Turf professionals say that when the turf is 60 % weeds or further, it is possibly time to clear the world for current seeding. If this describes your backyard, you might consider using a handbook sod cutter, additionally known as a turf cutter or “sod kicker” to clear your backyard. This instrument may also be useful when placing in new sod or transitioning your yard to new landscaping, a yard, placing in a yard attribute, or a model new sort of grass planting.
A handbook sod cutter can clear about 500 sq. ft in various hours with out an extreme quantity of exertion. It is noise-free and does not require gasoline, engine maintenance, or winterization. Be taught on for our data on the way in which 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 Handbook Sod Cutter?
A sod kicker is a muscle-powered handbook 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 contains a roller and an adjustable flat blade at flooring diploma. Use the cutter by kicking the crossbar to maneuver it alongside as you chop. Regulate your sod cutter blade to remove at least 3/4 inch of topsoil along with the grass. It removes prolonged, slender sod strips you can roll up and take away.
What Is Sod?
Sod or turf is the upper layer of soil with grass rising on it. It might be pulled up like a carpet. It is normally farmed, harvested into rolls, purchased, and laid out on a unadorned spot to replenish a unadorned backyard.
Primarily based on 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 larger thigh muscle tissue than once more energy. It doesn’t require quite a bit larger physique energy the least bit.” Totally different clearing strategies embrace weed killers, smothering, rototilling, and gas-powered sod cutters.
When to Use a Handbook Sod Cutter
You presumably can pull up sod any time of 12 months. It is best executed early, midfall, or spring in case you intend to replant it. Let the sod dry out for a day or two if it has rained not too way back. It’s powerful and heavier to maneuver soggy sod. You might also pull up and lay sod in winter.
Sooner than Getting Started
- One to 2 days sooner than you make the most of the sod kicker, water the world fully for easier lowering.
- Mark off the world with marking flags or grass-safe spray chalk the place you intend to remove the sod. It’s easier to remove sod than to establish new sod, so do not take away any sections of the backyard you need to protect.
- Take away all seen rocks, branches, fallen leaves, and particles.
- The cutter’s tempered metallic blade requires periodic sharpening. A boring cutter blade might trigger premature placed on and drawback using the instrument.
- Plot out the pattern for a manner 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 be sure you use the instrument precisely. Always placed on eye security whereas working this instrument since it’d most likely kick up rocks and gravel that set off injury. Placed on close-toed sneakers. Maintain kids and pets away from the working house.