lawn installation
Aesthetically, there can be no argument that a beautiful lawn is immediately pleasing and its lushness makes it relaxing in appearance, warming the exterior of the property. Beyond the basic visual aspect of a lawn, there is a multitude of benefits for the yard and people around it. A quality lawn not only reduces runoff water, but it also prevents erosion by water or wind which results in the loss of valuable topsoil and as a result, less yard space. A healthy lawn absorbs rainfall 50-100 times more effectively than hard-packed dirt – being exceeded only by virgin forest. Acting like a gigantic sponge, lawns absorb all types of airborne pollutants, such as soot, dust and carbon dioxide, as well as noise. A 50×50 foot healthy grass area will produce enough oxygen to meet the needs of a family of four every day while also providing a safer recreation area, the grass acts as a cushion to reduce shock and help prevent potential injury. On an extremely hot day, grass can be 15-20 degrees cooler than exposed soil and as much as 40-60 degrees cooler than concrete or asphalt, keeping the people and buildings around cooler also. With all of the built-in benefits of a healthy lawn, it is easy to see how it can be the most important part of the exterior landscape design.
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3 months later
When it comes to lawn installation, there are two main options - grass seed or sod. Seeding is the more cost-efficient option of the two and also has many other pros over sod installation. Sod rolls have roots that have been severed, as a result, the roots are short, shallow and limited, which may make the establishment challenging. Grass seed, in contrast, grows undisturbed from where it was sown, developing a stronger and deeper root system from the outset, and over the long term, results in a thicker, low-maintenance lawn. Deeper roots reach more water tables, enabling the grass to endure drought easier while also increasing nutrient uptake, reducing the need for fertilizer. Grass seed can also be tailored to the landscape's specific needs, for instance, a shade-tolerant mix is a popular option used for growing around large trees where sunlight is limited. The germination process for a seed lawn could take up to 4 weeks, and it may take 6-8 weeks total before a lawn is established enough to sustain normal foot traffic. Watering a newly installed lawn is also a delicate balance, too much water can wash away seed and make germination sporadic, too little water can cause the seeds to dry out and never germinate. It is important to keep the seeds moist, but not soaked. A seeded lawn costs less, however, it does require more time and effort.
Sod is the more expensive of the 2 lawn options, but with that extra cost also comes a lot of benefits. Sod is a fully established and professionally maintained lawn that is harvested below the root layer, leaving a layer of topsoil with the grass roots embedded in it. The cut sod is rolled and palleted for transfer to the property where it is unrolled for the look of an instant, mature lawn. Whereas seeds will take around 2 years to develop into fully grown grass, the sod will give the same results without you having to wait so many months, becoming fully established in as little as 1-2 weeks. Sod also requires less watering and there is no chance of failure during the seeds germination process, making the care for sod after install much more forgiving than that needed for seed. The tightly packed grass layer of the sod is less likely for weeds to infiltrate as easily as a newly seeded lawn and is also ideal for hills or other sloping terrains, where exposed soil is likely to erode and seeds are likely not to germinate. However, moving the rolls around can be much more cumbersome when you consider that sod rolls are heavy (approx. 30-40 pounds each) and require being moved and placed individually. Sod is a fully mature lawn that someone else did all the hard work on and prepare to be transplanted, but it does cost a bit more for all the convenience.
Overseeding is the process of planting grass seed directly into the existing turf without ruining the turf or soil and is an important part of growing a healthy, lush lawn. As grasses mature, thinning is normal—especially if you enjoy your lawn and use it often. Overseeding revives damaged lawn caused by heavy foot traffic, a lack of water, or heat and keeps the lawn steeped in youth and vigor, without starting over from scratch. Overseeding not only allows grass to grow where it doesn’t exist, but it also improves the entire lawn by sowing in better varieties of grass seed. Overseeding keeps the lawns turf layer thick and is a pivotal part of weed prevention by not allowing the weeds an area to grow.