What is best to put under new sod?

How to Prepare Your Soil for Sod. Loosen the top 6 to 8 inches of soil with a rototiller. Spread 2 inches of finished compost (this may be available for free if your town has a municipal compost center). Add 2 to 3 inches of sand to claylike soil to improve drainage.

What should you put under new sod?

1: Spread & level topsoil to a finished approx. 3 – 3.5 inches minimum compacted depth. Your finished top soil grade should be 1 inch below driveways, curbs, walks and patios etc. to allow for ease of mowing. *Be sure to have topsoil in place, spread, leveled & rolled/compacted before sod arrives.

What is the best soil to put under sod?

Black loam provides an abundance of water and nutrients to the soil which is extremely important for their health. It provides better drainage that clay-rich soil, which is why it's commonly used to prepare the soil for sodding. It consists of 95% pure black loam and 5% peat moss.

Should you put topsoil down before sod?

Adding topsoil is not essential for sod but it will provide some benefits. What topsoil does is increases a soil's water and nutrient holding capacity, so if you do add it, the intervals between watering and fertilizing will be longer.

Should you put anything down before laying sod?

How to Prepare Your Soil for Sod. Loosen the top 6 to 8 inches of soil with a rototiller. Spread 2 inches of finished compost (this may be available for free if your town has a municipal compost center). Add 2 to 3 inches of sand to claylike soil to improve drainage.

Laying Sod

What time of year is best to lay sod?

You can lay sod anytime during the growing season, as long as the ground is not frozen and you have adequate water for establishment and maintenance, although spring and early autumn are best. Cool temperatures combined with occasional rain help sod quickly root.

Can I just lay sod on top of dirt?

“All sod must make soil contact to root,” she points out. “Therefore, the existing grass / lawn must be extremely sparse or you will have to bring in dirt and put it on top before laying the new sod. Additionally, the grade is extremely important; the water flow must be proper.

Can I lay sod on hard dirt?

Laying the sod is the easy part; getting the soil ready so it can keep your sod healthy takes much longer. When your yard is covered in hard dirt, the sod isn't likely to thrive, although it might not die. Instead, loosen and prepare the dirt so your sod can establish quickly and provide you with a lush, full lawn.

Is sand a good base for sod?

Sandy soil can lose nutrients quickly due to its inherent problems with water retention. As water runs quickly out of the soil, it pulls essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus out with it. Soil lacking in these key nutrients won't be able to adequately feed new sod for long.

How deep should topsoil be for sod?

Identify the areas of your lawn that you want to sod and begin by removing all weeds, rocks, and debris. Work the soil up to a depth of 6 inches, taking care to break up any clumps or clods you encounter. Once the soil is properly aerated, mix in a high quality top soil.

How much topsoil should I use for sod?

As a general rule, 4 inches of topsoil is usually adequate. However, you may want to add more if the area has a lot of clay, or the area is rocky. You may want to put down sand or gravel if the drainage is poor. Our experts would be happy to make recommendations for your specific needs.

Is it better to bag or mulch new sod?

It is best to bag the clippings for the first month. Make sure the soil is dry to prevent any tearing of new grass. If you do decide to mulch the grass clippings, remember not to cut off mower than 15% of the grass blade at one time.

How do I prepare the area for laying sod?

How long does it take for sod to take root?

It can take up to six weeks for the sod to develop a deep root system. As the sod develops its shallow root system and moves on to develop a deeper root system, it's critical to increase the amount of time between waterings to encourage roots to grow deeper in search of moisture without stressing the lawn.

Do you need to water dirt before laying sod?

Soil needs to be moist when you lay sod. Water it well 24 to 48 hours before installation.

How often do you water new sod?

Continue watering new sod twice per day, in the morning and afternoon—thorough, deep watering is best until the soil is saturated but not puddling. Morning is ideal with lower wind speeds and less water is lost to evaporation.

Can you walk on sod while laying it?

Take care not to walk or run on new sod, as this can prevent the fragile young roots from developing properly. If you have pets, try to prevent as much contact with the newly installed sod as possible.

Can you put new sod over old grass?

People often think that laying sod over an existing lawn makes sense and saves time. In fact, laying fresh sod over an existing lawn is no shortcut and could kill your sod and cause you twice as much work. Removing your old lawn before laying new sod is crucial for a healthy root system.

Is October too late to lay sod?

You can lay sod anytime during the growing season, although spring and early autumn are best—cool temperatures combined with occasional rain help sod quickly root.

How long can sod sit without being laid?

How long can sod sit on the pallet? Sod is a perishable product, so we recommend you lay it the same day it's been cut. If you aren't using it right away, make sure you don't let it sit longer than 24 hours or overnight, and keep it as cool as possible by placing it in the shade.

Should I aerate my first year of sod?

CAN I AERATE NEWLY LAID SOD OR SEEDED LAWN? No, you should wait at least six months before aerating new sod and hold off aerating newly seeded lawns until the seedlings reach maturity.

Is it better to seed or lay sod?

The most significant difference between seeding and sodding is the time it takes to develop a mature grass stand. Sodding is quicker; it's simply transplanting mature grass. Seeding establishes grass from an earlier stage.

Is sand or topsoil better for grass?

Advantages of Topdressing your Lawn with Sand

The number one benefit to topdressing with sand is that it's the easiest and most effective way to level your lawn. Having used topsoil as well as various topdressing mixes over the years I can attest that sand is by far the easiest to spread (whether wet or dry).