How Thick Is Sod?

Thickness

• Sod pieces include a thin layer of soil, the roots and the blades of grass. Most sod pieces are between one to three inches thick. Check with your sod company for specific thicknesses, or if the company can special cut a sod at a specific thickness for you.

Facts

• An article in "The California Turfgrass Culture" notes that thinner cuts, such as sod cut to 1/2- to 1-inch thick -- root faster than thicker-cut sod. Thinner cuts also weigh less than thicker cuts, and may reduce your shipping costs. While thin cuts of sod root quicker, thicker cuts tend to be more drought tolerant.

Preparation

• Clear the area of all debris and vegetation where you want to install the sod. To grow sod successfully, the sod must have sod to soil contact. Rototill the existing four to six inches of soil with about three inches of new soil or compost. If you bring in outside soil, use at least three inches, suggests JB Instant Lawn, and incorporate it into the older soil.

Considerations

• Before installing the sod you'll need to ensure that the planting surface is lower than other surfaces by the thickness of the sod, notes an article on the All About Lawns website. For example, if your sod has a soil layer of two inches you should grade the area by two inches near sidewalks and driveways.

Care

• After installing the sod, water it daily at midday for the next two to three weeks, or until the sod takes root. Pull up on grass to check for rooting; if it doesn't lift up the sod hasn't taken root in the soil. Thin-cut sod needs more frequent watering than thick sod. Don't mow the grass until the sod is established.