How to Prepare the Ground for New Sod

If your ground is well-prepared, sod will give you an instant lawn.

Laying sod is a great way to get what is sometimes described as an "instant lawn." As opposed to growing a lawn from seed, sod will turn a brown patch of dirt to green in just a few hours. The preparation of the soil in which the sod will grow does take some time, however, and this part of the process is important in the success of a new lawn. Before laying down those strips of sod, make sure that they will take well and be healthy for the long term by preparing the ground first.

Things You'll Need

• Compost or peat moss
• Rototiller
• Rake
• Lawn starter fertilizer
• Drop spreader

Instructions

1. Remove weed, debris and any rocks from the planting area.

2. Add 3 inches of compost or peat moss to the soil. This organic matter benefits both clay and sandy soils. It adds nutrients, breaks up and aerates the clay, and allows the sandy soil to better retain water.

3. Use a rototiller to both loosen the soil and work the compost or peat moss in, to a depth of about 6 inches.

4. Rake the surface level, then use a drop spreader to apply a lawn starting fertilizer at the rate indicated in the application instructions.

5. Wet the area down thoroughly and your soil is ready for the sod.

References

• A Lawn in a Day

Resources

• Choosing a Soil Amendment