How to Lay Sod and Maintain it in 8 steps

Step 1: Start by removing the Lawn If it’s a small area you can do this with hand shovels. If the area is larger, you can rent a sod cutter at your local rental center.

Make sure to rake out all debris from the soil once the lawn is removed.

Step 2: Grade the area: add premium top soil and use a landscape or iron rake to knock down higher areas and fill in any holes or uneven areas. The soil needs to be level and 1 inch below the grade of any paved surface, such as a walkway or driveway. The idea formula for slope is 6” for every 6 feet. The idea is for the land to be graded to where the water flows away from the home and the foundation.

Step 3: Fertilize the area: we recommend laying down some turf starter fertilizer before. This type of fertilizer is activated with watering. And since you will

Be watering your sod consistently for the first week. Fertilizing before laying the sod will benefit your lawn. We recommend using a high phosphorous fertilizer to promote initial root growth! (Phosphorous is the middle number in the fertilizer code i.e. [10-25-10] 25 is the percentage of phosphorous)

Step 4: Lay your fresh sod. Lay down your sod as early as possible after picking it up. Make sure to keep your different strips connected tightly but make sure edges aren’t stacking each other. You need to have direct soil contact for your sod roots to grow Into the ground. You can use a sharp knife to cut out your sod.

Step 5 : Water while laying the sod. Do not wait until the entire area is sodded before watering. As soon as a ‘sprinkler size’ area is laid, begin watering it while you are working on the next section. On hot days do not leave laid sod for more than an hour without watering. On cooler days do not leave it for more than 2 hours.

Step 6: Roll your sod in: roll your sod in to ensure it has good contact with the soil. This process will also assure you connect the sod strip joint together nicely and remove any air pockets.

Step 7: keep moist :Keep your new sod well watered for at least 2-3 weeks. This will assist the turf edges in connecting and the roots to establish.

Step 8: Enjoy your new lawn and Follow a proper routine to ensure it stays in healthy condition.