How to Prep Clay for New Sod

Sod is a good way to establish a new lawn if you do not want to wait for seed to germinate. Just as with grass seed, however, the success of sod depends on the quality of soil on which you install it. If you have clay soil that sticks together in a tight ball when you squeeze it, the sod roots will have a difficult time growing in it. In this case, you must mix in soil supplements before installing the sod.

Peat
Pitchfork or bow rake
Garden gloves
Garden tiller
Dolomitic limestone
10-20-10 or 18-24-6 granular fertilizer
Leaf rake
Water
Sod roller

Instructions

- 1
  Spread peat over the entire area of clay soil at a rate of 2 to 3 cubic yards for every 1,000 square feet of soil. Spread the peat in an even layer of the top of the soil using a pitch fork, wide-toothed bow rake or your gloved hands. Peat comes in large bales and is available at any garden center.
- 2
  Place a garden tiller at one edge of the clay soil and set the blade depth to at least 6 inches. Turn the tiller on and push into over the soil to mix the peat in with the underlying clay.
- 3
  Walk back over the area and spread 50 lbs. of dolomitic limestone on it for every 1,000 square feet of soil.
- 4
  Apply a starter fertilizer to help the sod roots establish faster. Use a granular fertilizer, such as 10-20-10 or 18-24-6, at a rate of 1 lb. for every 1,000 square feet.
- 5
  Place the garden tiller back at the starting location and push it over the soil again to mix the limestone and the fertilizer into the top 6 inches of soil.
- 6
  Rake the entire surface of the soil with a standard leaf rake until the surface is as smooth as possible with no dips or bumps in it.
- 7
  Water the soil with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of water just until the surface is damp but there are no puddles.
- 8
  Place a sod roller at one end of the area and push it over the soil in side-by-side rows to pack down the soil gently and prepare it for installing the sod.

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