Sod Installation: Step-by-Step Guide

1. Water to dampen the bare soil. 

2. Start laying sod immediately after delivery 

• Store your sod in the shade as you lay it. If you don’t have a tree or building that creates shade in your yard, then consider setting up some temporary shade, like a tent or canopy. 

3. Begin installing sod along the longest straight line, such as a driveway or sidewalk. 

• Push edges and ends against each other tightly, avoiding gaps or overlaps.
• Stagger the end joints from one row to the next in a brick-like pattern.
• Use a large sharp knife to trim corners, if needed. 
• On slopes, place sod across (perpendicular) to the slope, not vertical with the slope. 

4. Water

• To ensure success, water the sod during the installation. 

5. Use a sod roller

• After installing sod, roll the entire area with a sod roller to improve sod-to-soil contact and to remove air pockets. 

6. Water daily

• Water daily, or more often on hot days, keeping sod moist until it is firmly rooted (about two weeks during the growing season).
• Lift a piece of sod here and there to confirm that you are watering enough to wet the original soil below the sod.
• Do not saturate the soil deeper than 2”, and do not allow water to move off site.

7. Watering after rooting-in period

• After the rooting-in period, begin less frequent and deeper watering.
• Water to supplement rainfall shortages only.
• Avoid fixed-timer irrigation settings.
• Lawns perform best when they receive approximately one inch of water per week.
• If one or more inches of rainfall occur in a week, additional irrigation is not necessary.

8. Monitor weather conditions

• Weather conditions dictate the amount and frequency of watering.
• Be certain that your new lawn has enough moisture to survive hot, dry or windy periods.
• Low humidity days in winter months may also necessitate supplemental watering.

9. Some areas need more water 

• Water areas on mounds and berms and near buildings more often, where reflected heat dries the turf.