Prepping and Installing Sod : by Christopher Bailey

Everything you need to know about site preparation, installation and maintaining your sodded lawn.

If you own a home this probably bothers you. You walk out in the morning and see all the dead, yellow grass in your lawn. It is uneven, full of weeds, and does not look as good as you want it to. How can you quickly transform your ugly lawn into a nice luscious green space? Sod might be the answer to your problem. But before you just go out, buy a couple of pallets of sod, and just start laying it down everywhere, there are some things you need to know about how to properly install sod.

Step #1 - Measuring Your Space

In order to know how much sod you will need to transform your lawn, the first step is to take measurements. Sod can be expensive and you do not want to buy more then you need as many retailers will not accept returns on sod. Having good, accurate measurements can also help you build a more accurate budget for the project. So break out this tape measures and take those measurements!

Step #2 - Choose Your Sod Type

Sod comes in many different styles and colors. They even prefer certain climates. Whether you are in a hot or cold climate, there are multiple choices to choose from. Sod that prefers colder climates are Blue Grass, Fescue, and Rye. Warm climates are better suited for Bermuda, Centipede, St. Augustine, and Zoysia sod. Other things to consider when choosing sod is how much sunlight your space gets, how much maintenance your are able to do on it, and of course the price tag. Once you have picked out what type of sod is best for you, its time to get to work.

Step #3 - Preparation, Preparation, Preparation

Whether you are getting a paint job, cooking a tasty meal, or getting ready for a big business meeting, the key to having a perfectly installed sodded lawn is with good preparation. The preparation process includes removing the old dead grass, top dressing the area with fresh screened topsoil, and leveling the soil by filling in low spots and taking down high spots. Once you have completed the preparations, you are ready for some watering.

Step #4 - Give it a Good Pre-soak

Before you layout the sod, the area needs to be pre-soaked with water. If the soil is dry your sod will most likely begin to die of shock while laying it down. The roots need a lot of water to prevent shock while unrolling the sod. Make sure to add plenty of water to the soil and the installation may begin.

Step #5 - Time to Lay It Out

By this time you have taken your measurements, selected and ordered your sod, properly prepared the area, and pre-soaked the soil. Now you are ready to start laying out your new lawn. The process is pretty straight forward. Start by making a straight line usually up against a straight wall, fence, or property line. Make sure that each row is laid out in a staggered joint configuration to better blend in the seams. Be sure that the seams are tight together so that each piece of sod is less noticeable. Lay as many full pieces down as possible and come back later to fill in your cut pieces as necessary. Be sure to take your time and if the soil is beginning to dry as you are installing the sod, keep a water source handy to maintain your presoaked soil. Once you have finished installing all of your sod, you now have the beautiful green lawn you have always wanted. But wait, there is more.

Proper Maintenance and Care for your new Sodded Lawn

The next couple of weeks will be very important to limit the amount of yellowing or loss of new grass. Daily watering (sometimes more then once) is very important in order to keep the lawn alive and to help the roots properly grow into the soil. Each section will remain loose until the roots have rooted into the ground. Watering will allow the sod to continue growing and will keep it healthy. Once your sod has fully rooted and has begun growing, weekly or biweekly mowing will be needed to keep it looking fresh and presentable for the years to come. Sit back, relax, fire up that grill, and enjoy your new yard.