Our build, layer by layer · Cape May County, NJ
Grass doesn't grow
on bare sand.
Cape May County lots sit on sand, so we build real soil on top of it first. These are the layers that go in before the first roll of sod.
- 1Strip the old turf, loosen the base
The tired lawn comes up first. Then we crack open the packed sand below it and grade the whole area level.
- 2A layer of composted topsoil
Aged compost goes down over the sand. It feeds the roots and holds water like a sponge, two jobs plain sand cannot do.
- 3Lime and starter fertilizer
New Jersey ground runs sour, and grass does poorly in it. Lime brings the pH back. Starter fertilizer pushes new roots in the first week.
- 4Sod grown on a farm
Tall fescue raised for 9 months, harvested the morning we lay it, set down in 300 lb rolls and pressed flat with a roller.
Sprinklers are part of the build, not an extra
Water runs right through island sand. A patio likes that. New grass does not.
Questions about the build
Can sod go straight onto the sand?
It can, but it will not last. Shore sand holds almost no water and almost no food. Sod set right on top looks great for a couple of weeks. Then the roots reach the bare sand, quit growing, and the grass turns brown in the first heat wave. Roots need the compost layer to grow into.
Why roll the sod after it is laid?
Our 300 pound roller pushes each piece down tight against the soil. Pockets of air under the sod kill grass, because roots cannot cross the gap. It only takes a few minutes, and leaving it out is a top cause of new lawns failing.
When will the new sod root in?
With proper watering, it takes two to three weeks. We give you a written watering schedule and come back to check on it. During that time you are covered by our 30-day establishment guarantee.
Will my lawn need a sprinkler system?
If it is bigger than about 1,500 square feet, it will. On sandy lots from Ocean City to Lower Township, a hose cannot keep the ground moist through July and August. Sod that dries out in its first three weeks of rooting is lost. That is why we only take on larger lawns when irrigation is part of the job.