How To Lay Sod
We highly recommend that you lay sod the day that it’s delivered or you pick it up — ideally within 12 hours.
Here are a few key steps to help you prepare:
Step 1: Ensure that the soil is ready.
Prepare the ground by removing any old grass, rocks, and debris. Rake the soil to loosen the dirt and aim to have 6”-8” of debris-free and tilled soil ready. You may also want to lay some fresh, good quality topsoil on top of your prepared earth — this will help to give the sod a surface to adhere to.
Step 2: Apply starter fertilizer.
Sod will root faster if your prepared soil has starter fertilizer. This will add important nutrients to help your grass get a good start on growing.
Step 3: Unroll and lay your sod.
Begin laying your sod along a straight edged area and try to avoid stepping on it. As you place more rolls be sure to stagger them like a row of bricks and keep them tight together without overlapping. Make sure that there are no gaps or air pockets.
Step 4: Fill in gaps and roll.
You can place smaller pieces of sod in any gaps to ensure that every seam is connected. This will help prevent it from drying out. If you have the ability to roll your sod, it will improve the roots to soil contact of the sod. If you don’t have a roller, a heavy watering will accomplish similar results. Remember to install your sod the day it is delivered as it is perishable.
Step 5: Water
Water your sod thoroughly and be sure to water it every day. Make sure that you don’t overwater and create pools of standing water on your lawn. After approximately one week, you can reduce watering to every other day. Continue to reduce watering until the fourth week. Download our Weekly Watering Reference Guide here.