How to Sod a Yard With St. Augustine Palmetto Grass

Few things polish and finish out a home landscape like rolling, bright green lawns of healthy grass. Palmetto St. Augustine grass is a lush, non-thatching grass that thrives in home gardens. The grass maintains evergreen growth in warm areas and demonstrates good drought hardiness for long-term survival. Like all grasses, though, St. Augustine Palmetto provides the quickest impact when it grows from sod.

Rake
Organic compost
Topsoil
Plywood
Trowel/spade
Lawn roller

Instructions

- 1
  Lay St. Augustine Palmetto sod in spring, when the soil is moist and warm, for best establishment. Wait until after last frost for easiest digging and installation.
- 2
  Prepare the soil in the chosen site. Rake the site to even it out and remove rocks, trash and weeds. Mix 2 inches of topsoil and 1 inch of organic compost into the top 4 inches of natural soil. St. Augustine Palmetto sod establishes best with loose, moist and moderately fertile soil.
- 3
  Unroll the first section of sod in a straight line on the edge of the site. Use a sharp spade or knife to cut the sod to fit the site, and save the extra sod.
- 4
  Unroll another roll of sod next to the first roll. Start the second roll 6 inches beyond the end of the first roll to stagger the ends for better drainage. Follow this pattern for each additional roll. Lay a piece of plywood on the grass before you step or kneel on it to avoid damaging the new sod.
- 5
  Unroll further sod, with ends staggered in a brick-like fashion, to cover the site. Cover the entire plot with lengths of sod in straight lines, then fill empty spaces with the extra sections of sod.
- 6
  Roll the lawn once with the grass roller to press roots into the soil. Water the grass for 30 minutes to establish the planting.

How Does Weed-B-Gon Affect Grass Seed?

Are Monkey Grass Seeds Poisonous?

Lawn Planting