SOD Installation

SOD INSTALLATION

Soil Preparation

The most important part of a successful planting is proper soil preparation. Follow the steps below to ensure you give your lawn a foundation to grow on!


  1. Kill existing Vegetation - If you are replacing an old damaged lawn or a patch of weeds, it is best to kill what is growing there to reduce competition with the new grass. Use a glyphosate weed killer that kills the entire plant (including the roots).
  2. Till the soil- It is important to loosen the soil before planting new sod because it reduces compaction and makes it easier for the roots to grow into the soil. Also, the loose soil will hold moisture better, reducing the amount you have to water.
  3. Rake smooth and remove debris- If you had an existing lawn or weeds, chances are some dead vegetation was left behind by the rototiller. You will want to remove this so that it doesn't create an air pocket that will allow the sod to dry out.
  4. Apply a light dose of fertilizer starter- Your new lawn will require a lot of nutrients to develop its new root system.

1. Planning

 

  • Taking time to plan out how you are going to install the sod is one of the most important things to do, some of the many things to consider before laying the sod:
  • It's best to start in an area that is further away and work towards you; this prevents you from walking repeatedly on fresh sod that you just laid.
  • Start on a straight edge such as a fence row, sidewalk, house, or driveway. This will ensure less cutting and make the job look nicer once complete
  • If you have a steep hill, its best to lay sod across the slope as opposed to up and down. Laying the seams up and down the slope could lead to soil erosion if heavy rain is experienced in the first two weeks
  • Consider the location of sprinklers/ hoses. If the weather is hot and dry, you will need to set up sprinklers as soon as you finish an area so that it gets water. Don't wait for hours until the last pallet is installed to begin thinking about water!

2. Laying the Sod

With the prep work complete its time to see Real Grass, Real Fast. Follow these tips to install like a pro:

 

  • Sod can be easily cut using almost any knife, though a utility knife or linoleum knife is best.
  • Stagger the sod in a brickwork patter (see right). This makes it much harder to see the seams for the first two weeks and makes the installation look more professional.
  • Push the seams together tightly, but do not allow them to overlap.
  • Once a roll is unrolled, just slide it into place on the soil... It is much easier than lifting!

3. Using a Hand Roller (optional)

Using a hand roller is a good way to ensure that there is contact between the freshly laid sod and your soil.

 

  • Use a walk behind roller
  • Go over the fresh sod with the roller in at least 2 directions to ensure air bubbles are rolled out.
  • Be careful not to overdo it as it can cause the turf to be too compacted and will lead to issues.

4. Watering

Watering is perhaps the most important part of the sod installation. Since sod needs time to develop its root system, watering must be frequent for the first two weeks

 

  • Water new sod within one hour of installing. For larger jobs, this means that you will have to set up a sprinkler in a finished area while you continue to lay sod elsewhere.
  • For the first two weeks after the 1st watering, the goal is to never allow the soil under the sod to dry out. In summer, this means watering up to 1.5" inches daily. In winter, you may only have to water once every week.
  • It is hard to over-water new sod, but if you have puddles forming you should cut back as this is too much water.
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