How to Prepare Your Yard for Laying Sod

Laying sod, as opposed to sowing grass seed, is a relatively quick and easy way to create a new lawn in your yard. Lay sod during the growing season, from late spring onwards, when the soil has had a chance to warm up. This will help the sod root quickly in its new environment. Several different varieties of sod are available; ask at your local garden center which variety will do best in your area.

Rake
Spade
Wheelbarrow
Compost
Garden roller
Fertilizer

Instructions

- 1
  Clear the site where you will lay the sod, removing larger stones and weeds. Dig weeds out with a spade, including the roots.
- 2
  Dig up around 6 inches of topsoil, remove it in a wheelbarrow and store it near the site. Turn over the subsoil, making sure it is thoroughly loosened to a depth of 6 inches.
- 3
  Amend the topsoil you removed earlier with compost in a proportion of one to one. Add a high-phosphate fertilizer to the soil according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- 4
  Spread the amended topsoil across the site evenly. Firm it down with a light garden roller, then rake the soil lightly to a depth of 1/2 inch to help the sod take root. Give the ground some water before you lay the sod, enough to make it moist but not sodden.

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