Laying Sod

[Mike Oxlong]

It's time to finally get the sod laid in our yard and I am hoping to get it done this week.

I can install it myself but I wanted to ask the CP collective any tips or hints they have found effective when prepping the yard for sodding.

Do you put down fertilizer before the sod goes down? If so what kind?

Do you roll the soil first to make sure there are no low spots? Or just roll it after the sod is down?

Any reccomendations where to buy the sod from? I don't know if there are any major differences from any places in town or not. More importantly any places I should be aware of or shouldn't order it from? Any horror stories from certain companies out there?

[4X4]

I have no advice for actually prepping the area, but if it's a large area, have a sod laying party. Invite over a few friends and provide the beer and some munchies. Borrow a few wheelbarrows and have box cutters handy.
A few of the guys can barrel the sod over to the work area and their wives can lay it out perfectly. It's actually an alright way to spend an afternoon helping a friend. Nobody works too hard, everyone gets to work on their tan, and who doesn't like free beer?

[burn_this_city]

Just rake the crap out of the soil, get all the big stones out and make sure its level. Then just roll roll roll and step it down as you go. Water like crazy for a couple weeks after and you should be good.

[ken0042]

My tips:

- as said above have a sod party. So much easier with a crew.
- Lay it in a brick pattern.
- water it a lot. Like have somebody water the newly laid stuff while others are still working. Continue to water it a lot over the first 48 hours, and every day for the next 2 weeks.
- I used Scott's turf starter, under the sod.

The one thing I wish I had done was a better job of leveling the ground before hand. I also would have roto-tilled the soil adding peat moss at that point.

[automaton 3]

Make sure the soil is pretty level with your rake beforehand. Also break up any big clumps of topsoil and remove the rocks.

Put down starter fertilizer before you lay the sod, and also on top when you're done.

I find a sharp serrated knife (like a drywall knife) works really well.

Make sure you start watering it right away. If you are putting it down on a hot day, start watering as soon as you're done a section.

Have plenty of cold beer on hand.

[Bobblehead]

Laying sod is easy, but as you hint, half the job is in the prep work.

Get a good rake and rake everything. Get any rocks out of the way. Smooth it out as good as you can to get rid of any high or low spots (you don't want low spots or you will have a puddle there). Try to make sure the ground next to you foundation is a slight bit higher than the surrounding area, so water flows away from your foundation. You grounds is probably not too bad, just make sure the topsoil is a bit loosened up.

Spread fertilizer before it goes down.

Lay a border around the area you are doing. When laying in the main area, stagger the joins. After you are done, roll it (this makes sure the cod is in contact with the soil below).

The water it. You don't want the ground underneath muddy, but if you pick up a corner of the sod the it should be damp on the bottom.

I did new lawns for a summer job one year. When I asked if there was anything I should know, I was just told, "Keep moving and green side up".

[Bobblehead]

One more thing. Before you go too crazy with the rake or rototiller, check for the utility lines.

A few new houses we worked at, the guys who ran the phone line to the house didn't bury it, or it was only an inch or two in the soil. Knowing the beforehand can save you a whole pile of grief.

[Mike Oxlong]

I finally got the underground sprinklers finished this weekend and miraculously they seem to work perfectly, so that will help big time with the watering. I'll lay the sod a zone at a time and water as we go.

I am in the procees of recruiting buddies right now. I agree if you get enough guys it really doesn't take that long at all. It's pretty simple to do, just somewhat labour intensive hauling the sod around. Far from brain surgery though.....

I'll pick up some of that Scott's fertilizer and throw it down as well.

Thanks for the input so far.

[ken0042]

Two more things- make sure you rent a sod roller. I think it's $10 for the day from Home Depot. And for cutting the sod, another alternative is dollar store kitchen knives.

[Madman]

Everyone has touched on the most important points. There is one more, make sure your joints/seams are tight together and that there aren't any gaps.

As for where to get your sod, Chinook Sod Farms has the best sod hands down.

http://www.chinooksodfarms.com/

I've used them in my last 3 houses and the difference a quality sod makes is amazing. I laid 3700 sq/ft of Chinook sod in our new house 2 weeks ago and it is already rooted very well, lush and has very little signs of any seams.

[Madman]

Oh, and always buy your sod direct from a sod farm - not some garden centre. What you buy from a garden place or nursery will not be as fresh and the prices will be jacked.

[Shazam]

What these guys said. If you really hate yourself, you can spread compost down as well. That's a lot of compost.

[Rathji]

Use a lino knife to cut sod.

Water it every day until the ground is so wet you will sink into it if you step on it.

[Jedi Ninja]

If I were to do it again, I'd hire someone to throw down 6" of additional screened loam and forget about trying to rake the stones out of what the builder gave you... actually got carpal tunnel from trying to rake them out of my yard (which ended up taking days), still have problems with it years later. Besides, what the builder gives you (6") really isn't enough anyway.