The Definitive Sod Installation How To Guide
Here are the basic sod installation how to steps to follow. (Click on the links for a more detailed explanation of each step)
Step 3: Level off Your Ground
Step 6: Water Your Sod Regularly
As you can see, the sod installation how to steps are quite detailed. Given this, they need to be followed carefully in order to have great results. If you are looking for a professional to install sod for you, contact the experts at Citywide.
Follow the sod installation how to guide to better understand what is involved in laying sod
Sod Installation How to Guide
Step 1: Test and Prepare Your Soil
Testing Your Soil:
It is a good idea to test your soil before you install your sod so that you will know if you need to add anything to it in order to get the best results. Turf grasses usually prefer soil that has a pH level that is more acidic (from 6 to 7.5). You can get a soil testing kit from a gardening store such as Canadian Tire or a local gardening centre.They cost about $15.
Preparing the Area:
If you are replacing existing grass, don't be tempted to simply place your new sod on top of the old grass. The best way to get rid of the existing grass is to rent a sod cutter that will slice the grass below its roots so that it is easy to remove. You can rent a sod cutter from Home Depot. The following video shows how it works.
Sod Installation How to Guide: Remove your old grass before you lay down new sod
Treating Your Soil:
It is a good idea to till your soil about 6 to 8 inches to loosen it. You can rent a rototiller or you can do it by hand using a manual tiller or a rake. Make sure to remove any rocks or debris as you go.
Add the following to your soil to improve its quality:
Sand - if your soil contains a lot of clay and is very dense
Compost - to improve the overall quality of your soil
Fertilizer - one that is high in nitrogen and phosphorous to encourage strong root growth. The amount will depend on the result of your soil test.
Lime - if your test shows that your soil is too acidic, lime will help to balance it out.
The following video will help you better understand the different types of soils.
An important step in the sod installation how to guide is getting the soil balance right
Step 2: Take Accurate Measurements and Order Your Sod
Before you order your sod, make sure you take accurate measurements of the area that you want to cover. Sod is expensive so you don't want to order more than you are going to use or order too little and have to place an additional order.
A good rule of thumb is to purchase about 5 percent more sod than what you will need to cover the whole area. You can use the extra sod for cutting and piecing around the curves of your lawn.
You should ask to make sure that the sod is going to be cut no more than 24 hours before it is delivered and you should lay it on the day that it is delivered.
Make sure that your sod has been cut no more than 24 hours before you get it delivered
Step 3: Level off Your Ground
Before your sod arrives, take time to level off your ground and make it as flat as possible. Make sure your soil is an inch below any:
Sprinkler heads
Sidewalks
Patios
Driveways
Additional paved areas
Once you have your ground raked, water it thoroughly 24 to 48 hours before you plan to install your sod. Your soil must be moist in order for your sod installation to be successful.
Water the prepared soil before you do your sod installation
Step 4: Lay Your Sod, Starting Along a Straight Side
Choose a nice straight area of your lawn to start laying your sod down such as along a patio, driveway, or fence. Lay entire pieces, end to end, one at a time, smoothing out any wrinkles as you go.
Try not to step on the sod as you are laying it. Gently pat each piece into place to remove any air pockets that might be trapped between the sod and the soil.
Start your next row by cutting a piece of sod in half with a sharp knife like a carpet knife or an edging shovel. Lay this piece at the beginning of the second row. This will give you a nice pattern like brickwork and will help to stagger the joints. Keep the seams as tight as possible as you work.
Image Source: Amazon.ca
A carpet knife works well for cutting sod
Step 5: Fill the Seams with Soil and Roll Over the Sod
After you finish each row, fill in the seams with topsoil or potting soil. Brush the soil with a strong push broom, but be careful not to damage the loose edges of the turf.
Rollover your sod with a lawn roller to push it firmly into place. Avoid walking over your newly laid sod for about 3 weeks. This will give it a good chance to develop.
Add topsoil and brush it into the seams: Image Source: Home Depot
Step 6: Water Your Sod Regularly
You need to water your sod every day for the first week unless it rains. Make sure that when you are watering, you don't get puddles of water accumulating. During the second week, you can switch to watering it every other day. By the third week, you can water it twice and then on the fourth week and so on, you can give it about an inch of water once a week.
Water your new sod regularly
Sod Installation vs Seeding Your Lawn
Seeding your lawn can be less expensive, however, grass seed can take months or even a year to give you the results that you can get from sod installation. In addition, you will need to keep up with getting rid of any weeds that pop up while you are trying to grow your grass.
Sod is weed-free and only takes about 2 weeks to root into your yard.
Professional Installation vs DIY
Should you do sod installation yourself or get a professional to do it for you? As you can see from the above sod installation how to steps, the process is quite complicated and time-consuming. If you don't have the time and you don't want to risk doing it wrong and wasting your money, then we can help. Contact Citywide today for a free quote and find out how affordable and easy it is to get a new lush lawn installed.
Want Sod Installed for You? Contact Citywide
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