Material List
• Round-Up Herbicide (if existing weeds are present)
• Rake
• Rototiller (large area) or shovel (small area)
• Starter Fertilizer

Existing weeds should be killed with herbicide one week prior to installing your new sod. The turf will prevent many weeds from growing back, but some particularly hardy weeds (ie crabgrass, wire-grass) will actually grow up through your new lawn. It is important to control these weeds before investing in a new lawn. Be sure to use a herbicide that has no residual effect; the package should NOT say "extended release, pre-emergant, etc". Standard round-up usually works best.

Ideally, the soil should be tilled to a depth of about 6 inches and then raked out to level any high or low spots. Of course, many people lay sod with little or no tillage and often have no problems. It depends on your site conditions.

A starter fertilizer can be applied to the soil before laying the sod down. If you are installing sod in winter, we recommend not using fertilizer as the grass will remain dormant until spring. Follow directions on the bag, or try to aim for about 1 lb. of nitrogen per 1,000 sqft of area.

Material List
• Sod
• Knife
• Staples or Stakes (if installing on steep slope)

It is important that sod be installed as soon as possible following delivery. During hot weather, (90 degrees or above) the sod should be installed within 24 hours or it may spoil. In cooler winter temperatures, sod can survive for about a week on the pallet. Sod is a living plant that requires ground contact and moisture to survive.

Begin installing sod along a good straight edge such as a sidewalk or lot line of the property that has a string stretched from one end to the other. Lay two or three rolls of sod along the straight edge. Then go back to the start and lay another roll along side the first roll you put down. Cut this roll in half and follow this 1/2 roll with a full one. Continue this brick pattern for the whole job. Doing it this way is faster and keeps the seams from lining up, which looks nicer.
Butt and push edges and ends against each other tightly without stretching. To avoid causing indentations or pockets, avoid repeated walking or kneeling on sod while it is being installed or just after watering.

For trimming, use a sharp, stiff bladed knife, such as a linoleum knife or box cutter. When you finish an area, go over it and look for small holes or seams that are wider than they should be. These can be patched with small pieces of sod from your trimmings.

Sod laid on slopes should be installed perpendicular to the direction of the slope. This prevents water from running down the seams and eroding the soil. Stakes or sod staples should be used to anchor sod on steep slopes, or where flowing water is expected.

Material List
• Sprinkler
• Hose
• Faucet Timer

Watering must be started immediately after the sod is installed. Ideally, watering should begin as soon as an area large enough to put down a sprinkler is ready. This way you can get started watering while the rest of the sod is being installed.

It is essential that enough water is put down the first time to thoroughly soak the sod and the soil under the sod. You can check the moisture content by lifting a flap of the sod and sticking your finger into the soil. It should be moist at least 2 inches deep. By giving the sod a heavy first watering you will rid the sodded area of air pockets which dry out the sod. Most sprinklers should be run for about an hour in each area. A faucet timer can be used to avoid wasting water.

Pay special attention to the corners and edges of newly sodded areas, they tend to dry out sooner and they are hard to water properly. You may have to hand water these areas. If a newly sodded area accidentally does dry out, it will probably turn brown. It is not dead, and will green up in about two weeks with proper water application.

After the first watering, water enough to keep the soil under the sod moist, but not muddy. In cool weather this may mean watering only every 3 or 4 days. In very hot weather, you may have to water daily. Do not allow the sod or soil underneath to dry out between waterings.