Land Preparation: 3 Ways
Rototill, rake debris, level surfaces.
Rent a small sod harvester to remove the old turf.
Set your lawn mower at the lowest setting, mow the lawn, rake debris and put down a thin layer of good quality top soil before laying sod.
Carefully level all surfaces to be sodded. Soil surfaces should be 1 inch below walkways, patios and driveways to accommodate the sod thickness. A light rolling will show soil depressions or irregularities. These can then be leveled.
Lay Sod Within 6 Hours
Begin laying sod as soon as possible (within 6 hours) upon delivery especially during the summer months to avoid damage from overheating. Sod that won’t be installed within a few hours should be unstacked to allow air circulation. Never cover or water sod when it is on a pallet.
Lay the first strip of sod along a straight line using a string as a guide. Butt joints tightly. Do not overlap edges. When laying the second strip, stagger the joints, much like laying bricks. Use a sharp knife to cut sod to fit curves, edges, sprinkler heads, etc.
Water. Water. Water!
Water within 15 minutes of laying the first roll! Do not wait until the entire area is sodded before watering. As soon as a “sprinkler sized” area is laid, begin watering it. Then go on to water the next section. On a hot day, do not leave laid sod for more than an hour without water. On a cooler, overcast day, do not leave laid sod for more than 2 hours.
Watering Schedule
Mowing
Mowing Newly Laid Sod For best results, mow your new sod 7 days after installation and perpendicular to the direction it was laid. Adjust your cutting height if needed.
Comments