At Green Horizons Turf Farm, we understand your desire for a stunning landscape without the hassle or extra costs. That's why we've developed a comprehensive guide to simplify the process, allowing homeowners to transform their outdoor space with minimal effort.
Our step-by-step instructions provide you with all the necessary information to tackle your sod installation project like a pro. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a first-time homeowner, our user-friendly approach ensures success for everyone. With just a few simple tools and a little bit of dedication, you'll be amazed at how achievable and rewarding the DIY route can be.
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Before placing your sod order, measure your project area to determine the square footage of sod needed. Need help measuring? Click here to view our complete measuring guide.
Once you have gathered your measurements, we’d love to help you with your turfgrass sod project! If you have any additional questions, please feel free to Contact Us and one of our friendly sod experts will be happy to assist you.
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Plan to have your site prepped prior to picking up your sod or having it delivered, as sod is a perishable product and should be installed as soon as possible.
When preparing your site for sod it is always best to install sod on a smooth firm bed of topsoil, ideally 2” to 6” deep.
If you are unsure as to the quality of your soil, you may want to consider doing a soil test. Most turf grasses prefer the soil to be neutral (7.0) to slightly acidic (6.0). If your soil test results show the soil to be in this range, you will likely only have to till and level before installing your turf. If the results fall outside this range you may need to spread topsoil and/or amendments, such as; peat moss, compost, lime, fertilizers etc.
An ideal seed or sod bed has few stones, roots, and vegetation on the ground that may prohibit root penetration, or the sod to lay flat on the ground.
Any stone that forces the sod to “tent” needs to be removed and laying sod on existing grass or weeds is also not recommended.
Remember when grading the lawn, to provide a slope away from any building foundation and to fill any low spots with topsoil.
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You will want to install the sod as soon as you get it, as sod is a perishable product. If you are unable to install the sod immediately, it is best to store it in a shaded area.
In general, when laying sod, it is best to start at the furthest point and work your way forward; the less foot traffic on your newly laid sod, the better.
While installing, we recommend laying the sod in a stair step pattern to avoid long running seams that can cause water runoff.
Each piece of sod should be adjoined edge-to-edge, avoiding any overlaps or gaps that can dry out the sod.
Sod can be easily cut into smaller pieces to be used for irregular shapes and patching.
If you are installing sod on a slope, lay the pieces perpendicular to the slope to prevent it from being washed away with heavy rainfall.
It is important to water the sod as it is installed. For larger projects, do not wait until all of the sod is installed to begin watering. Once you have installed a section of the sod, begin watering it as you continue to install the remaining sod.
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Your new lawn should be a long-term investment. Grass is a very resilient plant but for your new lawn to remain healthy and beautiful, proper maintenance is required. You will find that adhering to a consistent maintenance schedule will cost much less in time, energy, money, natural resources and aggravation than trying to remedy neglect-related problems.