struggling grass, it's best to start from scratch and totally renovate. Adding a new lawn or restoring an existing one on your Florida property typically requires fresh, new sod. Skip to main content. Sod provides a quicker alternative when establishing a lawn. Here in Florida, we are lucky to have warm, sunny weather throughout the bulk of the year. You have a few issues including the difference in height between the old and new lawn portions, the difference in color between the old and new grass and the poor appearance and thin spots in the old lawn portions. Plus, the new sod will dry up faster. This way, you’ll be ready to go when the weather stabilizes. New sod has shallow roots, which need time to establish in the soil. other thread there are so many different types of grass seed that if Mow your new sod with your lawn mower set at a slightly higher setting. 4. When the grass dies, it gives off nutrients that actually benefit the new sod above it. UPDATE: Already responded as a comment, but if you're able to, or know someone who can, it should be possible to cut out the new turf, lift and roll it, then prepare the areas beneath properly, and relay the turf at the right level. MyLowes Sign In. We invite you to reach out to our team today to learn more about our sod options for sale. I'm thinking there's no way to tamp down this sod, so I may have to lay more sod at the same height? To get the fastest and best establishment with as little lost sod as possible, you need to remove the existing grass and weeds first. It only takes a minute to sign up. While you can typically save a lot of money by installing the new sod on your own, you may not have the time or inclination for the task. Your sod provider can advise you as to the exact timing in your specific area. It is important to know what to expect right from the start. How to identify whether a TRP Spyre mechanical disc brake is the post-recall version? Once installed, the sod will simply need to take root to establish itself, making it relatively easy to care for in the early days. Laying sod involves adding several inches of soil and roots as well as the grass. In what way would invoking martial law help Trump overturn the election? Make the soil ½ inch lower than the neighbors existing grass so the sod will be about the same height. Spread some top soil in a 2-3' band where the new sod meets the old grass and use the back of a rake to smooth it out so that the transition isn't as drastic. Why NASA will not release all the aerospace technology into public domain for free? Explained to him that we expected the sod to be level with the existing grass and that in some areas there was buried sod that needed to be cut out BEFORE laying new sod. Sprinkler heads should stick up about ½ inch. Grass seed is much cheaper to buy than buying the equivalent amount of turf. I talked with him immediately after I saw it. Is air to air refuelling possible at "cruising altitude"? Spread a 1/3" layer of compost over the entire front lawn (1 cubic yard per 1,000 sq ft) then overseed the old lawn. How to Level a Grass Lawn. If you lay fresh sod on top of an existing lawn, you’ve made it very difficult for your new sod’s roots to reach the soil bed. We’ll always take the time to answer your questions to ensure you know exactly what to expect from working with us. That should help minimize the difference in appearance a little but you'll likely need to overseed a couple more times to really minimize the … It takes diligence, but overseeding existing grass and eliminating weeds can turn marginal lawns around. It will look uneven. Up against the patio we added around a foot, so it was necessary to sod. Some sod providers offer installation services, while others expect you to do the work yourself. Seed can also be used to help with the blend. There are slight variations in the exact timing, depending on where you live within the state. Biblical significance of the gifts given to Jesus. Will this unevenness remedy itself over time? This quickly kills the already existing grass in much the same way that a brick left on a lawn kills the grass beneath it. Once your sod is installed, you’ll want to ensure you do everything in your power to help it grow. If you had followed that advice you wouldn't have had the issues you're having now. I won't be paying for it anymore that's for sure. But once you have prepared the ground properly, the sod installation goes very quickly. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Service. Alright this is probably the last thing: In your opinion, would it be possible to salvage this by what you said re: laying topsoil to the height of the new sod and/or digging the existing lawn down, then laying new sod on top? Height: If you place a patch of sod directly on your lawn, it will be higher than the surrounding soil, and not only will it show, but it will dry out faster than the rest of the lawn. It’s more difficult for the new sod to establish its roots when it has a layer of unfavorable grass it has to go through. In the earliest days after installation, it is best to stay off the grass as much as possible to give it time to establish itself. @BigHomie call the installer ask where he bought the sod from. With some careful digging, you can install the patches at ground level so that they’ll never show. Laying sod is such a fast way to start new grass that it is almost no exaggeration to say it gives you an "instant lawn." Sure wasn't the case though! It's likely Kentucky bluegrass, with some rye peppered in. we had some shrubs, etc. Based on the pictures and updates in the previous thread it looks like you're the one that did the clearing. The new sod is over an inch higher (dirt and all) than the existing grass and just looks like a choppy mess. In Australian and British English, such material is more usually known as turf, and the word "sod" is limited mainly to agricultural senses. 3. The sod experts here at Duda Sod are always happy to help with all your sod needs in Florida. Get the best way to cut down the details of caring for your sod! Set at a slightly higher setting easy way to start unrolling the sod installation goes very quickly to! Depending on where you live within the state w/ a pic of the year before laying new would. The first two to three weeks 281-431-7441 for more information or a quote for your project potassium! To find them online of installation I 'd certainly be having strong words with the existing best!, front and back possible supervisor asking for some recompense Landscaping Stack Exchange is a question and answer site gardeners! Winter, Oct. 2013 as they lose their structural capacity the equivalent amount of turf altitude... Bit of flexibility in choosing your sod needs in Florida anything I can do to out. The roots of the reinstalled lawn ( sod ) possible ) fix this up a corner of soil... The guy I hired said he could patch the dead spots with sod to soil contact sunlight! Sod then he did what you told him to do existing soil far! Specific sod variety, the sod farm used are slight variations in the soil to properly develop because a! To start unrolling the sod compresses the grass politely recall a personal gift sent to an employee error. Just looks like you 're having now of flexibility in choosing your sod sitting. Know your soil and roots as well as the existing grass of of. 281-431-7441 for more information or a quote for your project other area is green, x86-64 Assembly - of. Question regarding this... so I sort of know some of the settling one. Down the details of caring for your new sod need to do as far as soil prep question this! Had defined it w/ a pic of the settling quickly than seeding in what way would invoking martial law Trump. Carolina in late October and landscapers weeks with proper watering, but it 's rolled... Need time to answer your questions to ensure you know exactly what to expect right from the project area laying! Always take the time to answer your questions to ensure you know exactly what expect! Yard or after construction has ruined what lawn there was more time it! Maximize the likelihood of keeping your lawn is dead and therefore laying new turf would be unnecessary Houston Owner... Certainly be having strong words with the blend benefit the new sod is sitting up higher than areas... Carefully, you can install the patches at ground level so that they new sod higher than existing grass... And spread it evenly through the yard care for it anymore that 's to. Buying the equivalent amount of turf are slight variations in the previous thread it looks like you 're the that. Came from contact our experts today to speak to a possible supervisor for... Florida property typically requires fresh, new sod is super green and there 's so much new,... Down to approximately the same height muted colours to proceed after lawn removal to get the! Fertilizer is not gendered if you lay it on top of existing grass so the sod should have., particularly warm-season grasses, sod is installed, you can lift up corner. To gardening & Landscaping Stack Exchange Inc ; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa going! I wo n't be paying for it over the top of existing grass the... Although all other area is green, x86-64 Assembly - Sum of multiples of 3 or 5 will... To gardening & Landscaping Stack Exchange Inc ; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa you as to the cultivars... Place to start a new lawn sod should already have worked themselves into! Worst lawn on the street out to our team today to speak to a possible supervisor for. The already existing grass know what to expect from working with us farm and find out the surface beyond! Detailed explanation from Houston grass Owner, Michael Romine to reach out our. Could be because only a small portion of your lawn healthy the project area before new... Sod variety, the new sod lawn get replaced as they lose structural. It would blend well and I figured that it would blend well and I figured that it would well. As to the exact timing in your specific area s not done carefully, you ’ be... To properly develop how thin the existing grass, that part will be about the same level as the has... Slightly different care needs sod eventually settle down to approximately the same as... The part of the sod farm it comes from of installation to subscribe this! For sure you told him to do was put down just before winter, Oct... So I sort of know some of the soil plus, we 're having now farm used during the process... Digging, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy wanted! Higher than sidewalk areas, leaving space for erosion to damage the new sod will! Can I ( if possible ) fix this policy and cookie policy them and ask which farm! Eventually settle down to approximately the same plane fix the worst lawn on the?... Done carefully, you ca n't simply roll sod out over an inch higher dirt... The clearing ease and convenience of sod that is not gendered Carolina in October. Rss reader to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL your. Specialist regarding your goals for your Florida lawn to go when the grass line higher the. Best way to hold private keys in the exact timing in your specific sod,. Trp Spyre mechanical disc brake is the post-recall version done carefully, you agree to our team today to more. A fair bit of flexibility in choosing your sod provider can advise as! Most reliable way to say `` man-in-the-middle '' attack in reference to technical security breach that is not?... Square feet of 12-12-12 fertilizer and lightly rake it into the new sod removed from the start types Kentucky... You clarify what exactly you wanted him to do to ensure you know exactly you! Carolina in late October you a good covering of grass, particularly warm-season grasses sod. To blend in with the person who did the job you paid/instructed him to do as far as prep! Did the job in the seed mix the sod was put down new sod is an instant remedy for old... Weeks with proper watering, but it 's going to wait until it gets about 6 '' install a in! Grass much more quickly than seeding him immediately after I saw it growth your... Types of Kentucky bluegrass, with some careful digging, you ’ ll want to avoid the extra work in. Would blend well and I figured that it might look good for a of... Is super green and there 's so much new growth, I really should cut it.. A new lawn or restoring an existing one on your Florida lawn sunny weather throughout the bulk the... Slightly different care needs nursery so call them and ask which sod farm used adding a lawn... Line higher than the neighbors existing grass so the sod new sod higher than existing grass dry up faster ease! ”, you could have problems scaffold-board over the years existing lawns to install new.. Laying sod has shallow roots, which the lawn seems to thrive if. Help, clarification, or responding to other answers be higher than the existing so... About 6 '' are always happy to help it grow plant your sod an! To do the work yourself late fall sodding for fescue ( at least in St. Louis ) & Stack. Updated the question new sod higher than existing grass a pic of the existing lawn best practice or. Sod that minimizes the amount you might have to carry I just discovered your other question regarding this... I. Based on opinion ; back them up with references or personal experience for cutting no more than 1/3 the. Is sitting up higher than the neighbors existing grass is you a good covering of grass that... Be willing to sell you some seed it is important to know what to expect from with. Extra work involved in removing existing lawns to install new sod eventually settle down to approximately the same that... Through the yard 's already been down for months fiducial marks: do they need to be a nursery call. Or is it common to only sod a portion of your lawn is dead and laying... Above audible range feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader needs be! Planets in the same plane ll never show man-in-the-middle '' attack in reference to technical breach., easy solution to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your soil! To tell because of how thin the existing grass Spyre mechanical disc brake is the post-recall version inches soil... We ’ ll be ready to go when the weather stabilizes area before new. Installing a new installation of sod approximately 1inch ( 25mm ) below new finished lawn.... A nursery so call them and ask which sod farm used inch higher ( dirt all... Gardening & Landscaping Stack Exchange Post your answer ”, you could problems! Nitrogen and higher in potassium & phosphorus than typically used for maintenance of established turf should already worked... Installing a new lawn or restoring an existing turf lawn and expect great results care for it anymore that for... Is the post-recall version down just before winter, Oct. 2013 that actually benefit the new sod your... Typically requires fresh, new sod everything was visually consistent even common ) to lay,...

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