If there’s one thing summer is sure to bring to lower Alabama, it’s heat. Our area routinely has some of the hottest summer temps in the country, creating a sweltering season that’s hard on all living things - especially your landscape. 

 

Hot weather can be brutal on your plants. Like humans, they need extra care to ensure they stay hydrated and healthy during periods of extreme heat. Unfortunately, those high temperatures also make it hard to get excited about hours of heavy yard work. 

 

The good news, a few easy steps can help your plants keep their cool under the sun’s scorching rays. As temperatures rise, follow these four easy tips to protect your landscape from the heat. 

 

MOW A LITTLE LONGER

 

During the summer, avoid the temptation to cut your grass as short as possible. While this may extend the time between mows, taller grass will cast longer shadows that help your soil retain moisture and protect it from the sun. During periods of high heat, raise your mower blades to keep your grass between three and six inches tall. You can also leave the clippings on the lawn for a bit of natural mulch. 

 

WATER THE RIGHT WAY

 

Like humans, plants need proper hydration to survive the summer heat. However, it’s not as easy as giving your landscape a good soak every time you get the chance. When it comes to heat and hydration, you need to water the right way, at the right time. 

 

Water evaporates very quickly during periods of high heat, especially at the peak of the day. To help your lawn and plants retain moisture, aim to water them during the early morning. This cuts down on the amount of water lost to wind and evaporation and allows the roots to absorb the most moisture before the highest heat of the day. 

 

There are many ways to water your plants, but some are more beneficial than others. When temperatures are high, it’s best to apply water directly to the soil rather than using an overhead sprinkler. This is because less water is lost to evaporation, and foliage stays dry, minimizing diseases. This method can be done with a drip irrigation system or by using a soaker hose. 

 

APPLY MULCH

 

Mulch is beneficial all year long, but it is especially good at protecting plants from the summer heat. A layer of mulch insulates the soil, helping to reduce evaporation and protecting the delicate plant roots from extreme heat. It will also help control weeds that compete against your plants for moisture and nutrients. 

 

For best results, apply a layer of light-colored organic mulch to your beds and around plants and shrubs. Two to Three inches should suffice - anymore and you risk suffocating shallow plant roots. Avoid piling mulch around the base of trees, which can lead to rot and disease. 

 

PROVIDE SHADE

 

Provide shade to protect your plants from the stress of the overhead sun. You don’t have to get fancy - a big beach umbrella, old bedsheets, or even propped-up cardboard should suffice. You can also use shade cloth, an airy material at your local home and garden store that provides temporary protection from the sun to garden plants. The key is to choose a shade that blocks the sun without hindering natural airflow. 

 

A lush landscape can help you create the coolest home on the block - if you can help it handle the heat. If you prefer to skip the summer strain, let the professionals at Krob Landscape handle the work for you. Our landscape maintenance plans cover everything you need to enjoy a stress-free landscape all year long. Contact us today!

When is the best time to mulch your beds? Even landscape enthusiasts find themselves
asking this common question. Mulching is one of the best things you can do to preserve the
health and beauty of your landscape - if you add it at the right time. Add your mulch too early or
too late and you may get the blanket with none of the benefits.

The good news is, taking stock of your beds, your goals, and the weather can help you find just
the right time. In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know to decide the best
time to mulch your beds.

Why Mulch Matters

When it comes to mulching, the why is just as important as the when. While mulching certainly
helps your landscape maintain a polished appearance all year long, it also has some key
benefits that explain why some times are better for mulching than others. The benefits of mulch
include:

Weed Control. Mulch acts as a natural weed suppressant because it blocks sunlight from
reaching the soil, smothering any weeds that are trying to germinate and grow. It also prevents
any loose weed seeds that are blown into your beds from reaching the soil below.

Fertilization. Organic mulch such as pine straw, leaves, and grass clippings break down over
time and naturally fertilize your bed soil, leading to improved plant growth.

Stable Soil Temperature. Applying a layer of mulch on top of your soil helps it maintain a
stable temperature in extreme heat or cold. It also protects the roots of your plants, which
typically extend only an inch or two into the topsoil.

Maintains Soil Moisture. Heat and wind cause the moisture in your soil to quickly evaporate.
As temperatures rise, adding a layer of mulch holds moisture in the soil, cutting back on how
often you need to water your beds.

When To Mulch

So you need to add mulch to your beds. When is the best time?
In general, the best time to add mulch to your beds is in mid to late spring. This will help your
landscape with weed control, protect your soil from the summer sun, and create a contrasting
look against your vibrant spring plants.

Ideally, you want to mulch after soil temperatures have warmed but before weeds have the
chance to sprout in your beds. Mulching too early in the season can prevent your soil from
thawing and delay your seasonal blooms.

Many gardeners also add a layer of mulch to their beds in the fall. Fall mulching insulates the
soil and protects it from the extreme cold of the winter season. Fall mulch will also begin to
degrade by early spring, delivering a powerful dose of nutrients that can help your spring plants
shine.

If you can’t make time to mulch, let the professionals at Krob Landscaping handle it for you! Our
expert landscapers will use the right products at the right time to help you get the most out of
your mulch. Contact us today!

Spring is in sight, bringing with it warmer temperatures, gentle breezes, and vibrant new growth. It would be great if that growth was limited to lush lawns and fantastic flowers, but unfortunately, the season also brings a much less welcome guest: spring weeds.

The good news is, being proactive can help your lawn and landscape stay healthy and free of weeds all season (and year) long. In the days and weeks before spring’s arrival, complete these two easy steps to help your landscape SPRING into a weed-free season.

Use Pre-Emergents

We all know the bliss of spring’s warmer temperatures after months of winter cold. What you may not know is that the soil underneath your lawn warms long before you can feel the change in the air. This means waiting until spring weather begins to tackle weed growth is much too late - weeds have already started to germinate underground.

That’s why using pre-emergents is so important. Pre-emergents contain a mix of fertilizers and herbicides that are designed to prevent pesky weeds like crabgrass and clover from sprouting in the spring. Once applied and watered, pre-emergents will form a protective barrier that kills weeds as they attempt to germinate and grow.

Timing is key if you want to get the most from your pre-emergents. You want to apply them in the last few weeks of winter before the soil has a chance to warm, or ideally from late February to Mid-March. Although it may seem otherwise, pre-emergents are not effective at killing weeds that are already there - once they sprout from the ground, you’ll need harsher weed killers to handle them.

Lay Fresh Pine Straw

Pine straw is a tough multi-tasker - it conserves soil moisture and temperature, acts as a natural mulch, and deters weed growth, all while helping your flower beds and landscape look great.
Pine straw is a great addition to your landscape year-round, and now is one of the best times to lay a fresh batch. Like pre-emergents, pine straw works best to deter spring weeds before they begin growing. That’s because it prevents weeds by blocking seeds access to bare ground, and then deprives any new seedlings of sunlight so they can’t germinate.

As a bonus, a pre-spring application of fresh straw will also protect the growth of new plants! Spring bulbs like tulips and daffodils can easily penetrate pine straw if it’s already there, but their delicate blooms are easily trampled by new straw. You’ll want to get it applied and spread before they begin to grow to guarantee beautiful spring beds.

Contact Krob Landscape!

If you’d prefer to save your time for smelling the spring flowers, ask about our residential maintenance programs! From seasonal bed changes to weed control and lawn care, our expert team can keep your landscape happy and healthy through spring and beyond. Contact us today!

We all love those big and beautiful shade trees that turn such brilliant colors in the fall - until they drop into a time-consuming carpet on your lawn. Then you’re forced to spend your autumn days raking, bagging, and dragging piles of dead leaves off your grass when all you really want to do is sip your apple cider in peace.

Believe it or not, there’s a better way: mulching them. An easy ride on a mulching mower turns those fallen leaves into a free fertilizer that boosts your lawn, helps the environment, and saves you hours of time and effort.

If you need more convincing, here’s why you should mulch your leaves instead of raking them:

You’ll save time and effort. Raking, bagging, and hauling your leaves is a grueling task that can take hours out of your day. In contrast, mulching leaves is no harder than mowing your lawn - and takes the same amount of time. Now you can spend your autumn days gazing at that beautiful fall foliage instead of removing it!

You’ll save money.  While you may need to buy a mulching blade for your mower, mulching your leaves each year will save you money in the long run. That’s because you won’t need to buy industrial-strength garbage bags, pay for debris collection, or spend money on a store-bought fertilizer. Not to mention all the dollars you’ll save on doctor visits for a bum back!

You’ll naturally fertilize your lawn. Leaves contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, all critical elements of lawn fertilizer. As mulched leaves decompose they release these beneficial nutrients into the soil, helping it retain moisture and balance soil chemistry. They also act as a free-for-all buffet for earthworms and microorganisms, which turn them into even more beneficial nutrients for your lawn. In other words, you’ve been throwing away bags of free fertilizer for years!

You’ll suppress weeds. Bare areas of lawn are perfect for weed germination. When you cover them with a layer of mulched leaves, you protect the root system and work with the lawn canopy to prevent pesky weeds from forming.

You’ll help the environment. By mulching your leaves, you ensure they don’t end up taking landfill space or releasing harmful chemicals into nearby waterways. They also serve as a protective habitat for local wildlife like birds, reptiles, and amphibians, which make sure your landscape has a balanced (and insect-free) ecosystem.

How to Mulch Your Leaves

Mulching leaves is unbelievably easy. Simply remove your grass catcher and mow over the leaves until they’re reduced to dime-size pieces. To avoid smothering your lawn, mow until you can see about a half inch of grass underneath the new layer. You may need to spread the mulch around or move it to nearby flower beds for even distribution.

Of course, the easiest way is to let the experts at Krob Landscape handle the mulching for you! Contact us today to learn how our residential maintenance services can handle everything from leaf removal to seasonal tree pruning and more.

When to know it’s Time for a Landscape Redesign

With the seasons changing, many homeowners and businesses are curious when they should redesign their landscaping. While there is no wrong time to redesign, there are a few guidelines to follow to ensure you’re getting the most out of your time, money and effort. Krob Landscape takes the guesswork out of the equation!

While it can be tempting to DIY your landscape, it is a delicate process that needs frequent upkeep. This can become daunting when trying to balance the obligations of everyday life. We highly recommend leaving this process in the hands of the professionals.

Transitional Seasons

Fall is one of the most ideal times to redesign your landscape. The weather places less stress on plants than the droughts and uncertain weather patterns of summer. Planting during the fall allows landscaping elements to cultivate a strong root structure, making the plants prepared to endure heat and lack of water the following summer and decrease the chance of dying due to disease or pests.

Your Outdoor Space is Outdated

Like all elements of design, styles come and go. Something that was textbook chic 10 years ago could be considered an eyesore today. If it’s been at least over 8 years since a redesign, you should definitely consider one.

Your Space is not Being Efficiently Utilized

Maximum efficiency should always be a priority. If you have the space, why not use it to its full potential? Talk to a residential landscape design professional to help map out a design that makes the most sense for your space.

You Avoid Looking at your Yard

Do you find yourself ignoring your yard altogether when entering your home? You’re not alone. Landscaping can become an overwhelming process when unattended for a long period of time. Mapping out a redesign can be an empowering process for getting your yard back on track.

Ready to let the professionals at Krob Landscaping handle your residential landscape redesign? Contact us today!

When choosing a landscaping company to maintain your home’s lawn, there are several things to consider. You want to choose a company that’s reputable, highly trained, local to your area, and that will work with you to fit your landscape vision and your budget. Sound challenging? With Krob Landscape, it’s not!

Krob Landscape is a full-scale landscape company serving clients on the Alabama Gulf Coast and the Florida Panhandle. Our residential lawn maintenance services offer homeowners in the area stress-free lawn care that boosts your curb appeal, protects your home investment, and keeps your landscape in prime health and beauty year-round.

How we do it? We’re glad you asked! Read on to learn how Krob Landscape can maintain your lawn.

Mowing Service

Tired of spending nice afternoons tending to your overgrown grass? Take back your weekend with our professional mowing service! Our expert maintenance team uses a variety of professional-grade mowing equipment and the best industry practices to guarantee a clean and even trim every time.

Weed Trimming

We never cut corners when it comes to lawn maintenance. After a quality mow, our weed trimming services handle hard-to-reach areas around trees, fences, structural walls, and more to tackle any weeds that may mar your landscape.

Edging

Nothing ruins a perfectly trimmed lawn like sloppy, overgrown hedges. Krob Landscape can give your lawn a clean and polished look with our quality edging service! We use quality equipment to create sharp, precise edges around any walkways, driveways, patios or planting beds. After the initial trim, we'll keep your edges maintained year-round for lasting (and stress-free) beauty.

Hedging

A nicely-shaped hedge adds a big boost of curb appeal to any landscape - but takes hours of work per year to maintain. Let the professional team at Krob Landscape handle the leg work for you! We use professional-grade trimming equipment to give your hedges a sharp and even shape while maintaining the health and integrity of your shrubs.

Lawn Blowing

After mowing and trimming, our maintenance team provides quality lawn blowing to remove any grass clippings, leaves, or other debris from unsightly areas like driveways or sidewalks. This allows the organic material to give beneficial nutrients to your lawn while giving your landscape a neat and tidy look.

Seasonal Tree and Major Shrub Pruning

Proper pruning doesn’t just improve your landscape’s look - it also keeps your trees and shrubs healthy by removing excess weight, increasing fruit production, and helping with structural stability. Krob’s Landscape provides seasonal maintenance trims to your trees and major shrubs to keep them (and your landscape) in perfect shape and form.

Fertilizing and Pre/Post Emergents

Sometimes, your lawn needs a little extra help to stay lush, green, and weed-free. We can help maintain the health and beauty of your lawn by applying seasonal fertilizer and pre/post emergents. Our expert lawn professionals are trained to choose the right fertilizer for your lawn’s needs and apply it safely and efficiently at the proper times. We also offer pre and post-emergent herbicides to stay on top of weed control before and after they take root in your lawn.

Mulching

Mulching offers a variety of benefits to your landscape. A quality mulch improves your soil quality, retains moisture, reduces weeds, and adds rich color and a manicured look to your outdoor space. Our expert team will help you choose the right color and composition of mulch and apply it to your landscape beds, around trees and shrubs, along your home’s foundation, and other areas as needed to keep your landscape in optimal health and beauty.

Irrigation

Krob Landscape can handle every aspect of your landscape’s irrigation system, from installation to upgrades to fall winterization and beyond. Our expert irrigation specialists are trained to install new systems, make upgrades to existing setups, and ensure your irrigation works properly through regular testing and maintenance.

Customized Maintenance Programs

No two landscapes - or homeowners - are the same. That’s why our residential lawn maintenance services are completely customizable to meet your needs. We’ll help you build a customized maintenance program to handle as much - or as little - of your lawn care and maintenance as you need. Whether you choose just one service or a full-scale maintenance plan, we guarantee quality work that fits in your budget and keeps your lawn and landscape in peak condition year-round.

Ready to let the professionals at Krob Landscaping handle your residential lawn maintenance? Contact us today!

With autumn officially here, many homeowners are looking forward to entering the off-season of lawn care. While lawns are certainly less maintenance during the fall and winter seasons than in their warmer counterparts, there’s still work to be done! A few last-minute lawn care practices in early fall will guarantee a bright and healthy lawn come spring and prevent winter from wreaking havoc on your carefully nurtured landscape. Here are 5 easy ways to prepare your lawn for the fall:

Kill Weeds

To prepare for the colder months, tackle those pesky weeds before the first cold snap of the fall season. During early autumn your perennial weeds begin storing energy in their roots, making them substantially easier to kill. Additionally, once weeds go dormant weed-killing chemicals will no longer work and they’ll have to be removed by hand.

Trim Trees

Those blankets of colorful fall leaves may be pretty to look at (and play in), but they’re terrible for your lawn. To minimize the amount of time you’ll spend raking as the leaves change, trim your trees in the first few weeks of autumn. This will cut down on the shed and save you hours of time raking, bagging, and composting.

Keep Mowing

Although grass growth has slowed as autumn approaches, your lawn doesn’t officially stop growing until the first freeze. In South Alabama, that can be as late as November! Continue cutting your grass at normal height until it stops growing completely to best prepare your lawn for the fall and winter months.

Reseed Bare Spots

Late summer to early fall is the best time to reseed those dead eyesores that sprung up over the hot season. Seeds rarely take in the peak of summer, and once the ground freezes you’ll have to wait for next year.

Aerate The Soil

In the simplest terms, aerating means driving holes into the ground and removing plugs of compacted soil. This can be done by hand, but it’s easiest to rent a professional aeration machine from your local home and garden store.

Ideally, you should aerate your lawn 2-3 times per year, but it’s especially important in the early fall months. Many lawns suffer from soil compaction and heat stress during the summer, so aerating as the temperatures cool helps return much-needed nutrients and moisture to the soil. It also gives your lawn plenty of time to rejuvenate before taking on the cold winter months.

If the thought of prepping your lawn for autumn doesn’t make you FALL in love, the experts at Krob Landscaping can help! Our lawn services include maintenance and prepping services to keep your lawn in optimal health and beauty at any time of year. Contact us today to learn more!

Nothing ruins your home’s hard-earned curb appeal like a patch (or more) of brown, lifeless grass. Whether it’s due to disease, drought, or just plain ol’ heat, a dead lawn can be the bane of homeowners (and HOAs) everywhere.

The good news is, dead grass doesn’t have to be permanent! With a little effort and some handy tips, you can revive your dead grass and return it to its lush springtime glory. Read on to discover 7 easy ways to bring your dead grass back to life!

Note: Before you set out to revive your lawn, be sure it’s actually dying. Some grasses go dormant during the hot summer months to conserve resources, especially cool-season varieties. To determine if your grass is dead or dormant, inspect the crowns at the base of the blades. If the crowns are alive, the grass is probably dormant. You can also try the tug test - tug gently on a patch of brown grass. If the grass resists your pull, it’s dormant; if it comes out easily with no resistance, it’s dead.

Water It

Like all living things, grass depends on water to survive. Many lackluster lawns will perk back up after a consistent drink from the hose or sprinkler, especially in areas that are prone to drought or have intense summer temperatures.

Be sure not to overdo it - drowning your lawn can be just as bad as dehydrating it!

Weed It

Weeds aren’t just an eyesore. They compete with your grass for nutrients and water, literally sucking the life right out of your lawn. Pull weeds by hand or use an herbicide to rid your grass of troublesome weeds and restore it to its former glory.

Aerate It

Grass needs plenty of air and nutrients to thrive. If your soil becomes compacted, your grass can struggle to push both to its roots, resulting in a slow (but obvious) death. Aerating involves driving holes into your lawn so air, nutrients, and water can reach the roots. This can be done manually or with a powered aerator from your local home and garden store.

Dethatch It

Dethatching your lawn removes the thick buildup of organic material that can accumulate on lawns that are highly fertilized. These thick blankets of thatch can prevent water from reaching the soil and roots underneath, killing your grass.

Dethatching can be done with a powered dethatching machine or a simple garden rake. Be sure to dethatch vigorously - you only want to see soil and grass blades when you’re finished.

Fertilize It

Adding nutrient-rich fertilizer to your lawn is an easy way to give your grass a needed boost. Before choosing a fertilizer, test the soil to determine its levels of phosphorous, nitrogen, and potassium; a healthy lawn needs optimal levels of all three to grow properly.

Depending on the composition of your lawn, you may need a fertilizer that contains one or all three of these crucial ingredients. Compost, grass clippings, and chemical fertilizers are the most common (and most effective) choices to revive a dead or dying lawn.

Seed It

Replace patchy spots by spreading grass seeds over the area with a thin layer of soil. Before spreading your seeds, remove any dead or matted turf and loosen the top 2-3 inches of soil. This will prep the area and help the seeds take root quickly and properly.

Call the Pros

If all else fails, it may be time to call a professional. The experts at Krob Landscaping can diagnose and treat your dead grass to return your lawn to a lush, green oasis. If you need help with a dead or dying lawn, contact us today!

For many, the intense heat of an Alabama summer doesn’t invite you to roll up your sleeves and hit the yard work. But you still want to enjoy a bold, beautiful landscape that puts you in a summer frame of mind! How do you get both? With the perfect summer plants, of course!

The perfect summer landscape combines dramatic color with plenty of texture and doesn’t require hours of draining upkeep. You’ll want to choose plants that are hardy and drought-resistant or be ready to spend long afternoons watering and shading them.

We’ve compiled a list of the seven best plants to add to your landscape for summer that will give you a festive look without needing hours of maintenance. Read on to learn more!

Hibiscus

The large, colorful flowers of the hibiscus plants may look delicate, but they’re astoundingly resilient. During the late summer to early fall, saucer-sized blooms erupt in gorgeous pinks, whites, and reds, adding a festive splash of color to your landscape. Some can even grow to over 8 feet tall!  They need full sun and moist soil to shine their best, so be sure to plant them in full view and water them often.

Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)

This native gem provides tall, bright red blooms through the summer that are a magnet for butterflies and hummingbirds. They also have an intensely sweet fragrance, making them popular with gardeners but not with scavengers like deer or rabbits. They grow best in full sun and moist soil.

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are well-known as one of the best landscaping plants for summer. Their puffy balls of bright, colorful blooms come in a variety of colors that add a dramatic pop to your summer landscape. They also grow back bigger and better every year, making them the summer gift that keeps on giving! They prefer afternoon shade and need plenty of space to spread out, so plant accordingly.

Lavender

Those iconic purple blooms aren’t just a great addition for curb appeal - they also repel mosquitoes and flies, making them pretty and functional in your summer landscape. They’re also drought-resistant and flourish in full sun. Plant them near your windows for a fragrant breeze that will fill your home (and your dreams) with their sweet, rejuvenating scent!

Begonias

These bright, textured plants are technically tender perennials, but they often die at the first frost and need to be re-planted when winter passes. Their waxy leaves and vibrant, long-stemmed flowers make them a beautiful accent for any summer garden. They grow equally well in sun or shade and are resistant to drought and curious critters, making them a great low-maintenance plant for your landscape. They also look great in hanging baskets or containers for porch appeal!

Elephant’s Ear

This well-known plant will bring a tropical flair to your landscape with its large, bright green leaves that look just like their namesake. A single leaf can grow up to 4 feet, making a bold statement with relatively little work involved. They’re perfect for our warm southern summers, as they don’t withstand the cold well and need to be re-planted in climates with cooler winters.

Coleus

The perfect summer landscape isn’t just about the flowers - you need lots of lush foliage, too. That’s where coleus comes in. This vibrant, leafy plant provides texture to your beds in dazzling hues of green, purple, and burgundy that spill around and over your other blooms. It’s hardy, drought-resistant, and flourishes in the sun, making it an ideal summer accent.

For help planting and maintaining your perfect summer landscape, call Krob Landscape! Our expert landscapers can design a bold summer look and maintain it for you, so you can enjoy it all summer long (but still have time to play). Contact us today!

If you want to plant a new garden bed this summer, you’ll need to remove the sod first. There are a few different ways to remove sod, and which one you choose will depend on the effort you want to put in, your budget, and your timeline.

Now, we’ll explore a few ways to remove sections of sod for planting the right way so you can make the most of your home landscape. Read on to learn about 4 ways to properly remove sod.

Remove sod by hand. Removing sod by hand is a good choice because it only requires a few common tools and a little sweat, and you can immediately plant your garden in the area. It also saves the sod and organic matter, allowing you to use the grass elsewhere rather than throwing perfectly good turf away.

But removing sod by hand can be tough work, especially on a hot summer day. Be sure you have the tools you’ll need and plenty of water on hand if you choose this method.

Tools you’ll need

• A water hose or sprinkler
• A sharp spade or edger
• A ruler or measuring tape

Water the grass. A few days before you plan to remove the sod, give the area a healthy shower. You want the soil to be moist so it clumps together easily, but it shouldn’t be so soggy it falls apart.

Cut the sod. Using a sharp spade or edging tool, cut the sod into parallel cross-strips. The strips should ideally be 1 inch wide by 2-3 feet long. If you plan to use the sod elsewhere in your landscape, an edger gives more precise cuts for replacement.

Remove sod sections. When you’ve cut your sod into strips, slide a spade or pitchfork underneath each section to lift it from the ground. Cut through any taproots underneath to minimize resistance and keep your sod safe for replanting. Be sure to remove any soil clumped underneath the sod, especially if you plan to roll or stack the sections.

Remove sod by tilling. A tiller requires less manual work than removing sod by hand, as most of the effort comes from the tiller’s engine. Tilling is beneficial because it allows you to use the organic matter in your sod to fertilize your future garden. You can also plant your new garden immediately, though tilling can bring weeds to the surface of your lawn that creates problems for your plants in the future.

Tools you’ll need

• A tiller
• Safety equipment (gloves, goggles, long pants, and shoes)
• Stakes and string

Mark off the area you want to remove. It’s extremely easy to till well past your intended area thanks to the tiller’s powerful motor. Use stakes and string to set boundary lines around the sod area you wish to remove.

Till the sod. Using slow, careful lines, pass your tiller over your sod section. The blades will spin and turn over your sod, preparing it for planting. Depending on the thickness of your grass and soil, you may need to make more than one pass. It’s best to start the blades on a shallow setting and return again if needed.

Remove grass clumps. Your tiller may leave clumps of grass and soil behind. Remove these clumps and shake the nutrient-dense soil back into your freshly tilled area.

Remove sod by smothering. Smothering your sod, or denying it access to light and nutrients, causes it to decay quickly, making it easier to remove. Though smothering sod takes less effort than the other options, it also takes more time - sometimes an entire season.

Tools You’ll Need

• An opaque material (plastic, tarp, or cardboard)
• Rocks or bricks

Lay your material. Cover the desired area completely with a light-blocking material. Because of our humid climate, paper products like cardboard may disintegrate before your sod can die. We recommend plastic or paint tarps as the best choice.

Secure the corners. Place heavy rocks or bricks on each corner, securely anchoring your material to protect it from wind and animals. As the heat under the cover rises, the grass will decay (though this can take several months.)

Remove the sod. Depending on how long you wait, your sod may decay completely and require little removal. If needed, use a shovel or garden spade to remove any remaining clumps and roots.

Remove sod with herbicides. Specially designed herbicides that target grass are an effective (though not environmentally friendly) way to kill and remove sod.

Tools You’ll Need

• Herbicide
• Safety equipment (goggles, long pants, and gloves)

Choose the right herbicide. Choose a herbicide that’s designed to target the type of grass you want to remove. Some grasses are resistant to certain chemicals, and broad herbicides will kill beneficial plants and nutrients as well as grass. For help choosing, ask your home and garden store or contact the professionals at Krob Landscape!

Apply the herbicide. Some herbicides can be applied directly while others should be dissolved in water first. Always follow the directions provided by the herbicide manufacturer and keep chemicals away from children and pets.

Avoid applying herbicides if there’s rain in the forecast, as they can run-off into water supplies and nearby ecosystems. You may need to apply your herbicide more than once or even annually depending on your grass type.

Of course, you can always let the experts at Krob Landscape handle the work for you! From sod removal to seasonal beds and beyond, we’ll take the guesswork out of gardening to give you the home landscape you’ve dreamed of. Contact us today!