Lawns create an ideal environment for recreation, gatherings and relaxation for any yard. sodded areas add beauty, texture, color and character to any landscape. With Alpha Sod, you know you will get the best sod available. Start by making a layout of your yard and deciding where you would like to have sod, trees, and shrubs, and perhaps curbing or edging. Your next step in planning your new landscape is to take a good look around your yard and determine what areas that you would like to designate for sod.

Soil Preparation

Rototill the soil and add amendments. First, remove all rocks and debris, and then rototill the soil to a depth of four to six inches. This will help eliminate drainage problems and prepare the soil. Spread a layer of soil amendments onto the area. Rototill the amendments into the soil until thoroughly mixed into the soil. Good Kentucky Bluegrass blends will need to be tilled about 4 inches down.

A good soil foundation is the key to the success of your new lawn. Soil types can range from sand to clay, so be sure to get the recommended soil amendments for your area. Call us if you are not sure what to use.

What are Soil Amendments? Soil amendments are composted organic mulch and recycled wood fibers you add to the soil to prepare the dirt for your planting needs or strengthen nutrient-poor soils. For example, sandy soils need to be enhanced with organic mulch to nourish the sandy soil. Amending clay soils with organic mulch helps break up heavy clay. Soil amendments can also be added to your entire yard to raise the level of the ground a few inches. Soil amendments are available at most lawn and garden centers.

Install Sprinklers

A sprinkler system is virtually a necessity for the survival of your sod. A good landscape irrigation and supply business is an excellent place to start for sprinkler system design information and help. Remember to design separate systems for the lawn and your garden. Using an automatic timer to control on/off times and length of watering is recommended.

Grading and Rolling

Clear the surface where the sod will go of all debris, including rocks and root segments that rototilling may have turned up.Rake to level the area, making sure that the soil level is about 1″ below the level of sidewalks, patios and driveways and tops of sprinkler heads. Using a water-filled lawn roller, roll the area in two opposite directions to minimize excessive settling that might lower the top of the lawn below the level of driveways or patios. Level any low or high spots and fine-grade the area with a rake and roll again. This is especially important if installing bluegrass sod. The soil surface must be level to have a level grass surface! Check once again for low spots and settling. Re-grade and roll the area if necessary.

If you have installed sprinkler lines, install the sprinkler heads after the final grading is done. Remember to compensate for the thickness of the sod and recommended mowing heights of your sod variety. Several days prior to delivery and installation of your new sod, the area should be watered to help the new sod establish itself. This is the best time to check your sprinkler system. To avoid dry patches and promote even growth, water coverage should overlap from sprinkler head to sprinkler head.

Measuring for Sod

To figure square footage, determine the general shape of the lawn and try the following methods. Always round up or add about 10 percent extra to make sure you have enough for angles and cuts!

Is your lawn a square or rectangle? Multiply Length x Width = square footage

Is your lawn curved or an unusual shape? Measure the longest and widest points of the lawn and then multiply Length x Width = square footage. This will probably give you some extra square footage, especially if your lawn is an irregular shape.

Is your lawn a triangle? Multiply the base of the triangle and the height of the triangle, and then divide the result by 2. B x H / 2 = square footage.

If you have more than one area, add the totals together. Be sure to measure carefully! Better to have a few extra square feet of sod than to run out before you finish the yard!

Before laying any sod, apply a Starter Fertilizer to the entire surface to be covered with sod. This gives the new sod food to nourish it in the first few weeks. And because you need to keep the sod wet for the first 10 days, existing nutrients in the soil will be watered down. A good slow-release starter fertilizer will provide the root system with what it needs to establish itself and continue healthy growth. The sod can then be laid directly on the fertilized soil.

To lay your sod, start from the back of your property line to front along the longest straight-line boundary. Work away from the line so you’re not stepping on the fresh sod. Butt edges and ends to fit tightly together. Stagger sod slabs (like laying bricks) to offset seams. Should your area be irregular in shape, run a string between stakes in a straight line through the area and begin laying sod along this line. Make sure each piece of sod has good contact with the soil, because air pockets prevent proper rooting. If laying sod on a steep slope, use wooden pegs or sod staples to temporarily keep the sod in place.

Trim edges with your sod knife to fit around curves and leave clean, trimmed edges around sprinkler heads, driveways, etc. Avoid cutting sod into short or narrow strips because smaller pieces tend to dry out and fail to root properly.

Before laying any sod, apply a Starter Fertilizer to the entire surface to be covered with sod. This gives the new sod food to nourish it in the first few weeks. And because you need to keep the sod wet for the first 10 days, existing nutrients in the soil will be watered down. Good slow-release starter fertilizer will provide the root system with what it needs to establish itself and continue healthy growth. The sod can then be laid directly on the fertilized soil.

To lay your sod, start from the back of your property line to the front along the longest straight-line boundary. Work away from the line so you’re not stepping on the fresh sod. Butt edges and ends to fit tightly together. Stagger sod slabs (like laying bricks) to offset seams. Should your area be irregular in shape, run a string between stakes in a straight line through the area and begin laying sod along this line. Make sure each piece of sod has good contact with the soil because air pockets prevent proper rooting. If laying sod on a steep slope, use wooden pegs or sod staples to temporarily keep the sod in place.

Trim edges with your sod knife to fit around curves and leave clean, trimmed edges around sprinkler heads, driveways, etc. Avoid cutting sod into short or narrow strips because smaller pieces tend to dry out and fail to root properly.

After you have laid about 500 square feet of sod, mist it with a garden hose before you finish the whole job to prevent the new sod from drying out. Hot summer temperatures can wilt fresh sod, so it’s important to keep it moist as you lay it down!

After the sod is laid, use a roller to ensure good contact between the sod and the soil. Just fill the roller halfway for the final rolling. Do not use the lawn until rooting has started and the lawn is growing vigorously. Water your sod as much as necessary to keep it squishy wet for 10 days. The sod needs this water to re-establish itself with new root growth. Avoid watering at night.

After 10 days of frequent watering, you can return to your normal schedule. Be sure to allow the soil to firm up to give you an opportunity to mow your lawn. A new sod lawn should be mowed two weeks after installation.