7 Steps to Great Curb Appeal
By: Michael Carli - Top Notch Pest Control
As the holidays approach and the year winds down, many homeowners may not realize the cooler temperatures actually present a great opportunity to re-sod your lawn. Here are 7 steps to achieving great curb appeal:
Survey Your Landscaping
Before you make the decision to re-sod, survey the entire yard. Different areas have different needs. Did you know there are more than 12 different kinds of St. Augustine grass? It's the most widely used grass for our region and generally preferred by homeowners due to its tolerance of higher temperatures.
Also, check the areas underneath or near thick tree branches. Sometimes proper pruning is all that's needed to allow more sunlight to reach its destination.
Verify Proper Irrigation
Is your yard getting enough or too much water? Over watering can be just as damaging as under-watering.
Measure the Area
You don't want to stop a job mid-way while hoping the supplier is still open or has what you need. Likewise, you can't return unused sod.
Brown Out or Burn Off the Undesirable Turf
If you're hiring a service to replace your sod, verify their licensure to distribute materials needed to burn off the areas to be replaced. This also destroys the weed seeds to prevent re-germination and infestation of the new sod.
Cut Out Old Sod
Approximately 10-14 days later, using a sod cutter possessing all up-to-date safety features and a sharp blade, cut out the old sod and replace with the proper selection of grass.
Allow Your Lawn to Settle In
New sod should be lightly watered for 30 days and not cut. Because different sprinkler systems produce different amounts, watering by hand is preferred. Also, don't jump the gun and start the mower up too soon. Your new grass needs time to grow both above and below the surface. After the initial 30 days, take off only a third of the grass blade.
The length of a blade of grass is directly proportionate to the length of the root; the longer the root system, the healthier you grass will be. This ensures plenty of opportunity for the grass to absorb sunlight and vitamins.
Monitor Water Levels
After the first 30 days of your new sod, adjust your watering schedule to twice a week. Place small containers throughout the area to monitor your sprinkler's distribution and adjust accordingly so new grass receives between 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch of water twice a week.
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