Question
QUESTION: I want to put down St. Augustine sod in my newly designed but totally dirt backyard.  What is your best advice and information for this activity in Southern California (San Bernardino) where I live?  Also, are there any particular things I definitely should not do?

ANSWER: There's really no magic here. You just need to make sure the soil is decent and deep enough for good root growth (6 inches minimum). Make sure to water the sod consistently as it takes root. Keep in mind that the roots are almost non-existent now, so it needs to get its full water supply from little stubs as opposed to long, deep roots. This can only happen if it is kept wet.

Beyond that, I wouldn't try to overthink it or do anything strange that the neighbors insist are necessary. I've heard a million different ideas for lawn care, and most of them are pointless, while some are actually harmful.  If you just take care of the basics, plenty of consistent water and good soil, you should be fine.

Good luck!

-C.J. Brown
www.TheLawnCoach.com



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Is this a good time of year to put sod down?  Should I use any amendments rototilled into the soil before putting the sod down?  Is there a way to tell if my soil is good or not?  I had 10 cubic yards of soil brought in and it goods pretty good but part of the yard is the original soil.  Thanks again for you help.

Answer
St. Augustine definitely likes things warmer, so if you are consistently seeing temperatures above 80 degrees, you should be fine.  If it's low 70's or below, you might want to wait, but with the soil work having been done already, it'd be better to give it a shot.

You can only tell if the soil is good or not by sending it to a soil lab for a complete analysis. It's probably fine as soil problems tend to be rare. If you have reason to believe it is bad, then find a nearby soil lab and send in a sample. If there's no reason to believe it is bad, then you're probably fine.

-C.J. Brown
www.TheLawnCoach.com