Sod Install

Congratulations! You’ve made the decision to enjoy a lush green sod lawn!  You will notice many benefits once your beautiful sod lawn is installed.

But to ensure your installation goes smoothly, plan ahead!  Make sure you have all the right tools, extra help if you need it and the time to do the job properly.

Here’s how to prepare for your sod installation:

Start by measuring the area where you will lay the sod.  Be extra careful that you measure correctly, so you don’t over order. That said, it’s best to order a bit more sod (approximately five percent) than you actually need, in case you need to cut around trees, curved walkways, etc.

Next, prepare your soil in advance of the sod delivery. This includes completely removing the old turf, including debris such as rocks or tree roots. Then, loosen the soil to a depth of three to four inches and grade the area, tilling in several inches of organic matter, if possible. Be sure to rake your soil so it’s completely level and at least one inch below any adjacent sidewalks, patios or driveways (sprinkler heads, too, if you have them). Finally, water the soil deeply to allow it to settle, and then do a final grading before installing the sod.

It’s important to complete this prep work ahead of your sod delivery, so that when it arrives, you can install it immediately.  Sod will begin to deteriorate after sitting around for 12 hours or more; in heat or direct sun it can happen more quickly.

As sod skids contain 70 rolls – or 700 square feet – of sod, know that it’ll take you, working alone, just under two hours to install each skid. Allow additional time to water as you go or cut pieces to fit curves. So, again, be sure to plan ahead so you have plenty of time to lay the sod before it overheats or starts to decline. If you’re sodding a very large area, consider hiring help or having your sod delivered in multiple trips.

Finally, once the sod is installed, roll the entire lawn with a lawn roller to allow the roots in the sod to quickly connect to and grasp the soil. Water the new sod deeply on a daily basis for as many days as necessary, but don’t let water puddle on the new sod. (Note that water should penetrate the sod pad with the first watering.) After seven days, water every other day, weather pending, for the next few weeks.  Then, throughout the growing season, you want your sod lawn to enjoy one inch of water each week, whether by sprinkler or through rainfall. Please remember these instructions are all weather pending. If in doubt, contact the sod farm!

Avoid walking on the sod for three weeks so it has time to establish. This includes kids and pets.

Sod is a great way to get an instant, beautiful lawn, and it requires less maintenance than grass seed. But it can be a costly proposition if done incorrectly. Our sod is harvested as close to delivery as possible to minimize heat damage, so with proper advance planning, you’ll save yourself time and money and enjoy a lush green lawn for years to come.

5 Comments

  1. Hi James, Thank you for your question. It’s hard to say, because variables such as water pressure, sprinkler type, and soil conditions can all play a role. No matter what, you’ll want at least 1/4 – 1/5 an inch of water a day for the first 10-14 days. You can purchase a rain-guage from your local hardware store. See more on our Sod Maintenance page: https://lakesidesod.com/sod-maintenance/

  2. It’s great to know more about putting sod in. I like how you said that there is prep work that needs to be done because I didn’t know that before. I’ll be sure to remember that so that we can install the sod we get in our backyard immediately.

  3. Wow, great tips for homeowners on how to do sod installation themselves! You gave a great comment about how much sod to order. You definitely don’t want to have too much. 5% sounds perfect. Thanks for this great post!

  4. Make sure you pack down your soil before laying your sod and water it three times a day for the first week .I just installed it last week in my backyard and it’s looking beautiful .just thought d share and we put in Marathon 2.

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