Country Fresh Green Lawn
How To Lay Sod
There’s nothing better than laying out on a freshly cut uniformed green lawn.
When I say uniformed, I am referring to a lawn that doesn’t have brown patches, dandelion weeds, or pesky
insects. But instead it’s uniformed in color, texture, and durability. I’m sure you’ve noticed that
some folks have perfect lawns and you have probably wondered this: “What is their secret?”
Some of those very lawns that lawn lovers lust
over are products of excellent sod installations. What is sod? Sod is defined as surface layer of
ground containing a matt of grass and grass roots. Basically, sod is a square section of grass that is cut
and sectioned off for the purpose of planting a new lawn. With its root systems still intact, establishment
is a simple task. Laying sod is quite simple. There are four easy steps to take when you lay
sod.
First Step – Taking a measure and placing your sod
order
First thing is to envision in your mind which areas you wish to
sod. It may be a simple piece of the side yard or it may be your huge front yard. Regardless, preparing
your mind first is essential. Why? Many people know that they want a great looking lawn, but are not
sure what they what it to look like. Most sod distributors suggest that you make a sketch of your lot.
Then after that, you should take a physical measure of it. You do so by calculating the square feet of the
sod needed. Calculate length (ft) x width (ft). Then divide that by nine (9) to convert to square
yards.
Second Step – Prepare the soil
Some believe that they can just plop the sod down and it will grow into a nice
luscious lawn. This is not the case. In order to benefit from your hard work of laying the sod, you
must first prepare the lot. This is done by raking or grading the lot so that it slants away from any
foundations or buildings. Doing this will eliminate those troublesome drainage problems. It works well
when you till the soil down to about six inches, smoothing the soil and removing rocks along the way. One way
to spot uneven areas is to hose the area down. If you see puddles, this indicates that the area is
uneven. Fix this simply by adding some topsoil. Be sure to re-smooth out the area.
Third Step – Installation
This is VERY important! When the sod is delivered, the roots are fresh and
still moist. You must start laying the sod immediately after it’s delivered. Once it’s installed start
watering the sod as early as thirty (30) minutes later. The sod will die if it is not watered properly.
Start laying the sod along the longest straight line. Visualize the area along your driveway, sidewalk or
fence. Stretch slightly, all along pushing the edges up against each other tightly. It’s important to
avoid gaps or creases. Your objective is to lay a uniformed lawn. Be sure that you do not
overlap. Trim the corners that overlap each other. It is also important that you do not leave strips
exposed on the sides. An example is having a strip overlay the side of the sidewalk. Do not do
this. The exposed strips will not retain enough water to survive and will thus die. Use a sod roller or
another type of roller that is especially designed for rolling sod. Roll the whole area to further connect
seams and to push the sod against the ground below.
Fourth Step – Watering your new lawn
As stated earlier, it’s important to start watering your freshly laid lawn within
thirty (30) minutes after you install it. To make certain that the roots are firmly established—water
everyday. Again, you want to benefit from your hard work. Water your sod lawn frequently and make sure
that your check every so often to see whether or not your roots are establishing. If not, keep
watering. Some sod grasses need more water than others. But in all cases, watering your lawn is crucial
for having a great looking green lawn.
Qualities Learned
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