Spring is one of the most beautiful seasons in north Georgia, with colorful azaleas, redbuds, cherry trees, dogwoods, and other flowering plants putting on a show. (They’re also enveloping everything outside with a fine coating of yellow pollen, but hey, every rose has its thorn.) While the flowering trees and shrubs are stealing the spotlight, don’t forget about the supporting player that brings it all together—your lawn!
Just like a rug that “really tied the room together,” your lawn is the make-it-or-break-it element of your landscaping. A thick, healthy, green lawn makes everything around it look more vibrant, and can add tons of curb appeal to your home. Read on to learn more about spring lawn care in Atlanta, and get a free estimate on sod installation by filling out our simple online form.
Spring Sod Installation
The period from spring to early summer is the ideal time for sod installation in northwest Atlanta. Installing sod much earlier puts the tender new roots of the sod at risk of freezing, and cold, frozen ground is also harder for those roots to push through. If you wait until late summer, however, you run the risk of shocking the sod with intense heat and lack of water.
Tips for Installing Sod
Sod installation needs to be planned carefully, not only to mitigate the risks mentioned above, but also to make sure the ground is properly prepped for the sod. While lush rolls of sod might look like a green carpet you can just roll out over your yard, there’s a lot more to it than that.
You’ll need to make sure your yard is level; remove rocks, weeds, clods of clay, and debris; till the soil, and possibly amend the pH by adding lime or sulfur. (This is a delicate business, so if you’re not experienced in gardening and lawn care, give us a call at 404-448-3372.)
Sod must be installed within 48 hours of harvest in order to have the best chance of transplantation, but planning to install sod the day of delivery is preferred.
In order to form a better bond between the new grass roots and the prepared soil, water the sod both before and after installation. To help your new sod survive a brutal Georgia summer, it’s important to water regularly and effectively.
- Water in the morning to reduce evaporation loss and prevent water from sitting for long periods on the sod, which can lead to rot or fungus issues.
- Water to a depth of 1-2 inches within an hour of installation.
- In the first few weeks, the sod will need more water while it establishes a root system. Keep an eye on the weather to prevent over-watering.
Once your sod has settled in, you’ll have a stunningly lush lawn to make the neighbors jealous. Not up for the hot, dirty job of sod installation? Give Redline Landscapes a call to get a free estimate on your Atlanta landscape installation project.
