How To Lay Sod

This article details how to sod your new lawn. If you have not already done so, please read our article of how to prepare your lawn before sodding. It gives valuable information on what you need to do before you begin putting your sod down.

Here are ten easy steps to help you get the lawn that you want:

1. You simply must prepare the soil for sod. To learn how to do this, please see our article on sod preparation. You do not want to ignore the preparation stage.

2. Once you have picked out your grass, the sod will arrive at your doorstep. It will either be piled up on pallets in squares or it will be rolled up with the soil side out. Generally, sod strips are between 1 and 2 feet wide and 4 to 10 feet long. When it arrives, take a look at it. The grass should be at least 2 inches long and the color should be consistent. The soil should be dark and moist, about one inch thick, and you should see thick healthy roots.

3. You want to get the sod down as quickly as possible. If you have to store it make sure that it stays in the shade. It will dry out otherwise. Keep it rolled and moistened until ready to use.

4. Now to get to work. First, lay out the first row following a predetermined straight line. This line can be string pulled tight or even a sidewalk edge if one is there.

5. Once the first row is unrolled, lay the next roll down making sure that the ends of the two are together but let the end seams of the second row fall to the center of the preceding row. You want to stagger the end seams.  

6. At the end of this first row, go back and begin to lay subsequent rows in a staggered pattern. The end seams on one row should fall in the center of the previous row. Fill in gaps with loose soil.

7. When you find yourself on a slope, lay the sod perpendicular to the slope. This prevents it from sliding when it is watered. If the slope is steep, use stakes to keep the sod in place. Use 2 to 4 stakes per roll.

8. You will need to cut the sod to fit irregular spaces. You can use a heavy-duty knife for this.

9. Once the rows are down, use a roller over the entire area. This will help to establish solid root contact with the soil. It also helps to get rid of air pockets which can cause the sod to dry out and die. After rolling the sod, stay off of it.

10. You will need to water the lawn often. Most problems occur because homeowners do not water enough. You want to pay special attention to the seams that are between the sod and any edges that may be along walkways, driveways, or patios. These areas will dry out fast and must be watered.

Water the sod everyday for the first three weeks. After that time, you can water every other day for the next three weeks. Then water the sod once a week or as weather dictates.