Sod Installation Methods

Soil pH

• Site preparation should occur at least six months before sod can be installed. Your soil's pH range must fall within the preferred range of the grass sod in order for the grass to have access to the soil's nutrients. For example, Kentucky bluegrass needs to be grown within a range between 6.4 to 7.0. You can conduct a soil pH test by digging a 6-inch hole and collecting soil samples from the bottom. Follow the directions on the soil test, and add lime to soil that is too acidic or sulfur to alkaline soil.

Site Preparation

• All weeds and existing vegetation must be removed before sod installation. Weeds compete with grass for the soil's nutrients. Without removing weeds, your sod can have a hard time establishing a strong root system. Spray the lawn area with a broad spectrum herbicide that kills everything on contact. Break up the first 6 inches of top soil with a tiller. Apply a starter fertilizer to add nutrients to the soil. You can use 10 lb. of fertilizer with a NPK amount of 10-20-10 over 1,000 square feet of lawn space. Work the fertilizer into the first 2 inches of soil.

Laying Sod

• Water the soil area to keep it moist. You should spray each piece of sod with water before laying. Work from the outside perimeters of your yard in. Butt the edges of the sod pieces together. If there are any spaces, fill them in with potting soil. Stagger each row of sod. To cut sod for small areas, use a masonry trowel. You can create seams by overlapping one sod piece over another. Cut through both of them, so that they tightly butt up against each other.

After Care

• Soak the sod with water after installing and wait for the sod to dry out. Fill a lawn roller halfway up with water and roll across the lawn to achieve adequate soil to sod contact. Also, the air that is trapped between the sod and the soil will be released. Water your sod every two to three days with 1 inch of water to keep it moist. After a one to three weeks, you can reduce the watering to every four to seven days.