Healthy Home Landscaping

Expand the description and view the text of the steps for this how-to video. Check out Howcast for other do-it-yourself videos from Stabbey and more videos in the General Lawns category. You can contribute too! Create your own DIY guide at www.howcast.com or produce your own Howcast spots with the Howcast Filmmakers Program at www.howcast.com The quickest way to get a gorgeous lawn is to lay sod, uniform patches of grass-covered soil held together by matted roots. It will go more smoothly if you know a few landscaping tricks. To complete this How-To you will need: A soil test A garden hoe A starter fertilizer A lawn spreader Sod A lawn roller A power tiller Topsoil A knife or hand cutter A can A string and stakes Step 1: Prep the land Till your soil with a garden hoe and remove sticks and stones. Consider a power garden tiller if you have a lot of land. Then, apply starter fertilizer with a lawn spreader. Step 2: Test the soil Test your soil to find out what nutrients it needs. Garden centers sell do-it-yourself kits, or you can arrange a test through your local Extension Service. Step 3: Start on the straight and narrow Put down the first row of sod along a straight line, like the edge of a driveway. If your yard is uneven all around, create a straight line by tying a string between two stakes. Tip: Use a sharp knife or hand cutter to trim sections to fit uneven areas. Step 4: Stagger the strips Stagger the rows of sod the way bricklayers arrange bricks. As you put down …