Building in a new community can often mean waiting months to move into that much-anticipated address, but depending on time of year of the possession date, builders and developers often provide sod — and installation during the summer months — in the cost of the homes.

Hopewell Residential Communities used to take that approach to landscaping in its neighbourhoods, but because people move in all year or have different ideas for their lawns, residents are now given an allowance for sod, with the bill jointly footed by their builder and the developer.

“We have a philosophy homeowners should have a choice,” says Kevin Pyle, manager of architectural approvals, who also heads up landscaping matters at Hopewell Residential Communities.

In addition to a tree from Spruce Lane Farms, Hopewell community residents are given a dollar amount to spend on sod, which is determined by their lot type and home value, he says.

Buyers in “starter” areas like Sagewood in Airdrie, with smaller lots and homes on average will net a $500 allowance for their lawn — an amount that should cover the whole yard in the green stuff, Pyle estimates.

Pyle says most new homebuilders and developers are pretty good about including some landscaping in the price or providing that service to buyers, who should feel free to ask for extra topsoil from their builder prior to a professional or do-it-themselves installation.

Tony Durocher, sod manager at Wilco Turf Farms, says, while the sky is the limit when it comes to grass varieties, laying a type that will survive the dry Calgary climate is crucial to a lawn’s ability to thrive. That’s why, he says, most sod grown for residential use in Alberta is a mixture of red fescue and Kentucky bluegrass. “The blend may vary, but that’s generally what’s used. The Bluegrass is what gives you a nice lush lawn, and the fescue is what takes over when it’s cooler or dry.”

Wilco deals with a slew of landscaping companies but also supplies sod retail, starting at about 25 cents a square foot, often plus a delivery charge. Durocher says, while hiring a landscaper may be the best fit for time or ability constraints, laying sod is a pretty doable project for most homeowners.

While the phrase “better too much than too little” applies when ordering sod, he advises homeowners measure as accurately as they can when determining how much to buy, to save themselves some green for material costs.
The dirt on topsoil is also simple, he says — how much is there can make or break your new lawn’s health. “The amount of topsoil you put down underneath is important because it will increase or decrease the life of your lawn. With six inches your lawn should last 25 to 30 years with proper care.”

The turf guru also suggests ordering sod well enough in advance of when you want to install it — but not too well in advance. Having the palettes delivered no more than 24 hours before its intended use is best, says Durocher, who suggests calling in the order a few days beforehand, or four to six in busier times, such as May and June.

If a do-it-yourself sod project is the way you decide to go which could save a lot of green by not paying for professional landscaping there are a few important tips for creating an outdoor space thats lush and genuine-looking.
The first is making sure you have enough material to work with. There is nothing worse than running out of sod right in the middle, or when you’re almost done the job.

Bunty Soy, of Bluegrass Ltd. in Balzac says three to four palettes will be plenty for a larger yard, while two will likely offer enough coverage for smaller-sized homesites, adding there may also be a delivery charge for having smaller loads dropped off.

Grading is key when it comes to preparing your area for sod, says Soy, who advises also ensuring there is sufficient topsoil to work with.

The next step is to fertilize the soil in preparation for rolling out the sod. After that, you’re ready to roll — literally. Some lawn pros lay the pieces side by side, but Soy suggests using a brick pattern “so that the ends will stay together and it won’t shift around.”

While leaving some slack between pieces may be helpful it is not advised to have too much of a gap. After pieces are butted together, a lawn roller (available to rent for a reasonable cost) should be rolled gently over the lawn-in-progress.

When all the sod is lain, the water-filled drum roller should be rolled over the entire lawn surface, says Soy, adding this process ensures the roots are touching the soil.

Watering is imperative, especially during the first week after installing sod and should be done every day in the evening or morning for 30 minutes to an hour. Soy advises watering five days straight during this crucial first week, taking a break on the sixth and watering again on the seventh day, and then mowing for the first time.

She suggests testing for water coverage by unrolling a piece of sod and taking a handful of dirt. “If you can roll it into a ball, that’s perfect,” she says.

Of course, you can avoid watering on rainy days, and the experts also suggest not watering in the heat of the day, as you may run the risk of burning your lawn or waste a great deal of water as it evaporates under the sun’s heat.

For the second week, water only every second day and mow once. By the third week it should be okay to cut the watering down to once a week.

How often your lawn will need to be mown will depend on how fast it grows. Weather, fertilizer and how short you set the mower blade figure into this equation, but a good rule of thumb is to mow once a week for a lush healthy lawn that will make the neighbours green with envy. NL