How to Lay Palmetto Sod

Spray weeds on the lawn area with an herbicide that contains glyphosate. Glyphosate prevents weeds from producing proteins, which results in their death. Also, herbicides that contain glyphosate leave little residue that could harm Palmetto sod. Reapply in 10 days. Wait two weeks to sod the lawn.

Dig a 3 to 4 inch hole in the yard to conduct a soil test. St. Augustine grass types such as Palmetto prefer a pH range between 5.6 and 7.5. Apply limestone when the soil pH that is under 5.6 or spread sulfur on soil with a pH over 7.5. Grass grown in alkaline soil turns yellow.

Pour a 10-20-10 starter fertilizer into a drop spreader. Distribute the fertilizer at a rate of 10 lbs. per 1,000 square feet. Work the fertilizer into the first 6 inches of top soil. Water the lawn to help the nutrients sink into the soil.

Spray the dirt side of the Palmetto sod with water. Start at the perimeters of the lawn and work your way inside laying Palmetto sod. Butt the edges of the sod together. To cut sod for small areas, use a sharp trowel.

Push a lawn roller filled halfway with water over the Palmetto sod to achieve adequate root to soil contact. Water the lawn to moisten the soil.