How to Lay Sod

Sod has several advantages over seed including

1. It’s virtually weed free.
2. It’s not susceptible to being washed off (if installed properly).
3. It gives homeowners the instant gratification of a lush, green lawn that requires little maintenance once the roots are established.

Preparing for sod and installing sod is hard work, but it’s not difficult. First, you need to measure the lawn and order the sod. Usually, you’ll get better prices if you order directly from a sod farm. Here are the steps you’ll need to follow if you’re considering installing a sod lawn.

Preparing the Ground

Typically, preparing the lawn is the most laborious task in this process. You’ll need to make sure the ground is level, tilled, and free of rocks. All you need are a couple of shovels (regular and flat), a wheel barrow (for collecting rocks), and a sturdy rake. You can use any rake, but a landscape rake is preferred because its design makes the job easier. Landscape rakes are usually made of aluminum, have shorter tines, and a broader head. Most hardware stores sell them for 20 to 30 dollars. You might also consider spreading topsoil; however, usually it is not necessary if you are willing to prepare the ground as follows.

To level the ground, rake the soil back and forth, shifting dirt from high areas to low areas. It does not have to be perfect, but you do want to make sure holes are filled in and each area has been turned over. If the ground is exceptionally hard, you might rent a garden rotovator or hire someone to come in to rotovate the earth.

The shovels are used for edging. When the sod comes, it will usually be ½ inch to 1 inch high depending on how much topsoil is cut with it. You’ll want to taper the ground back around roads, sidewalks, driveways, and landscaping, so the sod tucks nicely with the borders. For example, to do edging along the driveway, take the flathead shovel, and cut the earth back alongside the pavement about one inch deep. Then, use the landscape rake to smooth the tilled dirt, tapering it at an angle so it blends with the rest of the ground.

Once the ground is prepared, the next step is to spread a starter fertilizer. You should ask the sod farm which type of fertilizer they recommend; it differs depending on the climate. Sometimes, starter fertilizer is spread after the sod is installed. Again, ask the sod farm what they recommend for your sod type and region.

Installing the Sod

Materials you’ll need to install the sod are

Stakes

String

box cutter or small knife

wheelbarrow (optional)

After all the preparation is done, it’s time to lay the sod. Sod can come in several shapes. It can be short, squares or rectangles, longer rolls that are approximately one square yard each, and big roll that can be as large as 25-30 square yards in one roll. Most likely, your sod will be shorter rectangles or the smaller square yard rolls.

To begin, create a border around the yard with the sod, in order to make sure your lawn boundaries are straight. You might take a string and a couple of stakes to set the property boundaries, so you have a line to follow as you lay the sod. After creating a border, work from the border and start installing the sod by staggering the alternating rows to prevent wash out and facilitate growth. Make sure the seams are connected. To work more quickly, instead of doing one row at a time, do a section of three or four rows.

If you are laying sod on a hill, place the sod horizontally along the slope to prevent wash outs. Also, if it is really steep, you may need to stake each side of the sod pieces to the ground. Once the roots grow in, you can remove the stakes.

After the sod is installed, water the lawn until the soil is soft enough for you to press your finger into the earth. Continue to water the sod daily for the first two weeks while it is rooting. Also, avoid cutting the lawn until the roots are established. Usually, this takes two weeks. To be safe, though, the first time you cut the lawn, keep the mower blade a little higher than normal. Your beautiful new lawn will be ready to enjoy in two to three weeks.

For more information:

Types of Sod

All About Lawns

seed versus sod