How to Plant Sod in Florida

Calculate the square yardage of sod you will need. Measure the length and width of the area to be covered and multiply to get the square footage. Divide by three to get square yardage, the measurement by which sod is sold.

Select sod carefully. Inspect it before buying for signs of yellowing, drying or insects. Sod rolls should be moist, green and healthy. Sod life after rolling is less than 48 hours in Florida's summer, so ask when it was cut.

Prepare the surface to be planted. Till the area with a tilling machine to a depth of 6 inches. Remove rocks, stones and vegetation as you go. Rake the surface smooth until it is free of clumps and clods.

Water the area deeply the night before sod is delivered because you'll want to plant it as soon as it arrives. When the sod is delivered, inspect it again before accepting delivery.

Unroll lengths of sod and cut them with a box cutter to fit the area. Tamp each length down with your feet to ensure firm contact of roots with moist soil. Too many air spaces will cause roots to dry out quickly and the sod will die in the Florida heat.

Fit the pieces of sod together tightly but do not stretch them to fit. Stretching will tear roots and foliage apart and stress the grass. Cut smaller pieces of sod to fit gaps if you make a mistake.

Water thoroughly after planting. For the next seven days, sprinkle the planted sod for 20 minutes, two to three times a day, to keep the soil moist while new roots grow into underlying soil.