How to prepare soil for seed or sod?
#1
Member
Thread Starter
How to prepare soil for seed or sod?
What are some things I can do to determine what type of soil I have? What type of soil should I have to have the best result for new seed or sod?
#2
#3
Group Moderator
I think proper prep is way more important than what kind of soil you have. Not to mention how you go about taking care of it after you seed or sod.
#4
Member
Thread Starter
I have some mulch from grinding my stumps. Should I get rid of it or can I just mixed/buried with those mulch and lay sods over it?
#5
I would get rid of as much as you can, or bury it deep. Roots cant grow in big wood chips and the wood chips take time to break down. Wood chips also attract fungus which most people dont care for in their lawns.
#7
If I'm not mistaken, the process of decomposing wood requires a lot of nitrogen, and if it's buried underground, it will remove it from the surrounding soil, thus denying its availability to the grass roots, regardless of whether those roots are from your rolls of sod or from your newly sprouted seed . . . . and can cause that spotty die off that frustrates many hard working grounds keepers.
Let the wood chips rot somewhere else.
Let the wood chips rot somewhere else.
#9
Well, it may be a rotting/nitorgen issue but the real problem will be once they rot the area will create a depression and will need backfilling.
#10
Member
Thread Starter
Well, it may be a rotting/nitorgen issue but the real problem will be once they rot the area will create a depression and will need backfilling.
#12
Group Moderator
It's less work, IMO, to take the mulch out now than deal with the slowly and inconsistently dropping soil level and mushrooms for a few years.
#13
Member
Thread Starter
For sod, is it necessary to add compost? Are there other alternatives? It seems compost is no cheap considering I have 6600 square feet to cover.
#15
Member
Thread Starter
No, I have not done soil test yet. But one of the reasons why I didn't have soil test done is because my soil varies a lot from one spot to the next so it'll be hard to get a accurate measure.
#16
Member
Thread Starter
Assuming I got some compost, do I wait until the day I'm going to lay sod or can I mix the compost with the topsoil I have right away?
#17
Your really overthinking this!
If your getting sod you really dont need any additional dirt or compost unless your entire yard is full of clay.
Take those wood chips and spread them across the yard they will decompose!
But if you do get compost thats ok but you dont want to be spreading dirt/compost at the same time sod is delivered, you want to get it down and watered ASAP.
If your getting sod you really dont need any additional dirt or compost unless your entire yard is full of clay.
Take those wood chips and spread them across the yard they will decompose!
But if you do get compost thats ok but you dont want to be spreading dirt/compost at the same time sod is delivered, you want to get it down and watered ASAP.
#19
Member
Thread Starter
Okay, I got some top soil and compost. Next, do I need some fertilizers before laying the sod? If so, what type of fertilizers do I need?
#20
Group Moderator
Seriously? Unless you're pretty far south but still planting cool season grass, you've likely missed the window for this.
#22
Group Moderator
I know full well when the snow starts falling but that's a long time after the growing season for grass. Good luck.