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Sodding a New Lawn

You may have heard the term "instant lawn" and that's what sodding a lawn is all about. Sod gives you a quick, yet more costly way to install a lawn, than seeding. Most sod farms in the central to northeastern US grow Kentucky Bluegrass sod.
    
Sod is sold by the square yard, and the descriptive term is usually shortened to a "yard" of sod. One square yard of sod is 6-feet long by 18-inches wide, totaling 9 square feet. To calculate how many yards of sod needed for a given area, take the square footage and divide by nine.
  

Calculating how much sod you need
Example: Area to be sodded is 9' x 10' = 90 sq ft.
90 square feet
÷ 9 = 10 yards of sod

  

  
SOD BASICS

Nine square feet of sod =
One (square) yard
  

Sod shipment
A pallet of sod usually contains 50 yards. Sod dealers will charge you a deposit on their pallets since they must be returned to the sod farm for future use.
  
Don't leave sod stacked on pallets for more than 24 to 48 hours at the most, since the sod will "heat up" and become damaged. Therefore, have your lawn area ready to sod before your shipment arrives. 
 
Sod pieces should be laid close together to avoid any gaps -- the edges should be pushed together. Don't stretch the sod -- stretched out sod pieces will shrink and create gaps between pieces of sod. Exposed edges, especially if there are any gaps, should be covered with topsoil to prevent drying-out. 
    

laying sod
Beginning row of sod has been laid

Freshly laid sod should be thoroughly watered-in shortly after it's installed. Continue watering frequently for the first weeks while the sod knits down. Some recommendations call for rolling newly laid sod a few days after it's installed, with a lawn roller, to remove any air pockets.
   
Northern sod consists mostly of Kentucky Bluegrass, which is a thatch producer. Therefore, core aerate the sod once or twice a year once it is rooted-in and well established. Dethatch as needed when thatch levels are ½-inch or more. Bluegrass sod should be mowed at a 2-½" height.
  

Sod laying tips for beginners:

  • Leave the soil grade one-inch lower along sidewalks and pavement to allow for the thickness of the sod piece.

  • Sod is "graded" so buy the best grade available (#1). When your sod arrives piled-up on a pallet, lay it as soon as you can.  Keep palletized sod covered with a lightweight perforated tarp -- to help keep the wind and sun off -- until you get it installed.

  • Don't stretch sod while laying it -- push it together -- keeping the seams butted together as tightly as possible. Fill any edge gaps with screened topsoil to prevent the edges from drying. Exposed edges will dry out and brown.

  • Cut sod with a sharp knife, hatchet or gardening spade, but watch your fingers!

  • Watering is very important -- begin right away by watering sod thoroughly. Water often (every day or two) to encourage rooting. Pay close attention to watering pavement edges since they will dry out first.

new sod lawn
Instant lawn!
  

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