How to Lay Sod

If you need to replace the sod on your land, you could hire a professional—or you could roll up your sleeves and do it yourself! There’s a sense of pride that you can obtain from a job well done, and you’ll likely find it’s not as difficult as you think it will be.

Rivera's Machinery, Inc. in Donna, Texas, is proud to be your local farm equipment dealer. Here are some tips to help you successfully lay sod.

Prepare Soil

Sod does not have a long shelf life and is likely to go bad very quickly. You should never order it if you’re not ready to lay it down immediately. You’ll also want to make sure that you give the garden center or company you’re ordering from your precise measurements when you order it, and you can get about 5% more just to be safe.

First, you’ll need to prepare your soil by testing its pH and nutrient levels. Garden centers like Home Depot will have test kits that are designed specifically for this task. 

Once you’ve figured out whether your soil is ready for sod, you should till it to a depth of 6” to 8” in order to loosen it up. Remove all the debris you find. Tilling will improve the structure of the soil and relieve compaction. If you need to adjust the pH, this is the perfect time to add any treatments to the soil.

Now you should rake the soil level until it’s 1” below the final grade of the area, including sidewalks and driveways. That way, your sod won’t rest awkwardly above the concrete around it. Water soil lightly before laying sod if it is dry until it is damp to a depth of about 4”.

Lay Sod

Your sod will either be in rolls or in pieces. If it’s in rolls, you’ll have to carefully unroll it. If you need to adjust the size of your sod, cut from the bottom with a utility knife, as it will be easier than cutting from the top. 

Try to start laying the sod along a straight edge, like a concrete patio or a fence. Lay out pieces one by one, end to end. Try to avoid creating too much foot traffic over the soil. To remove any air pockets, pat the sod lightly. You should align the pieces of sod tightly without overlap them. In order to deal with curves or other irregular borders, you’ll want to lay the sod over the space and cut around it to fit it to that shape.

Aftercare

Once you’ve laid your sod, you’ll need to tend to it to get the best results. Use a lawn roller to press down the roots so that they meet the soil. Following a good pressing, the sod will settle over time. Try to prevent children and pets from walking on the lawn for a few weeks as well.

Water the lawn immediately after the sod is laid, making sure that the soil underneath it is wet. If it doesn’t rain, then you’ll need to water the lawn at least once a day following the sod laying. Try to keep the soil from getting dry. Mow down grass when it reaches a length of 3”. Using a walk-behind mower is the best, and you’ll want to cut about a third of the blade off. Bag your clippings rather than leaving them on the ground. When the lawn has grown for a full month, you can add a starter fertilizer to it.

This guide should help you to properly lay out sod on your land. If you need some new equipment to assist you in your farming or landscaping ventures, you’ll need to visit our dealership in Donna to take a look at our full stock of new and used farm equipment for sale. Rivera’s Equipment proudly serves the cities of Harlingen and San Benito, Texas.