670 rolls of sod, a rake & a 10 year old son???

ScottAR · Jul 22, 2004

Picture toting about 20-30 lbs. at a time. Gets heavy really fast. My dad, me, and about 3-4 guys layed 5-6 pallets at a commerical building site in one day. NOT FUN...

Your friend bit off more than he could chew. (you know this) Guessing 3-4 days if he can take off from work. Otherwise, most of it is gonna be dead before he's done.

Bob_Skurka · Jul 22, 2004

I'm trying to rally some help for my buddy.

First, I went to the store and bought a tube of KY Jelly because he will feel like he will need it as soon as he sod truck backs into the driveway. Second, I bought a tube of Ben-Gay, because his muscles will need that if he even gets 1/2 way done with this project. Third, I talked to an ex-farmer who is also a mutual friend. He has access to my tractors. He will talk to the friend and offer to haul one of my tractors, a tiller, a drag and some other equipment out to the house and at least prepare the ground for the sod.

Like I said, I go there myself, but cutting vacation short and driving back home from Florida to lay sod for a day really doesn't sound like fun to me!

Yankee · Jul 22, 2004

"First, I went to the store and bought a tube of KY Jelly because he will feel like he will need it as soon as he sod truck backs into the driveway. "

I'm REALLY having trouble figuring out what this means ...

I agree with you that he needs to prepare that ground. I've had sod in several houses. I had trouble at ALL of them getting roots into the soil. The best thing to do is not just prep the surface mechanically, but mix in a bit of root growth stuff (can't recall the right word, offhand) too.

Golfgar4 · Jul 22, 2004

Bob,

I sure hope your friend realizes what a good friend HE has! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

If you think the main thing he needs are "bodies", maybe he could contact a Boy Scout troop (or some other youth group - church maybe?). I know when I was a Scoutmaster, we were always looking for projects that our scouts could help out on.

Just an idea. Maybe it'll lead to some other ideas. Hope it works out for him. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

brinet · Jul 22, 2004

Check this site out.

I re-seeded my lawn last fall. The guys at Turf Mountain Sod were a major help. Their knowledge of sod appeared to be endless.

I just don't understand why he wanted to sod vs. seed? I seeded about 1 acre. Total cost in materials was about $150 (excluding the cost of RoundUp to kill the previous). I have a 4' tiller and used bar grate to drag the lawn level.

Of course I had my time to account for (I'm told my time isn't worth anything), but I think re-seeding was much easier than sodding. Other than ground preparation (same as for laying sod), total time involved in seeding was 1hr to spread fertilizer, 1hr to spread seed, and about 30 minutes to roll and pack.

Bob_Skurka · Jul 22, 2004

( I just don't understand why he wanted to sod vs. seed?
)

Because his wife said so /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

brinet · Jul 22, 2004

( Because his wife said so /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif)

Hah! Been there...

Just some quick calculations: at $1.50 per yard of sod X 744.4 yards = $1116.60 worth of sod.

Not trying to cause hard feelings, but if he can afford to spend that much on sod, I would think he could afford to pay someone to help him "secure" his investment. I would hate to see the sod "rot" on the pallets or die from improper installation.

Remember the old business rule: "Failure to plan on your part doesn't necessarily constitute an emergency on my part". Enjoy your vacation. You have a good heart for wanting to help...

Bob_Skurka · Jul 22, 2004

( You have a good heart for wanting to help...)

NO, actually I enjoy watching others in pain! But he is a good friend. And as for the part about paying to install it? I really don't know. His house is 4000+ square feet, if he can afford that, he should be able to afford a sod crew to sod the back yard!!! But, like me, he is a cheap Slovak, son of immigrents who made it to America on their own, is used to doing things for himself, and I think figured this would be something he could do. I still don't think he realizes that he bit off more than he can chew. I did find out that one of my tractors is already on a trailer and ready to go, so tomorrow when he shows up for work, the mutual friend, who also works with him, will be there with the tractor & implements to follow him home.

Me, I really wish I had a cooler of beer, a lawn chair, and a nice spot to watch him attempt to lay a half a semi-trailer of sod with the help of a 10 year old boy. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

higgy · Jul 22, 2004

One other way to concider would be hydro seeding. They have the fert and a stabilizing material in the solution that they apply to the soil with the seed. Here germination and rooting go quickly. Not expensive and the job is done by the applicator.

ScottAR · Jul 22, 2004

That would be my pick if I was doin' it. I've seen it applied several times and in a couple weeks... viola! Lawn...

I actually hate sod... It's really hard to get flat. One nearly always has to topdress the gaps and so on...