Back to Info Sheets	Starting a Lawn with Sod. 1.      Measure the area of your planned lawn. Do all soil preparation before getting sods to the site so that the sods can be laid promptly after delivery. 2.      Rototill or spade the area to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. Slope soil away from house foundations to avoid drainage problems. Add peat moss, if required, to improve soil structure to make it loose and well-drained. 3.     Apply limestone at a rate of 10 pounds per 100 ft2 and fertilizer (6-12-12) at a rate of 1 pound per 30 ft2. Distribute as evenly as possible using a spreader. Using half of the fertilizer amount, spread it in one direction, then apply the other half in the opposite direction. 4.     Rake and smooth the soil, removing stones and large clods of soil as needed. Roll lightly to firm the surface. Keep the grade 1 inch below driveways and sidewalks. 5.    Water the prepared soil to provide a moist base for sods. 6.     Lay sods on a dull day, if possible, to prevent drying out of roots. Keep rolled sods in a shady spot. 7.     Begin installing sod along the longest straight line, such as a driveway or sidewalk. Push the edges of sods together without stretching. Avoid gaps or overlapping. Stagger the joints in each row, and use a large, sharp knife to cut corners as needed. On slopes, place sod across the slope. Avoid walking or kneeling on sod as it is laid. 8.     Roll over the entire area to remove air pockets. 9.     Water new sod immediately. Give at least 1 inch of water -- it is better to give a long soaking than short, frequent waterings. 10.    Water daily to keep sod moist until it is firmly rooted (about 2 weeks). Weather conditions will affect the amount and frequency of watering. Be sure to water during dry, windy spells. Turf near buildings may require more water if heat reflects off the building. 11.     During the first 3 weeks after sodding, avoid heavy traffic on the area. 12.    Lawn can be mowed to a height of 2 inches once this amount of growth is noted.
© Murray's Garden and Horticultural Services Last updated: Sept 23, 2002