How to Install Sod in Winter

Prepare the Lawn

• 1

  Remove any weeds, wood, trash or rocks from the area you wish to cover with sod. Use a rake to level the ground, moving the soil from high locations to lower locations. Till the soil so it is at least one inch deep. If the ground is particularly hard, as it may be during winter months, consider using a garden rotovator to do this part of the job.

• 2

  Grade the ground around the edges of the area you will be sodding. Determine the thickness of the sod you are purchasing and dig to a depth of that thickness around the perimeter of the desired location. Move the excess earth to the center of the future lawn, tapering the slope. This ensures that the soil will be even with all sidewalks, patios and driveways.

• 3

  Fertilize the soil where the sod will go. Sod's fertilizer requirements will vary depending on the location. Check with a nursery to see what type of fertilizer is appropriate for you.

Lay the Sod

• 4

  Check the ground and determine if the time is right to plant the sod. If the sod is placed in ground that is frozen, the roots will freeze before they have time to attach to the ground. If there are freezing temperature predicted in the future, wait a few days until the temperature warms.

• 5

  Water the ground, making sure it is saturated. Unroll one of the rows of sod along a sidewalk, driveway or other straight surface. If you are sodding in a location in which there are no straight sides already in existence, use stakes and string to make a starting line.

• 6

  Lay another row of sod. Try to get the seams as close as possible. When laying the sod, don't start and end the second row in the same place as the first. Instead, stagger them so they start in different locations.

• 7

  Fill in any missing spots and roll the lawn using a roller.

• 8

  Thoroughly water the newly laid lawn. This is the most important step when laying sod in winter. Lift up one of the pieces of sod. If the ground underneath is moist, the sod has been adequately watered. If not, water the lawn until it is saturated. Once spring approaches, the lawn will still need to be watered regularly, as much as four to five inches of water every day, until the roots are well developed.