How to Make a New Lawn With Sod
Using sod is the most immediate way to create a new lawn space in your yard. Laying sod is also quite easy to do, as the simple steps in this chapter will reveal.
1.Prepare the Soil
Whether you make your new lawn by laying sod or by other means like spreading seed, the quality of your soil will determine how successful you are. Start the sod-laying process by removing existing vegetation and any large rocks in the area.
When your future lawn space is entirely clear, you can use a rake to smooth the surface of the soil. Creating a consistent surface will allow each sod piece to sit more evenly and will result in a more consistent final product.
2. Place the Sod on Top of the Soil
Laying the sod itself is about as easy as it sounds. Place each piece on the exposed soil until you have covered your entire desired lawn area.
Sod typically comes in rectangular pieces or in rolls that are easy to unroll on the ground. Ensure that you place each piece so that it is touching another to prevent any gaps in your lawn.
3. Trim the Sod
As mentioned above, sod is typically rectangular, which means it may not fit perfectly into your preferred lawn shape. If you hope to have a lawn space that shows curves or has any shape other than a perfect rectangle, you’ll need to do some trimming.
Find places where the sod covers beyond your intended lawn area. Then, use a sharp tool, such as a garden knife, to cut the extra sod at the edges of your lawn. After you finish trimming, your lawn space should be the exact shape that you imagined in the planning stage.
4. Use a Sod Roller
A sod roller is an essential piece of equipment for anyone making a new lawn out of sod. Sod rollers are heavy and useful for pressing down the sod after you have laid it. Rolling the sod with a sod roller helps ensure that the roots of your sod have contacted the ground below so that they can continue to grow healthily in their new location.
5. Water the Sod
No matter what method you use to make a new lawn, you’ll want to finish the job with watering. With your new sod lawn in place, use your hose to give it some much-needed moisture and get it off to the right start.