How to Lay Sod on the Infield

Lay sod to restore your baseball or softball diamond's infield.

Renewing the grass on the infield of your baseball or softball diamond is necessary for a safe and aesthetically beautiful play area. Sod is a safe, environmentally friendly option for grass installation on your diamond. Provided you have cleared out the area prior to installation, laying sod on your infield can be merely a day's work.

Things You'll Need

• Sod
• Rake
• Sod starter fertilizer
• Seed spreader
• Lawn roller
• Shovel

Instructions

1. Remove any infield grass. Rake and pull any patches of grass in the infield area. Pull up and discard any old patches of sod if you will be replacing them.

2. Remove the infield dry mix if there is any. Infield dry mix is a substance that looks like dirt and is used to keep the field as moisture-free as possible. Scoop it up with a shovel and discard it.

3. Remove enough dirt to accommodate the depth of your sod. Check the sod packaging or ask your retailer how much room to allow. Scoop up the excess dirt with a shovel and discard it.

4. Rake the exposed soil. Tilling provides the necessary topsoil to which your sod will attach.

5. Distribute fertilizer with a seed spreader. Seed spreaders make the job easier and distribute the fertilizer evenly. Use a shovel or spread the fertilizer by hand if necessary. Spread the fertilizer in rows across the length and width of the infield area.

6. Roll the sod out over the infield area. Be sure to completely cover the infield, leaving no exposed patches of dirt.

7. Cut overlapping areas of sod with a serrated knife. Make sure that the sod completely conforms to the confines of the base paths. Cut away excess pieces of sod and discard them or use them for spot filling empty patches.

8. Roll over the sod using a lawn roller to press it down into the topsoil and fertilizer.

9. Water the sod. Proper watering is necessary for the sod to grow roots into the topsoil. Water the sod immediately and twice daily throughout its first week, or at least enough to keep it consistently moist. Water less frequently thereafter to allow the sod to establish roots in your infield.

References

• Home Depot: Garden Club: Starting Lawns from Sod in 10 Easy Steps
• Frazier's Field Repair: Laying Sod Around Your Baseball Field