Helping Your Installed Sod Take Root

 Installing pre-grown sod can be an excellent way to give your pitiful looking lawn a much-needed jumpstart. If your lawn is mostly bare, consisting of more dirt patches than lush green grass, you might be best to consider sod as a quick replacement, especially when time is not on your side, and seeding and growing a new lawn is not an option. You'll have lush green grass in no time, and it will root quickly allowing for that upcoming lawn party or simply adding beauty and usability for your own pleasure.

Some preparation is needed before your sod arrives, and some instructions need to be followed implicitly to allow your sod its best chances for successful attachment and growth. You first need to remove existing grass remnants and any pesky weeds in the area. An organic herbicide can do the job of killing grass and weeds you are unable to simply pull up; after it does its job, remove the wilted and brown remainders. Adding organic topsoil and tilling it, working it within the existing soil will ensure your sod has the best, most fertile soil possible in which to extend its root system. Rake the top of the area now, adding organic fertilizer or organic compost from your compost bin. After working in the compost and fertilizer and making sure the area is level, it is time to start watering. Extend your hose reel so that you can adequately irrigate the soil in preparation for the sod's arrival. Attempt this in several short spurts, allowing for ample penetration of necessary water while minimizing the waste due to water runoff. These waterings should continue until the day before the arrival of your new sod. Sod should not be stored on your property when it arrives, but immediately rolled into position as the generated heat from the stacking can be harmful to the overall health of your new lawn. Lay your sod rows in place as you would if you were a bricklayer or sheet-rocker, making sure to stagger the seams thus minimizing the appearance of "blocks" of grass. For the next two weeks, the watering of your sod should be ample, allowing for nice wet sod that will quickly take root. Your hose reel should be used as much as six times a day in summer, perhaps three times in early spring to ensure rapid growth. You are able to check the rooting process by gently tugging on your sod after a couple of weeks. If it has not attached in a given area, increase the water supply; don't be stingy! Once in place sod is fairly easily maintained, only needing adequate waterings after rooting has taken place. In this manner, you and your family can enjoy a fresh green lawn for many years to come. The rewards are ample for minimal work and expense.

Home is a place where everyone would just want to unwind him or herself and feel stress free. Every person would want his or her home to look beautiful and elegant from outside and inside. The outside of the house means to have a garden or an open yard. This yard can be decorated in various ways to make it look beautiful and at the same time make it a place where the members of the house can relax after a long day's work. The usage of Sod plays an important role in the beautification of the yard of the house.

Sod means turf. This essentially means the soil under the grass, which is bound together by the roots or any other material. The bugger is grown on farms, which are specifically designed to cultivate certain products. The sod can be easily transported and it remains fresh for a longer period. The sales of sod are high because they can be easily laid on the ground and converted into a lawn. The sod is available in different varieties and every variety has a typical characteristic of its own. The cost of sod varies from one type to another. The harvesting time of the sod is one year after is has been planted. The farm is watered and treated with the fertilizers before the sod is cut. The bugger is cut into slabs and is rolled up. The sold can be installed as it is once it is sold.

The cost of sod is determined by keeping in mind various factors. The main aspect that affects the cost of sod is that most of the household members get the professionals to lay the sod. Since the professionals lay the sod, the cost is definitely higher. In case you lay them yourself, you can save a lot on the money. The other factor that determines the sod cost is the type of the sod you are using for your lawn. The amount of sod required also plays a major role in the cost determination of sod. The more you need the sod the more you shall increase your cost of sod.

The supplier from whom you purchase the sod will also affect the cost of sod. It is always preferable to buy the sod after checking with various suppliers. The cost will vary from supplier to supplier. You should also check in the online stores as well as physical stores, bargain for the cost, and then finalize for the sod. This exercise shall help you getting the best sod at the lowest prices. When you buy, the sod directly from the farm the cost of sod would be around US$1.25 per sq. yard. In case you intend to buy different variety of sods then they would cost you around US$105 upto US$140 for a pallet. In case, you want to buy a piece of sod then the cost would be approximately US1.00 per piece for an ordinary sod.

When you decide to buy the sod, make sure you get multiple quotes for the prices from various suppliers to assess the present market cost of sod. This shall help you to get better deal and better quality of sod.

In this tough economy, doing home improvements your self may be the only way to afford them. Here are some tips on preparing the ground before installing a new lawn. The grade will need to be pretty much perfect to achieve a nice smooth lawn.

THE RIGHT TOOLS

You will need a square shovel, a 30" wide landscape rake, and a wheel barrow for this task.

First, go around the borders of the area with a square shovel and knock down the soil to about 1" low. Then, using the same square shovel skim the surface of the ground and push the excess soil, rocks roots and clods toward the center of the area. Be sure to throw some soil in the low spots, and take some extra soil away from the high spots. After the whole area is pretty close, scoop up the pile of garbage (rocks, clods, and roots), and get rid of it.

Next use the tooth side of the landscape rake to rake up even more clods and rocks. It should be pretty easy to use the rake, since the rough grading and gathering of the large size debris is already done using a shovel https://sodgreen.com/. Don't try to put all of the debris into one big pile, you will end up moving the same stuff ten times. Just make lots of small piles, and then scoop them up with the shovel into the wheel barrow.

By now the area should be looking pretty smooth, and the contour should flow gently, (no abrupt bumps or dips). If some of these still exist just keep raking the dirt around to knock down the highs and fill the lows.

Now it's time for the straight edge side of the rake. We call this the final grade. First go around the edges of the lawn and compact the soil a little by holding the handle of the rake straight up and down and striking the ground with the rake up and down. If an area compacts too much you may have to add back some more soil . The secret to a great looking lawn is making the level of the soil uniform where the grass touches the borders. Move along the borders slowly compacting the edge until you have gone all the way around the area. Now put the rake flat side down on the ground and pull the excess soil toward the center. You don't need to apply much pressure at this point because you're only dealing with the fine particles of soil and it's alright to just spread the soil out, if you get too much soil built up behind the rake just give it a fling, this disburses it or throws it in a broad area. Again knock down the high spots and fill the lows, these will only be differences of a half inch or so at this point, and you should pay special attention to detail at this point. If there is an area with more soil than the rake can pull, just make a pile and with a shovel throw it to a low spot or simply get rid of it. Don't try to drag it around with the rake (wrong tool for the job) use the shovel.

Your probably about done now. Walk around the yard to try and get a different perspective, look at the lawn area from lots of different angles and be really picky about the perfection of the grade. You will only have one opportunity to get this perfect after that you will have to deal with it every time you mow and edge, so get it right.

All you need to do now is turn on the sprinklers to dampen the ground, settle the dust, and add some moisture. Let it dry on the surface before installing the sod or seed.

I have worked in the landscape installation (construction) field for 24 years. Of that time I have owned my own company for 16 years. My company specializes in yard renovations where the homeowner wants to create an oasis with a multitude of features that will excite the senses. Over the years I have dealt with all kinds of different situations that require planning ahead in order to provide a functional landscape design and product. I offer my solutions and ideas about all aspects of landscaping on my website. If you visit my website you will see many photo examples and detailed descriptions on the thought processes that go into the planning of landscaping projects. By clicking on the photos more information is given about what you see in that picture.

Aquarium Farming

Have you raised fish in your home aquarium? If you are anything like our family we have raised both fresh water and salt water fish as hobbies and as teaching opportunities for our children. But, are you excited about the new trend of aquarium farming as a method of growing fish, vegetables and fruits?

Growing trout, tilapia, and catfish, just to name a few, for eating serves the practical nutritional purpose of feeding us protein and omega 3s. These varieties grown in the home aquarium is very tasty as your catch of the day will be fresh caught.

There is another purpose for growing fish in your home aquarium and that is to use their waste products as food for raising vegetables and fruits. The fish and the vegetables can be raised together or separately. If raised together the plants will utilize the waste matter and the fish keep the aquarium tank clean. Yes, you will need to feed the fish.

Aquarium farming in the home

Many of us are short on dollars and raising fish at home would be more economical. There are still stories surfacing about toxic wastes in our fresh and salt water supply which may spoil the meat of aquatic animals and make it unfit for human consumption.

If you are anything like me, I am uneasy about eating fish from our local lakes. In the home you are the master of the waters and their food. You can monitor the water supply and provide nutritional food to ward against unhealthy or contaminated fish.

Marine knowledge

As you increase your knowledge about marine life farming, production will increase and you may wish to consider selling your surplus https://www.agrifarming.in/. You may find yourself selling your extra fish for additional household or personal income. Raising this type of protein in the home has an excellent profit margin.

Types of water life

There are many fishes to choose. You can choose to buy or catch from trusted local waters. The type of fish you will be using will depend on where you live and what your state laws recommend.

As you become knowledgeable of the different types of fish, you will want to grow your chosen variety. The two most popular are trout and tilapia as they are both fast growing. People living in colder climates use trout and people living in warmer climates choose catfish.

Why organic fertilizer?

Mother Nature knows best. Organic fertilizers contain the essential nutrients which each plant needs for its health, nutrition, and flavor. Hand selecting certain items as is done with chemical fertilizing does not always guarantee the excellent flavor which is experienced from organic farming methods.

We could all add more fruits and vegetables to our diets so why not use National Fruit and Vegetable Month as an excuse to do so? Unlike other foods, fruits and vegetables contain all of the nutrients that the human body requires. Fruits and vegetables are packed with essential vitamins, minerals and fibers, contain disease-fighting phytochemicals, protect our health and accommodate weight management. If that's not enough, fruits and vegetables provide convenient snacking options which is essential these days with our busy lives. Whether it's an apple, some celery, carrots or a peach a fruit or veggie snack will appease both the taste buds and the appetite. That said, use this occasion to jump start your mission for nutritional success! Use this occasion to make up for lost time not eating enough fruits and veggies or to encourage your children to eat more of them. There are many ways to celebrate this nationally celebrated event and to get the festivities started below are several ideas that you may want to try.

* Plant a small garden: If you haven't already, June is the perfect month to start a small vegetable garden. You don't need a large backyard. In fact, you don't need a backyard at all. There are several small vegetables that can be grown right in a moderately-sized plant pot. So go ahead, and start an herb garden to add some flair to those summer dishes. Or add some vibrant colors to your salads with some carrots, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes and spinach from your garden.

* Visit a local Farmer's Market or a farmer's roadside stand: Buying fruits and vegetables locally grown is not only better for the environment but you will taste the difference and get more of the nutrients from the fruits and vegetables due to the reduction in travel and storage time. More than that, your local farmers will thank you for the support. You may even realize some cost savings by purchasing the fruits and veggies right from the source.

* Have a picnic: Chop up some mango, pineapple and kiwi fruit, then throw in some blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries for a tasty, summer-licous fruit salad!! Pack it up in a picnic basket and head out to the park and enjoy!

* Visit a farm: June is the perfect month for heading out to a farm and picking some fresh asparagus, carrots, lettuce, radishes, scallions, spinach, or strawberries!! So get the kids in the car and make a day of it. It'll be fun and a great opportunity for the children to learn about the world of agricultural farming, health and nutrition.

* Host a Fruit and Veggie Fest: Chopped, grilled, stir-fried or sauteed your guests and their bodies will thank you immensely for a mineral and nutrient-filled feast such as this.