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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT INSTALLING AND MAINTAINING SOD
Whether you’re a professional landscaper looking to improve your customers greenspace, or you’re a homeowner looking to completely remake your bumpy, weed-infested lawn, establishing new turf from sod is a quick way to enhance the curb appeal of any property. In this feature, we’ll walk through the sod installation and maintenance processes. We’ll also explore which fertilizers and soil amendments you should use to help your sod quickly adapt to its new home. Let’s get started!
WHY CHOOSE SOD OVER SEED?
There are advantages and disadvantages to establishing a lawn from either seed or sod. Typically, establishing a lawn from seed is less expensive, however it can take several months for grass seed to germinate and bulk up, leaving your yard covered in straw. Sod can be installed almost any time of year because its complex root systems are better able to withstand abiotic stresses (such as heat and mild drought). The most significant advantage is the look and feel of a finished lawn within a day or two.
CHOOSING YOUR SOD VARIETY
Most grass varieties that are available for seeding are also available in sod form. It is important to choose a variety that is well adapted for your climate and local environment (sun vs. shade levels on property). One of the more popular cool season grasses used in the northern United States is Kentucky Bluegrass, however it should be noted that this variety does not perform well in extreme heat and drought. If selecting Kentucky Bluegrass, it is highly recommended to keep this variety adequately irrigated.
See the lawn grass comparison chart
to assist in choosing the right Sod for you!
GROUND PREPARATION
No matter the reason(s) for beginning a new lawn from sod, it is imperative that the ground be properly conditioned to give the sod the best chance for thriving. The best times of year to sod are spring, later summer, and fall.
If removing an old lawn, first use a wide-spectrum all purpose herbicide (such as glyphosate). This will kill all pre-existing grass and weeds. This step typically takes a few weeks to complete. Once you are certain the lawn and weeds are dead, you can use a gas-powered sod cutter to undercut the grass and weeds, freeing them from the topsoil below. Dispose of appropriately.
Next, performs a soil test to determine the pH level of the soil. If the soil is acidic, adjust with a lime product accordingly (example: Hi-Calcium Lime powered by TCS AMP-XC™ #902560)
If the soil is alkaline, adjust with peat, compost, aluminum sulfate, elemental sulfur, or iron sulfate. When adjusting the pH, these soil amendments should be tilled into the top 2-3 inches of the top soil. If the soil is also heavy in clay or suffering from compaction, consider adding gypsum (example: TCS Gypsum
#902817,
#902816) to increase porosity.
- NOTE: even sandy soils are susceptible to compaction, so avoid compacting soils with heavy equipment as much as possible.
Next, make sure the top soil has been leveled and smoothed; this will ensure the underside of the sod has maximum contact with the top soil. During this process (once again), avoid compacting the soil as much as possible. The last step in ground preparation is to spread a starter fertilizer across the top soil. There is no need to rake it in, as the sod will be placed directly atop the fertilizer. Consult the grower for sod-specific fertilizer recommendations.
- IMPORTANT: DO NOT DEPLOY ANY FERTILIZERS WITH PRE-EMERGENT HERBICIDES, AS THESE MAY HINDER ROOT DEVELOPMENT IN ESTABLISHING SOD.
SOD INSTALLATION
Once the ground has been adequately prepared, it’s time to take delivery of your sod. Sod is typically harvested within 24-48 hours of being installed. Most sod comes in the form of large rectangular sheets. These sheets are rolled or stacked, then transported direct to the installation site. It is critical that the sod be installed within 48 hours of harvest. Beyond 48 hours, sod starts to desiccate, as well as suffer from lack of sunlight.
Before starting, make sure the soil is either dry or slightly moist.
- IMPORTANT: Never lay new sod down on saturated soil; this can lead to compaction, drainage issues, and the potential for fungal outbreaks under warm conditions.
When installing sod, orient the sheets in a staggered formation, just as if you were laying bricks. Make sure sod edges are tightly pressed against each other. As sod begins to dry out, each sheet will shrink leaving gaps between sheets. These gaps are unsightly and create the perfect environment for weeds to grow. This can be avoided by molding the edges of adjoining sod pieces together, much like molding two pieces of clay into each other.
Once the sod has been deployed, use a roller to press the sod firmly against the top soil. This will accelerate root growth by eliminating air pockets and create a smoother, more level lawn.
The last step is absolutely the most important: water well! New sod need lots of water, more so than lawns starting from seed. In general, sod should be watered 3 times a day during the first week, twice a day during the 2nd week, once a day during the 3rd week, and then as needed beyond week 3. Failing to provide sod with adequate water during rooting could causing yellowing, and in some cases, the death of an entire sod sheet. You’ll know the sod has rooted well once the sheet resists any attempt to lift it off the ground.
IMPORTANT: DON’T FORGET THESE GREAT FOLLOW UP TIPS TO KEEP YOUR NEW SOD IN TOP SHAPE!
- Keep foot traffic to a minimum until sod is well rooted (usually a few months).
- After the sod is well rooted, Aerate in early to mid-fall, and then once more in the spring if necessary
- Use a pre-emergent herbicide in the spring to keep your lawn weed free through the year (don’t miss this step!).
- Use good lawn keeping practices through the remainder of the year.
GIVE YOUR NEW SOD THE EDGE WITH THESE FERTILIZER AND SOIL AMENDMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM TURF CARE SUPPLY!
Once your sod is set, apply AMP-XC™ Liquid Concentrate after the first watering. Apply 2oz per 1000 sq. ft. on the first application, then 1oz per 1000 sq. ft. once a month through the fall. AMP-XC (L) has the following ingredients to accelerate the transplanting and rooting processes:
- Microbial metabolites – beneficial organic compounds that provide growing turf all the build blocks they need to accelerate their metabolism and growth rate
- Chelated iron –100% soluble iron to help keep sod a deep green during the rooting process
- 7% Humic Substances – loaded with microbially derived humic and fulvic acids, these compounds help reduce soil compaction, chelated micronutrients, create an idea environment for beneficial soil microbes, and help retain water in the root zone (critically important for establishing sod)
Use a starter fertilizer that contains phosphorus at a rate of 1.0 to 1.5 lbs P per 1000 sq. ft. about 4-6 weeks after setting sod (Example: TCS GrowStar Starter Fertilizers)
Apply nitrogen at a rate of 0.5 lbs N per 1000 sq. ft. about 4-6 weeks after setting sod. Using a fertilizer with at least 30% slow release nitrogen will assist in more evening feeding and less of a pH shift in the soil.
For professional fertilizers, humic and AMP-XC™ enriched products available, please visit TurfCare’s online Product Catalog.
For green industry professionals or others interested in ordering Turfcare products, please contact our Customer Service
to find a distributor near you.
Resources:
https://turf.unl.edu/NebGuides/Establishingturffromsod2012m.pdf
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-lay-sod-to-start-new-lawns-2132203
https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/how-to-lay-sod
http://www.turfgrasssod.org/pages/consumer-resources/types-of-grasses/
Pictures:
Sod 01 (new backyard) - http://www.assiniboine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sod_3-1024x670.jpg
Sod 02 (laying sod) - http://challengerirrigation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/August-Challenger-Planting-New-Sod.jpg
Sod 03 (installing sod) - https://kglandscape.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/sod-install-minneapolis-mn.jpg
Sod 04 (sod sheets) - https://kglandscape.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/sod-install-minneapolis-mn.jpg
Sod 05 (rolling new sod) - https://kglandscape.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/sod-install-minneapolis-mn.jpg
Sod 06 (tilling dirt) - https://kglandscape.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/sod-install-minneapolis-mn.jpg
Sod 07 (spreading lime) - https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/fertilizer-spreader.jpeg
Sod 08 (fertilizer on dirt) - https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/fertilizer-spreader.jpeg
Sod 09 (harvesting sod) - https://www.agsod.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/big-roll.jpg
Sod 010 (brick pattern) - https://www.agsod.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/big-roll.jpg
Sod 011 (watering sod) - https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/lawn-watering-tips-5.jpg
Sod 012 (aerification) - https://www.turfmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/AEside.jpg
Turf Care Supply - TurfReport Blog
With a focus on providing sustainable manufacturing and reducing carbon emissions, Turf Care Supply has embraced the electric power market with the latest mobile equipment upgrades. Completed in June 2023, TCS received all deliveries of electric forklifts to all three manufacturing facilities, including Hatfield, MA, Martins Ferry, OH and Sebring, FL.
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