Sod is made up of grass and a small part of soil held together by the root system or a biodegradable material. While sod costs more than grass seed, making the investment will provide many benefits for your lawn and property, including erosion prevention, less irrigation, and flood reduction. Sod also gives you an “instant lawn” — no waiting for seed to grow! — and adds to the value of your property by giving it a high-end, lush look.

The best time to lay sod in WNC is spring and early fall, when temperatures are cooler and there’s more rain to help sod take root quickly. But laying it takes a bit of prep work, and you’ll need to properly maintain it afterward. Follow these steps for healthy, happy sod.

Prepare the soil

Sod should be laid on bare soil. Remove any debris from your lawn such as sticks and rocks, then remove the grass by renting a sod harvester or using a rototill. Aim for the soil surface to be about 1” below walkways and driveways to accommodate the sod. Now is also a good time to test the pH of your lawn and adjust it as needed.

Prepare and smooth the top soil

Break up any large clumps of top soil and mix in organic matter in areas that are sandy or full of clay. Work on areas that are either too compacted or that don’t drain properly. Then smooth everything over using a sturdy garden rake and use a lawn roller to lightly compact it. Fertilize the soil with a sod turf starter. You can also apply fertilizer over the sod once it’s laid down.

Lay the sod

For optimal results, lay sod on a cool, overcast day; new sod doesn’t like heat. Don’t let your sod sit when it’s delivered – lay it immediately! Lay sod like you would brick – use a sharp knife to cut it, so each piece fits snugly up against the others. Then use a sod roller to eliminate air pockets. This video from This Old House is a great tutorial for the best way to lay sod.

Maintain your sod

Taking good care of your sod will ensure that your lawn will look amazing! Water your new sod right away, then make sure it’s getting about 4” of water daily, whether through rainfall or from a sprinkler. Sod takes 4-6 weeks to lay a firm root system, so check it regularly. To determine if your sod has rooted, give it a little tug. If you feel some resistance, it’s good to go! Wait to mow your lawn until sod is firmly established, then mow as usual.

If you want the lush look of sod but don’t have the time to install and maintain it, give us a call. We can lay sod and keep it looking its best with our 7-Round Turf Care Program. Call us today for a free, no obligation quote!