A Successful Home Sale

Now that summer is over, you might think that you missed your opportunity to have sod installed in your yard. Luckily, that's not the case. Cooler temperatures and increased rain make fall the perfect time of year to install your new sod. However, you do need to take some steps to ensure the best results. Here are four of those steps. 

Remove the Debris 

If you're going to install fresh sod, the first thing you need to do is clear the yard. This is especially important if you're working with bare dirt. Clearing the yard will give you a better view of the soil you're working with. Once you've removed the big items, take the time to clear away rocks, stumps, and other debris that will get in the way of your sod installation. When you're done, you want to have clean, clear soil to work with. 

Ensure Proper Drainage

Once you've cleared the area, you'll want to take steps to ensure proper drainage. You might not realize this, but proper drainage is essential for healthy sod. To ensure proper drainage, you'll need to grade the sod. To grade the soil, you can either rent a tractor-mounted grader, or you can do the grading by hand. If you're going to sod a large yard, you'll want to use the tractor-mounted grader. As you grade the soil, be sure to remove any additional debris you locate. 

Take Care of Soil Issues

After you've completed the grading, you'll need to assess the health of the soil, which you can do with a simple soil test. Your soil test will determine the pH level of the area where you plan to install the sod. When testing your soil, you want to pay attention to the pH levels and figure out whether your soil is basic or acidic. Once you know the pH level of your soil, you can add fertilizer to create a balance. 

Apply the Fertilizer

Once you've conducted the steps described above, you'll be ready to apply the fertilizer. This is the final step before your sod is installed. Applying fertilizer prior to installation serves two purposes. First, it ensures that your soil is ready to promote healthy root growth. Second, it gives your new sod a head start for proper nutrient levels. After you've applied the fertilizer, be sure to water the soil. That way, more of the fertilizer is absorbed into the soil.

For more information about sod installation, contact a local company.