What Is the Correct Way to Lay Sod on Existing Lawns?

Tearing Up

• The first steps in laying new sod are removing the old sod that is dead or diseased and preparing the soil. If you're just replacing a small area, remove the sod by digging into the ground around the sod with an edging shovel, then digging it up. For large areas that you need to remove, use a sod cutter to tear up the old sod and remove the sod from the ground to expose the subsoil.

Preparation

• Next you need to prepare the soil for the new sod. Begin by smoothing out the soil with a rake to provide a level surface and remove any large stones. Cover the bare subsoil with an herbicide to kill any weeds that may be in the soil. Then add a 6-inch deep mixture of compost and topsoil on top the subsoil. The nutrients in this mixture will help nourish the sod and provide a place for the roots to establish. Add sand to this mix for drainage purposes if you live in an area which receives a lot of rain.

  After you add the topsoil mix, run over the area with a rototiller at a depth of 6 inches to mix the compound in with the topsoil. Compact the soil by rolling over it with a lawn roller. Cover the soil with a starter fertilizer that is high in phosphorous, which provides nutrients for the newly planted sod. You're now ready to install the sod.

Laying Sod

• Spray the soil lightly with water to dampen it, then begin installing the sod. When laying the new sod, begin by installing strips around the perimeter of the area being sodded and work your way in toward the center. Lay one strip at a time, placing it firmly against the adjacent sod. Water the sod until it is soaked, then move on to the next strip. If you run into any obstacles like a sidewalk or edge of a flower bed, lay the sod over the object. When you have finished installing the sod, cut away any overlapping edges with a utility knife.

Watering

• One of the drawbacks of newly planted grass is that it requires a lot of water. In addition to soaking each strip of sod as it is installed, you will need to water the sod frequently. For the first two weeks after it's been installed, water it twice a day, once in the morning, then again at night. Try to avoid watering at midday because the water will evaporate faster under the hot sun, rather than be absorbed into the soil. After the first two weeks, reduce the watering to every other day for another two weeks. When watering the sod, add enough to keep the top 2 inches of the soil damp.