How to Install Sod Yourself
If you’ve never installed sod before the task may seem mysterious and daunting, but we’re here to help. We’ve advised thousands of homeowners in the sod installation process and we’re confident that with the help of this guide and some high quality sod you will have a thriving lawn in record time without a landscaper. If you’re like many of our past customers you’ll feel a deep sense of pride in laying your own sod and you might even enjoy the process.
STEP 1: Measure the amount of sod you need
One way to determine the square footage of your yard is to break the yard into simple shapes like rectangles, triangles and circles and then measure the edges of those areas with a measuring tape. This method is simple but effective.
Here’s a little cheat sheet to make it easier to calculate those areas:
If you want to skip the geometry we don’t blame you, check out our sod-calculator which will allow you to add and subtract areas in two ways: with basic shapes that are calculated automatically or with shapes you draw onto satellite images of your property.
If you have hills or berms in the middle of an area then it’s going to take up more sod than if it was flat. You can improve your estimation by taking a measurement with the measuring tape laying on the ground directly over the peak of the hill or berm, this will naturally tell you the distance over the ground.
No matter how you measure you should always include a buffer. This accounts for the pieces along the edge that will need to be cut and for any inaccuracies in the area measurements. Professionals will generally order 5-10% more than the area measured.
STEP 2: Consider the growing conditions
Will all of the yard have access to full sun or will some be significantly shaded? Our Kentucky bluegrass and rye seed blend is tolerant of up to 40% shade. If there is an area that you know will have constant shade, such as an area directly under a large mature tree, then you might consider landscaping that area with something other than turf.
Next you should consider the condition of your soil. Because our Kentucky bluegrass and rye blend is incredibly resilient in many cases you may not need to amend your soil at all. If however your soil is very high in clay content you may want to add amend the soil with a sandy loam to promote drainage.
STEP 3: Get rid of any existing vegetation
You’ll want to use roundup on the soil at least 7 days prior to laying sod otherwise you will potentially be laying sod over healthy weed seeds. If there is an existing lawn then you can remove it with a sod cutter or simply rake out any debris or large rocks and roto-til the old plant material into the soil in the next step.
STEP 4: When to roto-til
You may need to roto-til if you had existing vegetation that was not removed with a sod cutter, when the ground is very compacted, or when you know you want to amend the soil to improve drainage. It’s very important not to leave clumps of dirt after you roto-til. Large pockets of air under the sod will kill it.
STEP 5: Prepare your watering system
If possible install and test your irrigation system before you install sod. This will be easier and likely less expensive. If that’s not possible then you must at least be prepared to water the sod adequately upon installation.
When testing you should be sure that you’re getting the appropriate coverage over all areas and consider that you may want some areas to get more water than others. An area that is under a large tree may require more watering for example.
STEP 6: Grade the surface
The yard should be graded so that it slopes away from buildings and adjacent properties and towards streets and drains. Use a rake to remove or break-up any clumps and smooth out the surface. Don’t leave any air pockets that will prevent the roots of the sod from contacting the soil underneath. You may wish to add topsoil on top to make the surface smooth. The soil should be 2” below walways, driveways and patios.
STEP 7: Lay your fresh sod
Our sod is always cut fresh daily to help you minimize the time between harvesting and laying your sod. Lay the sod as soon as you can. It’s always better to get it laid and watered faster, but if the weather conditions are not too hot you can probably wait a few days and still be okay.
Start laying the sod on a long, straight, inside edge. Lay it in a staggered pattern, this will make it more difficult to see the edges of the sod while it takes root. Makes sure that you butt the joints together tightly, this will keep you sod from drying out on the edges and covers fertile soil that might otherwise be infiltrated by weed seeds. Do not allow pieces to overlap. Make sure all pieces are in complete contact with the soil underneath. If you made a smooth surface before starting and made sure that the sod was in contact with the soil and all inside edges are tight then there should be no need to roll the sod later. As you get to the edges you can use a sharp serrated knife to cut the rolls of sod to make them fit. Always keep the cut edges toward the outside and avoid leaving cut edges on the inside.
Tips for laying sod on hills:
The ability to lay sod directly on a slope and stabilize the soil there is a big advantage of sod. Lay sod horizontally on hills and continue to keep your staggered pattern. You can use lawn stapes if necessary to keep the rolls in place until they take root.
STEP 10: Watering
When you get a section of sod installed you should water it immediately. Stop to moisten the edges of the sod after every pallet. The idea is to keep the sod from drying out. Do not overwater, don’t allow puddles to form on the surface.
While the roots are growing into the soil underneath (usually about 2-3 weeks) your sod needs to be prevented from drying out with more frequent watering. If you’re laying the sod in an especially hot and dry season then you will have to water more frequently. You can set your sprinkler system to come on at a higher frequency while your sod takes root.
Verify that each are of the lawn is in fact getting sufficient water, if watering is uneven for any reason you may end up with a dead section. Check out our Watering Article for tips on keeping your lawn healthy in the long term with proper watering.
NOTE: Try to minimize walking on the lawn in the first couple weeks because the new roots are fragile until they become more established.
STEP 11: Mowing
A week after you lay your sod you should mow for the first time. Mow the lawn at a 45° angle to the direction the sod was laid. It’s good to mow in alternating patterns for ideal lawn health. Mow at a height of about 2 ¼” not lower than 1 ½” or higher than 3”.
Eventually you will need to consider a fertilizing regimen, you can check out this article for tips on fertilizing.
If you follow these steps then you will avoid 99% of the problems people encounter with a new lawn. Installing your own sod is fun, easy, and the fastest way to get a beautiful, lush lawn. Get started now by seeing a quote or using our sod-calculator tool.