How to Till Before Laying Sod

Tilling breaks up soil to allow better drainage and air circulation for sod's roots. Sod laid on compacted soil cannot establish a strong root system. Furthermore, gardeners must till soil amendments to help raise the soil's pH and add extra nutrients to encourage strong root growth. Before tilling can even begin, it is important for gardeners to remove any unwanted vegetation or weed growth on the lawn using an herbicide. Breaking up living debris with a tiller is laborious and may not adequately remove perennial plants' root systems.

Rototiller
Dolomitic limestone
Drop spreader
Fertilizer
Rake
Compost
Peat moss

Instructions

- 1
  Pick up any yard debris such as rocks, branches or mulch. Rototill the soil breaking up the first 4 inches of top soil. Push the rototiller back and forth across the lawn. Rototillers are rented from gardening supply centers.
- 2
  Spread 50 lbs. of dolomitic limestone per 1,000 square feet using a drop spreader. Dolomitic limestone raises the soil's pH and adds magnesium to the soil for grass growth.
- 3
  Apply a starter fertilizer to the lawn that is high in phosphorous using a drop spreader. Use a starter fertilizer that has a NPK amount such as 10-20-10 or 18-24-6 at a rate of 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Push the drop spreader back and forth across the lawn following an imaginary line. Break up and fertilizer accumulations with a rake.
- 4
  Till the limestone and fertilizer to incorporate the soil amendments into the first 6 inches of top soil.
- 5
  Spread a 1- to 2-inch layer of compost over sandy soil. Compost and other organic material helps improve soil moisture retention. For clay soils, spread 2 to 3 cubic yards of peat per 1,000 square feet to improve drainage. Use the rototiller to incorporate soil amendments into the first 4 to 6 inches of top soil.

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