Every homeowner loves a lush, green lawn, and the easiest way to get one is to lay sod. In a day’s work, you can go from a shabby lawn—or no lawn at all—to beautiful grass. Here are the essential steps to ensure your sod project pays off the way you hope.
Proper preparation is essential when laying sod
Sod is delivered as long, rolled-up strips stacked on pallets. Depending on the area to be covered, multiple pallets of sod will be delivered to your home. Before that day, however, you must prepare the soil:
- Completely remove any existing grass, weeds, and other organic material from the ground before laying sod. You may need to hire a landscape crew to use equipment to scrape the ground, removing the plant life down to the roots. Anything left will eventually spring up through your new sod, spoiling all your hard work and expense. Thereafter, you may spread fresh, new soil.
- If your property slopes more than 1 foot for every 4 feet of distance, you may need it to be graded to level it out. Otherwise, runoff from heavy rain or sprinklers will exit your property and flow into a neighbor’s—or pool in your flowerbeds or against your home’s foundation. Leveling will also prevent ponding water in any mid-yard depressions.
- Have your soil’s pH level checked. Contact a local nursery to inquire about testing kits or services. Learn the pH level required for the grass you want, then add mineral supplement spreads as needed.
- You may also consider having loads of soil delivered to lay on top of your native soil, then lay your sod.
- Measure the area carefully using those geometry skills you learned in school but thought you’d never use. Depending on the area’s shape, you may need to divide it into separate sections, calculate the area of each, and then add them together. Remember, the area of a square or rectangle is the width in feet multiplied by the height in feet. A triangular area is the base multiplied by the height, then divided by two.
Now it’s time to lay sod
The day has arrived to lay your sod! Be sure to:
- Have the pallets set out apart from each other across your yard, not all in one place. This cuts down on the distance you’ll have to carry sod or push a wheelbarrow from one side of your property to the other.
- Lay the sod as soon as possible after delivery, preferably the same day. Lingering on the pallets causes it to dry out.
- Roll out the sod with edges flush to avoid gaps. Use a sharp knife to trim away excess. Save remnant pieces for filling in gaps around borders and against structures.
- Rent a grass roller and roll the grass, going in the same direction as the strips, to ensure the sod makes full contact with the underlying soil.
Important follow-up instructions
Following up after laying sod is just as important as the preparation and installation. The two-week rule applies:
- For two weeks, water the grass with about 1 inch of water in the early morning before the sun gets very high.
- Walk as little as possible on the new lawn for two weeks, until the roots have a chance to penetrate down to the topsoil.
- After two weeks, tug at the edges of the strips in a few places around the yard. If the roots have established themselves and the grass is getting tall, it’s time to mow. Use a walk-behind mower only. Set the cut high; don’t cut it short. If the roots are not established, wait another week and try again.
Related – Sod for Your Yard: The Idea May Grow on You
