Public Service Announcement: Sod.

Maybe you are redoing your yard, or maybe you are moving into a brand new house.  But one day, someone calls you and says, "We're putting in the sod tomorrow."  Before you answer, I want you to think for a moment.

Are you quite content with a yard that is made of grass and you want the grass to stay where they put it, rarely digging or changing anything?  Great!  Then your answer is, "Go right ahead and lay that sod."

Are you perhaps thinking that you will, at some point in the future, substantially rip up that sod?  Yes?  Hold the phone!  I am here to tell you that sod today comes with a backing of fine mesh plastic.  I am sure it makes it easier to harvest and install, but that fine mesh plastic stays in the ground once it is down.  Then, when you come along and start digging up the sod, it will tangle your digging implements for years to come.  I know this because I've spent five years dealing with it and, while the volume has lessened, it is still out there, like yet another strange occurrence for Mulder and Sculley to discover each week.  I strongly suggest, if you have even the most vauge plans of digging to hold off on that sod installation.  Ask them to plant the grass from seed, or put in a ground cover or even some sort of mulch/bark/hazelnut shells/whatever instead.  When your shovel cuts cleanly into the ground and turns over without struggle, you will thank me.