Avoid Sod Job Screwups
15 Apr, 2009 By: Hank Wilkinson Athletic Turf Newsor, 10 ways to not get paid for your next turf installation project
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Sod is a perishable product. It can die, but long before it dies it can be stressed, stunted or forced into dormancy. It contains more than just grass plants and soil. In fact, the soil contains millions of microorganisms, small animals and plants, all of which must be nurtured to maintain a beautiful and healthy lawn.
A number of important issues are worth keeping in mind to ensure the new sod will perform. Failure to recognize these practices could result in failure of the sod and the resulting loss of your income. Here are my top 10 ways to botch a lawn installation job, not to mention harming your reputation.
 Before you buy sod |
1. Underestimate the time and planning it takes to install sod.
Preparation is required to ensure that you and the landscape are ready to receive sod. Overestimating how many yards of sod you or your crew can install in a day can cost you big money. Sod is perishable and can die even before you unroll it. Never make the sod wait to be installed.
2. Buy poor quality sod.
If you start with poor quality sod (weeds, weed seeds, disease or insect damage, old, thatchy, poor variety, etc.), you'll wind up with poor quality lawns and unhappy customers. Poor quality sod will cost you money in terms of handling, causing you a lot of extra trimming and leaving you with unwanted scraps. Inspect and buy only top quality sod.
3. Don't be ready to receive the sod delivery.
When sod is ordered, it's usually cut late in the afternoon the day before or very early the morning of the delivery. This guarantees that you and your customer get the freshest, coolest sod. Remember, the microorganisms that live in the sod respire, so they're always generating heat -like you when you carry rolls of sod. In addition, sod cools itself by evaporation (like sweating). However, once sod is harvested and rolled up for delivery, it cannot cool itself nor dissipate the heat from the microbes. It can reach a temperature of over 130?? F in 24 to 48 hours if left rolled up. Also, if you're not ready to receive the sod, you'll infuriate truck drivers who have to wait, and the delivery person won't be able to place the sod where you can use it efficiently. In short, you'll have to handle the sod more, which will cost you money. Don't order the sod until you're sure you can install it.
4. Don't prepare the soil properly.
Sod starts to form new roots as soon as it's harvested. These roots need to find porous, moist, cool soil. Till the soil, remove any debris and rocks, and make sure the soil doesn't contain too much (<30%) clay. Have the soil tested if you suspect it has too much clay. When you lay good sod on poor soil, the sod won't root, the density of the turf declines, and the grass desiccates in the summer. Further, poor soil preparation will require more water, more fertilizer and more explanation, all of which will cost you more money. Make sure your soil has a good texture. If needed, add organic matter and good topsoil and till it into the top 3 to 6 inches of the soil.
 Prior to installing sod, remove any rocks and debris from the soil. |
5. Don't add water to cool the soil.
Water cools the ground and helps the sod to root. The sod you're installing just had about 80% of its roots cut off and therefore can't absorb water efficiently. Keep the sod and the soil below it moist and cool to prevent desiccation and root "stinging," or death caused by dry, hot soil. The soil surface in the midwest can reach 130?? F on a bright, sunny day. If the sod gets hot while on the pallet and then is installed onto hot soil, it will be heat stressed and may go dormant (off-color green or brown, and no new root growth). Thoroughly wet the soil to about three inches deep between 24 to 48 hours before you install the sod. By the time you install the sod, the soil surface will be dry enough to work on. Once the sod is unrolled, the moisture in the soil will migrate up to meet the sod. You won't have to add as much water after installation, and the sod won't go dormant.
6. Do a sloppy installation.
If you've left big seams or had to patch a lot of little holes because you didn't trim correctly, your customer will be unhappy. Pay attention to details. Stay off the soil as much as possible before you install the sod. Once the sod is rolled out, work on it only when necessary to fit and trim it, then stay off it. Remove any air pockets beneath the sod: they'll cause it to dry and turn brown. Use a riding roller to ensure contact between the sod and the soil. Don't use a hand roller: your feet will damage the sod as you struggle with the roller. Finally, as you roll out the sod, give it a good soak. This will prevent shrinking and heat stress.
 Properly trimmed sod fits neatly together and doesn't leave big seams or lots of little holes. Patching takes time and the job doesn't look as neat. |
7. Don't tell the customer how to manage the sod.
Homeowners, although well-intentioned, don't have a clue as to how to properly establish turf. If you, the installer, leave the sod care entirely in the homeowner's hands, expect callbacks and complaints. In general, people water lawns too frequently and don't apply enough water. Another problem is improper mowing. After installing the sod, leave a written description of how to care for it. Review this with the customer. If you need a plan like this, visit the Midwest Sod Council's Web page (www.midwestsodcouncil. com) for details.
8. Leave the on-going mowing, fertilizing and watering up to the customer.
Your customers want a beautiful lawn; otherwise, you wouldn't be installing one. They also want to help care for the sod. However, most customers are busy and not knowledgeable about taking care of a new lawn. The least you should do is instruct the customer on proper management for the turf: when to mow, fertilize, and water their lawn. They must realize that the first few weeks after installing sod are critical to proper establishment.
The real reasons you won't get paid |
9. Don't tell the customer when they can get on the grass.
Customers should know that grass is not that fragile after it's installed, but they need to use some caution. Sod can be walked on by humans and animals immediately after it's installed. However, caution your customer to avoid any activities that cause lateral movement and shearing for about 4 to 6 weeks. Tell the customer what they can and can't do on the grass, and explain why.
10. Don't check up on the sod's progress.
This may take both diplomacy and salesmanship, but try to get the customer to allow you to perform post-installation services. In most cases, you don't want to leave the success of your efforts and professional reputation in the customer's hands. Prepare a schedule and list of how you'll inspect the lawn during the critical establishment period (3 to 6 weeks).
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