How to Grow Grass on Sand With Sod
If you have ever admired the lush, rolling turf at your local golf course you may have wondered just how much organic soil amendment it must take to get it to look like that. You may be surprised to learn that most golf turf has 95 percent sand as its base, according to horticulturists with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Laying sod over sand is very much like laying sod over any other surface.
Remove any rocks, weeds, old roots and other debris from the planting area.
Perform any grade changes required to direct water runoff away from buildings. Make sure to factor in the thickness of the sod you will be planting.
Til the soil to a depth of 12 inches. If the soil is wet, wait until it dries to til.
- If you have ever admired the lush, rolling turf at your local golf course you may have wondered just how much organic soil amendment it must take to get it to look like that.
- You may be surprised to learn that most golf turf has 95 percent sand as its base, according to horticulturists with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
Pour 3 cubic yards of sphagnum peat moss for every 1,000 square feet of planting area. With the tiller or gardening fork, mix this into the top six inches of sand.
Roll the planting area with the lawn roller.
Add fertilizer, such as 1-2-1, in the amount suggested on the package. Do not mix this in with the soil.
Water the area to a depth of 6 inches and allow it to stand for a day or two. If the weather is hot and dry you can start laying sod after one day. The soil should be just slightly moist.
- Pour 3 cubic yards of sphagnum peat moss for every 1,000 square feet of planting area.
- With the tiller or gardening fork, mix this into the top six inches of sand.
Lay the sod down in strips, beginning with the longest edge to be planted. Butt the edges up against one another tightly. Each row should be staggered, such as when laying bricks.
Pour sand or potting soil into any gaps between rows, or elsewhere. Use a sharp knife to trim sod around planters or other obstructions.
Roll over the sod with the lawn roller.
Water the lawn well and water it daily for the next week. Give it enough water to penetrate 6 to 8 inches into the soil.
- Lay the sod down in strips, beginning with the longest edge to be planted.
- Use a sharp knife to trim sod around planters or other obstructions.
Tip
Your sod should root within two to three weeks.
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References
Tips
- Your sod should root within two to three weeks.
Writer Bio
Based in the American Southwest, Bridget Kelly has been writing about gardening and real estate since 2005. Her articles have appeared at Trulia.com, SFGate.com, GardenGuides.com, RE/MAX.com, MarketLeader.com, RealEstate.com, USAToday.com and in "Chicago Agent" magazine, to name a few. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in creative writing.
