Do-It-Yourself Sod Installation
- Select your grass based on your soil type, the amount of sun or shade your yard receives.
- Measure your area to be sodded.
- Understand how much square footage is on each pallet.
- Plan for some waste when ordering round up (bed cut-outs, damaged pieces, etc).
Preparing the Ground for Sod
- Remove existing lawn, if any.
- Rototill to a depth of 4-6 inches.
- Remove all weeds, clods, and debris.
- Add soil amendments (compost / soil mix).
- Install sprinkler systems and ensure complete coverage of area.
- Rototill new soil into existing soil.
- Rake and level.
- Roll area with filled water roller to compact surface.
Installing Your Sod
- Begin installing your sod within 8 hours of delivery. Do not water the sod on the pallet, do not cover with a tarp. Set sod in the shade if possible.
- Your ground should be dry when installing sod. Lightly wet the dirt to help the grass-root-to-dirt contact.
- Start at the longest straight baseline, then work from there.
- The ends should touch, but should not overlap. The seams should be snug.
- Make sure that seams are staggered, like brickwork.
- When you have about 200 square foot installed, lightly water to avoid discoloration.
- After sod is installed, go over it with a roller to insure contact with the ground surface.
- Make sure roller isn’t overfilled with water, to avoid imprints in sod.
Instructions for Care After Installation
- Water is the most important ingredient in the success of your new lawn. For the first 3-4 weeks after installation, your lawn will need to be watered approximately twice a day for 30 minutes. If the weather is extremely hot, more watering may be necessary. The lawn will need to be kept consistently moist during this period.
- Try to stay off your new lawn as much as possible during the first 2 weeks as it takes root. Don’t fertilize for the first 6 weeks, and don’t mow it for 2 weeks. When you do mow the grass for the first time, be sure to have your mower on its highest possible setting.
- If your grass is overseeded with rye, mow often to discourage the rye.