How to Properly Lay Sod

Sod is one of the many ways to help your lawn look its best. Not only adding value to your home it’s the quickest way to achieve great results. In this article I will guide you step by step on how to properly lay sod. Although I must warn you, it’s not easy, but the end result will be well worth it to any homeowner. So, gather some friends and let’s begin.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Materials Needed:
• Back-support belt
• Safety glasses
• Work gloves
• Tiller
• Rake
• Sod

1. 

   Safety first! Always wear the proper protective equipment. For this job I recommend using a back-support belt since it requires a lot of lifting. In addition, it’s probably a good idea to wear safety glasses and work gloves.

2. 

   Prior to starting any project you need to insure you have enough material to complete the job. To calculate how much sod is needed simply multiple the width and length of your yard. However, if you’re like many yard owners you might find yourself scratching your head for irregular areas like around trees or boulders. Simply break up the area into triangles. Multiply the two smaller sides of the triangle and divide by two. Now add up all your totals and divide by 9 to convert your calculations to square yards. Remember sod is in square yards.
   
   1. Squared area 15 X 15 =225
   2. Triangle area one 2 x 2=4 Divide by 2= 2
   3. Triangle area two 8 x 2=16 Divide by 2= 8
   4. Add 225 + 2 + 8 = 235
   5. Divide by 9 = 26.11 sq. yards

3. 

   Prior to your order arriving make sure your lawn is prepped. It’s probably a good idea to in list a couple of friends for this big job. Once everyone is on board begin by removing the old lawn and all the weeds with it. A good way to do this is by digging them out or renting a sod cutter. Others may recommend using an herbicide, but I don’t recommend using that especially if you’re planning to lay sod down immediately.

4. 

   Once your lawn is weed and grass free tiller your lawn to loosen up the compacted soil. Prior to tillering the soil I recommend spreading compost or a manure based mixture. This will give your sod the great start that it needs.

5. 

   Now it’s time to rake and level the soil. Keep note, to remove all rocks that may have popped up while tillering your lawn.

6. Once your order has arrived, you will notice right away that the sod is in large rolls. Each roll is broken up into smaller pieces which measures about 6 ft long by about 1 ft. wide give or take of course. I recommend starting by a straight edge like a sidewalk. Carefully unroll the sod and lay it next to the straight edge ensuring that the green side is up.

7. 

   Upon starting the next row like laying laminate or wood flooring you want to offset the seams. Simply cut the first piece of your sod in the 2nd row in half. Continue to alternate this pattern until complete.

8. If you are on a hill grade or an incline lay the sod so that it hugs the hill in rows maintaining the offset of seams. A useful tip that I picked up along the way is to use pegs to hold the pieces to the incline.

9. 

   Once the sod is complete water it everyday for at least two weeks for 2-3 hours. Try to avoid watering the sod during mid day. It’s best to water in the evening.

Tips & Warnings

• It's very important to keep your lawn moist once sod is laid.
• It's best to water lawn in the evening
• Do not apply fertilizer on lawn until lawn is rooted

[momose]

on 10/7/2009 A most comprehensive and impressive article on how to properly lay sod, Lionherd - People will be trying to hire you! ***** and a recommendation (that somehow I had missed in the past)