Our small lawn had been in poor condition for quite some time. It’s only about 10×12 feet, but it brings color and softness to an otherwise concrete backyard where we place an outdoor rug and furniture. The grass suffered from dog urine burns and general neglect from previous tenants, so it needed repair.
A neighbor contacted me with leftover sod he didn’t need, so I went over to pick it up. It turned out to be nearly the exact amount I required, so I spent an afternoon installing it. Fresh-cut sod should be laid within 24 hours, so I had to move quickly to rent a rototiller and a lawn roller.
I also picked up a bag of compost and some aged manure to improve the planting mix.
The first step was site preparation: I removed the old, damaged grass and loosened the top six inches of soil with the rototiller. After spreading the manure and compost over the area, I worked the amendments into the soil, then used the roller to level and firm the surface so the sod would sit evenly.
Once the soil was prepped I laid the sod pieces tightly together, staggering joints like bricks to avoid seams. After fitting each strip I rolled the surface again to ensure good contact between the sod roots and the soil. Finally, I began a consistent watering schedule. Deep, thorough waterings two to three times per day at first encourage the roots to establish; this is more effective than frequent shallow watering.
If you live in a colder region, wait until after the last hard frost before installing sod. In milder climates like Southern California, however, sod can often be laid nearly year-round.
Have you ever laid sod yourself? What tips or experiences helped your lawn take root?
