Installing Sod Instructions On How To Lay Sod

Test the Soil. The first step we recommend is testing your soil—before you apply chemicals to kill off your old grass and before you install the new sod. ...
Choose a Grass. ...
Measure Your Planting Area. ...
Kill and Remove Old Grass. ...
Prep Soil and Leveling. ...
Lay and Roll Out New Sod. ...
Water and Fertilize.

What should I put on my soil before laying sod?
Should I water before laying sod?
Do I need to put topsoil down before sod?
How do you make weedy ground for sod?
What is the best time of year to lay sod?
How long does sod take to root?
What direction should you lay sod?
Can you lay sod over existing grass?
Is it OK to water new sod at night?
Does Home Depot lay sod?
Is it better to seed or sod?

What should I put on my soil before laying sod?

Typical starter fertilizer recommendations are (N-P-K) of 10-10-10 or 19-19-19. Lightly incorporate this starter fertilizer into the top 2-3 inches of topsoil to avoid root injury. Lightly tamp or roll the topsoil to settle the surface and create an ideal surface for installing the sod.

Should I water before laying sod?

Soil needs to be moist when you lay sod. Water it well 24 to 48 hours before installation.

Do I need to put topsoil down before sod?

Adding topsoil is not essential for sod but it will provide some benefits. ... If you do want to add topsoil, 2 inches will provide good benefits if you mix it into the existing soil. If you cannot have the topsoil mixed into the existing soil, then do not apply it!

How do you make weedy ground for sod?

Best Way to Get Rid of Weeds Before Laying Sod

Kill existing weeds with weed killer.
View results of the weed killer. ...
Cut old sod and get rid of it.
Till the soil to prepare it for new sod.
Water recently tilled soil and reapply weed killer to kill any weeds sprouted from seeds brought to the surface by tilling.

What is the best time of year to lay sod?

Sod can be installed at almost any time of the year. The best time to lay sod, however, is in early and mid-fall when temperatures are cooler but grass continues to grow. Spring is the second best time to lay sod and is the preferable time for warm season grasses such as centipede, zoysia, bermuda, and St.

How long does sod take to root?

It can take up to six weeks for the sod to develop a deep root system. As the sod develops its shallow root system and moves on to develop a deeper root system, it's critical to increase the amount of time between waterings to encourage roots to grow deeper in search of moisture without stressing the lawn.

What direction should you lay sod?

If your property is sloped, you'll get better water retention if you lay the sod horizontally across the slope rather than vertically down the slope. Make sure that you don't walk on the newly placed sod while you're laying it out. You should stand on the bare soil, lay the sod in front of you, and back up as you go.

Can you lay sod over existing grass?

You can't simply lay sod on top of grass without doing proper preparation. “All sod must make soil contact to root,” she points out. “Therefore, the existing grass / lawn must be extremely sparse or you will have to bring in dirt and put it on top before laying the new sod.

Is it OK to water new sod at night?

The morning and late afternoon are the best times to water your lawn but remember to adjust your watering schedule to account for rainfall. Do not water your lawn in the evenings; allowing your lawn to remain damp overnight is an invitation to pests and to disease or fungus.

Does Home Depot lay sod?

The Home Depot delivers online orders when and where you need them. If you plan on laying sod but don't want to do it all by hand, we've got you covered. Consider using a rototiller or lawn roller from our lawn and garden tool rental to get your project done. Use it once, then bring it back — no maintenance required.

Is it better to seed or sod?

Sod – Simply put, sod is the most expensive option because you are essentially paying someone else for time and materials of growing the grass. ... Seed – Financially, seeding is an appealing choice as the cost of even the best seed mix is still a lot cheaper than sod, so if budget is your driving factor, seed wins out.