Sod Requirements

Growing Requirements

• Most sod types need at least eight to 10 hours of sunlight. Gardeners who try to grow shade-intolerant sod in shady locations can experience fungal diseases or thinning grass. Certain types of sod will tolerate shade, however. St. Augustine, zoysia, fescues, hard fescue and red fescue sod can thrive in shady environments as long as they receive at least four hours of sun. Keep sod grown in shade slightly higher and give it less fertilizer to prevent stress injury.

Site Preparation

• Laying pieces of sod on an unprepared planting site will not result in a dense turf. Break up the soil with a tiller. The first 6 to 8 inches of top soil must be broken up to help sod's roots establish. Add lime and fertilizer to your soil, as recommended by the University of Rhode Island. Apply 50 lbs. of limestone per 1,000 square feet of lawn. Moreover, apply 20 lbs. of starter fertilizer per 1,000 square feet of lawn space. Work the soil amendments into the first 2 to 4 inches of top soil, as suggested by the University of California.

Installation

• Install so as soon as it is delivered to prevent its roots from drying out. The longer you wait to install sod the higher probability that weed seeds are germinating on bare soil. Lay the soil around the perimeter of the yard and work your way in. The edges of the sod should butt against each other to prevent cracks where weeds can grow. Make sure that the dirt side of the sod is moist when laying the sod. Spray the bare soil and dirt side of the sod when laying sod pieces.

Proper Care

• Typically, you can install sod in a day depending on the size of your yard. Despite the fact that it looks like it is an established yard, sod's roots are trying to spread in the soil. Try to stay off the yard for a couple days to allow the roots to establish themselves properly. You can help root establishment by keeping the soil moist. Wait four to seven days to mow your new lawn. Avoid taking off more than one-third of the grass blade at one time.