There’s no better way to quickly and efficiently transform a landscape than by laying sod. It's easy for any average person to install by themselves and it can instantly turn any yard into a beautifully lush and green lawn.
Still, if you’ve never laid sod before,doing so by yourself can be a daunting task. So how do you lay sod and how long does it normally take?
How Long Does it Take To Install Sod?
The length of time it will take you to install sod in your yard will largely depend on the size of your lawn and if you’ve had any previous experience laying sod. However, the average person can expect to be able to lay 2,000 - 2,500 square feet of sod in an eight-hour day.
How To Lay Sod
There are a few different steps you’ll need to take to successfully lay sod on your lawn. However, in this case, the preparation and follow-up are just as important as anything you do while installing your sod.
Soil Preparation
The first thing you’ll need to do is prepare your soil for installation. You want the soil under the sod to be as welcoming and hospitable to its growth as possible, so removing any rocks, weeds, or any other undesirable debris beforehand is essential.
You’ll also want to make sure that the pH of your soil is between 6.0 and 7.5 which can be done with a soil pH test. Adding a layer of compost or topsoil, and tilling it in can also help improve soil quality allowing the sod to take root and grow more easily.
Measure and Order Your Sod
The next step is pretty obvious but you’ll need to measure the exact dimensions of your lawn so that you can order the exact amount you need. Sod is typically sold in square feet, so finding the area of your lawn by multiplying its length by its width will give you the exact number you need.Remember to order a little extra to be sure you have enough, and to fill in areas in case you need to make any changes to your original plan.
It’s also important to remember to schedule your order to be delivered when you have time to install it. Sod should be installed within 12 hours of delivery so the sooner you can lay it, the better. Once sod is harvested it is stacked on pallets for transportation. This prevents the grass from taking in air and water and starts the dying or decomposition process. If it is installed within 12 hours it will easily resume breathing and producing oxygen and will stop the decomposition process. Water your lawn immediately after installation to keep it healthy.
Lay the Sod
Once you’ve done all the prep work, it's time to lay the sod. You should do this by laying the first line along a straight edge in your lawn. Keep the lines straight and lay the pieces in a stair-step fashion, just like you would if you were laying bricks, to keep lines straight where pieces meet. Sod pieces can easily be cut with a utility knife.
Make sure that each piece of sod you lay is touching the last without ever overlapping them. Overlapping will cause your lawn to look lumpy and if there’s too much space between pieces, unwanted weeds can easily move in.
Water Your Sod After Installation
After installation is complete you’ll need to water all of the sod that you just laid and keep it consistently moist for about two weeks after installation to help the roots establish in the ground below.
The first few weeks after installation are crucial, so monitor your sod closely to make sure that it gets all the water and care it needs.
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