As I understand it (from reading around on the Web):
1. When they cut sod, they cut the root systems off, so as not to have a bighuge pile of dirt to carry around with them.
2. Which means that reestablishing the root system is key. This can be complicated by the soil-joining layer, if the soils are radically different or not placed well.
3. Thatch is the roots coming up near the surface to get water, because they aren't established deeply. (I think.)
4. Proper watering of sodded lawns is essential, and failing to do that will kill the sod, and dude.
5. Also, they recommend planting cool-season grasses (rye, fescue, Kentucky bluegrass) when the temperatures are in the 60s and it's not going to frost, so either early autumn or mid-late spring. Autumn is preferred, because then it gets the spring season to grow in that temperature, too, but spring'll work pretty much fine.
I think the guy I talked to was a putz, really, because what he was telling me doesn't match very well against what I'm finding on the Internet. Despite that, still might want sod in the front, just because leaving it dirt for that long seems sub-optimal.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2004-04-20 05:18 pm (UTC)1. When they cut sod, they cut the root systems off, so as not to have a bighuge pile of dirt to carry around with them.
2. Which means that reestablishing the root system is key. This can be complicated by the soil-joining layer, if the soils are radically different or not placed well.
3. Thatch is the roots coming up near the surface to get water, because they aren't established deeply. (I think.)
4. Proper watering of sodded lawns is essential, and failing to do that will kill the sod, and dude.
5. Also, they recommend planting cool-season grasses (rye, fescue, Kentucky bluegrass) when the temperatures are in the 60s and it's not going to frost, so either early autumn or mid-late spring. Autumn is preferred, because then it gets the spring season to grow in that temperature, too, but spring'll work pretty much fine.
I think the guy I talked to was a putz, really, because what he was telling me doesn't match very well against what I'm finding on the Internet. Despite that, still might want sod in the front, just because leaving it dirt for that long seems sub-optimal.