How to lay sod

1. Measure and order

Measure the lawn area (see how to measure an irregular area) and add 5 to 10% for trimming around curves and beds. The sod calculator converts that into pieces and pallets. Schedule delivery for the day you'll lay it: sod on a pallet heats up and deteriorates quickly, especially in warm weather.

2. Prepare the soil

1. Remove the old grass, weeds and debris.
2. Loosen the top few inches of soil with a tiller or garden fork.
3. Add topsoil where the ground is poor — 4 to 6 inches under a new lawn is common — and mix in compost if needed. A soil test tells you whether lime or fertilizer is needed.
4. Grade so water drains away from the house, and set the soil about an inch below paths and edges so the sod finishes flush.
5. Firm and rake the surface smooth, and lightly moisten it just before laying.

3. Lay the sod

• Start along a straight edge such as a driveway or path.
• Butt pieces tightly end to end and side to side without overlapping or stretching them.
• Stagger the joints like brickwork so seams don't line up.
• Cut with a sharp knife around beds, trees and curves; avoid small pieces at the edges, which dry out first.
• Work from the laid sod by kneeling on a board so you don't leave footprints in the prepared soil.
• Roll it with a half-full lawn roller to press roots into contact with the soil.

4. Water

Water each section soon after it's laid — don't wait until the whole lawn is done on a hot day. The first watering should soak through the sod into the soil below; lift a corner to check. After that, keep the sod and the soil beneath it consistently moist, which usually means watering daily or more in hot weather at first, then tapering to deeper, less frequent watering as the roots knit into the soil over the following weeks. Local extension services publish schedules for grasses and climates in your area.

5. First weeks

• Stay off it as much as possible for the first couple of weeks.
• Check rooting by gently tugging a corner — resistance means the roots have taken hold.
• First mowing once it's rooted and the grass has grown; keep the mower blade high.

Frequently asked questions