How to Plant Grass Sod in North Texas

Although sod is more expensive than grass seed, it gives you an instant lawn, controls erosion more effectively, and it eliminates the need to control weeds during the lawn's establishment. If you are considering which sod to use in your north Texas landscape, turfgrass specialists at Texas A&M University suggest buffalo grass for low maintenance and St. Augustine grass if you will be installing in a shady area. The best time to install sod in north Texas is in the spring or early summer.

Herbicide
Hoe
Rake
Lawn roller
Sharp knife

Instructions

- 1
  Draw a diagram of the planting area and list the dimensions of adjacent driveways, sidewalks and beds. Turf specialists with Texas A&M University recommend that you then take the information with you when you order the sod.
- 2
  Obtain a soil test from your north Texas county's cooperative extension office. You can deliver or mail a soil sample, the results of which will help you determine which amendments to add to the soil.
- 3
  Remove all weeds and other vegetation from the area. Small weed infestations can be removed by hand, others may require the use of herbicide. Check the product's label to determine how long to wait to install the sod after treatment.
- 4
  Dig up the area where you will be planting the sod to a depth of 6 inches. Combine the soil amendments recommended by the soil analysis with the top 10 inches of soil.
- 5
  Rake the area until it is level, with no peaks or valleys, and then run the lawn roller over it to compact the soil.
- 6
  Begin laying the sod pieces near a sidewalk, driveway or other area with a straight edge. Lay the remaining pieces in a brick-like pattern, staggered, in rows. The pieces should be pushed up together as tightly as possible. Fill any gaps between pieces with sand.
- 7
  Roll over the sod with the lawn roller to ensure good contact with the soil.
- 8
  Water the sod until the soil is saturated to a depth of 4 inches. You may need to pull up a corner of the sod to determine the soil's moisture content. Water daily for two weeks. As the weather heats up in north Texas, water more often.

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