Sodding A Yard (St. Augustine)?
Question:I just completed an underground electrical project and have roughly 200sqFT of sand to cover. I've placed sod before but it always seems to eventually either shrink, or turn brown and get replaced by weeds.
I live in Florida and my home is built on an old orange grove so I have clay about 3-6 inches+ down and the surface is sandy. What do I need to do to ensure proper growth of my sod? Should I lay down some potting soil, break the ground up a lot, use fertilizer? I have a pallet coming tomorrow and would hate to lose half of it as the result of my brown thumb...lol
Thanks!
Answers:
I would break the ground up as much as possible with a tiller and add as much top soil, potting soil and peet moss as i could although St. Augistine does quiet well on sand this still should help it grab hold faster then, till it up again and be sure to keep it watered lightly every day for the first week and then every other day for the next couple weeks. Also if this area is really shaded by tress, you should reduce the amount of shade even though St. Augustine does better in the shade than most other grasses it too needs sun. You might also find some fertilizer for new grass and either till it in with the rest or wait a few weeks and then come back and lightly fertilize.
Hope this helps and good luck.
Sod lays well over sand. 3-6 inches of soil above the clay should be good as long as it doesn't get over watered. I would put down some starter fertilizer and then lay the grass right on it. Water a few times a day till you can't lift the grass up any more by hand. At that point you know the roots are grabbing the soil and you can water deeper and less often.
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