Turf professionals say that when the turf is 60 % weeds or further, it is possibly time to clear the world for up to date seeding. If this describes your backyard, you might consider using a information sod cutter, usually referred to as a turf cutter or “sod kicker” to clear your backyard. This instrument will also be useful when placing in new sod or transitioning your yard to new landscaping, a yard, placing in a yard operate, or a model new type of grass planting.
A information sod cutter can clear about 500 sq. ft in quite a few hours with out an extreme quantity of exertion. It is noise-free and would not require gasoline, engine maintenance, or winterization. Study on for our data on one of the simplest ways to make use of a sod-cutting kicker.
Meet the Expert
Wayne Thompson is the president of Quail Manufacturing in Princeton, Minnesota, a maker of sod-cutting devices.
What Is a Information Sod Cutter?
A sod kicker is a muscle-powered information instrument, very like an old-style farm instrument, like a sod plow. A kick sod cutter has two prolonged handles anchored with a crossbar. It incorporates a roller and an adjustable flat blade at ground stage. Use the cutter by kicking the crossbar to maneuver it alongside as you slender. Modify your sod cutter blade to remove a minimum of 3/4 inch of topsoil along with the grass. It removes prolonged, slender sod strips chances are you’ll roll up and take away.
What Is Sod?
Sod or turf is the upper layer of soil with grass rising on it. It could be pulled up like a carpet. It is usually farmed, harvested into rolls, supplied, and laid out on a unadorned spot to replenish a unadorned backyard.
In accordance with Wayne Thompson, president of Quail Manufacturing, the sod kicker instrument works for a lot of people. “You don’t ought to bend over to utilize it. It relies upon further on greater thigh muscle mass than once more vitality. It doesn’t require quite a bit greater physique vitality the least bit.” Completely different clearing methods embrace weed killers, smothering, rototilling, and gas-powered sod cutters.
When to Use a Information Sod Cutter
You’ll pull up sod any time of 12 months. It is best carried out early, midfall, or spring must you plan to replant it. Let the sod dry out for a day or two if it has rained simply recently. It’s troublesome and heavier to maneuver soggy sod. You can also pull up and lay sod in winter.
Sooner than Getting Started
- One to 2 days sooner than you use the sod kicker, water the world utterly for less complicated lowering.
- Mark off the world with marking flags or grass-safe spray chalk the place you intend to remove the sod. It’s less complicated to remove sod than to find out new sod, so do not take away any sections of the backyard you wish to preserve.
- Take away all seen rocks, branches, fallen leaves, and particles.
- The cutter’s tempered steel blade requires periodic sharpening. A uninteresting cutter blade may trigger premature placed on and concern using the instrument.
- Plot out the pattern for a method you may take away the sod. Plan to remove sod in prolonged, straight traces.
Warning
Sooner than lowering sod, be taught the producer’s instructions to ensure you use the instrument appropriately. Always placed on eye security whereas working this instrument because it may kick up rocks and gravel that set off harm. Placed on close-toed sneakers. Protect children and pets away from the working area.