how to lay sod patch

Finally, water the area, and then tamp it down to ensure the soil is level with the rest of your lawn. Lay sod strips with the ends butting up together, but not overlapping. If the sod seems higher than the surrounding lawn, remove a little soil out of the patch, smooth and try again. After you’ve laid the first row, smooth out any areas that have wrinkled or bunched up, but be careful not to step on it. Cut the sod to fit using a snap-off utility knife. Merge the edges of the sod with the surrounding grass by pressing it with your hands. This will give you a patch that exactly matches the size and shape of the hole below. Make sure that you place the edges of the sod tightly against any hard surfaces, such as cement edgings, walks, or driveways. Follow The Home Depot:WEBSITE: https://thd.co/TheHomeDepotSiteFACEBOOK: https://thd.co/TheHomeDepotFacebookTWITTER: https://thd.co/TheHomeDepotTwitterINSTAGRAM: https://thd.co/TheHomeDepotIGPINTEREST: https://thd.co/TheHomeDepotPinterestLaying Sod \u0026 How to Prepare Soil For Sod | The Home Depothttps://www.youtube.com/user/homedepot But growing a whole new lawn isn’t the only reason to use sod. How to Prepare Your Soil for Sod Loosen the top 6 to 8 inches of soil with a rototiller. Use your shovel to cut down through the new sod and the existing grass below at the same time. Do not overlap or leave gaps. Dig about ¾ of an inch down, and apply a fresh layer of compost or peat moss to provide the new sod with added nutrients. Or maybe you’ve got a new puppy who decided to practice digging in the back yard. Avoid walking on the sod as you lay it, and rake out any footprints you make in soil as you go. Lay the rolls out in a brick-wall pattern, staggering the cuts and leaving no gaps (but don’t overlap the edges.) Give your lawn a fresh look by laying sod to cover dead spots. Rake your footprints out of the next patch of dirt and unroll the next sod roll. Prepare the damaged area by removing all dead grass and 1" to 2" of soil 3/4" past the edge of the dead grass. For the next row, place a roll a couple of inches away from the previous roll. Be sure to order a species of sod that’s similar, if not identical to the grass that’s already in your lawn. Sod is best laid in rows beginning along a straight edge like the side of a driveway or sidewalk, with the sod pieces butting up tightly against edges and each other. When we discuss the virtues of sod, we typically talk about how easy and affordable it is to use to quickly establish an entirely new lawn. You need to treat the new patch just like a new lawn and that means watering at least once a day (more in hot weather) until the grass is established. When the lawn is fully covered, check for gaps in hard-to-reach, curved or oddly shaped areas. As you continue, lay in straight lines, but stagger the short ends in a brick-like pattern so you don’t have one long seam. Here's How You Lay The Sod: You should start laying strips beside the longest patch on the plot, usually next to the driveway, sidewalk, fence, or the side of the house. Maybe you had a guest drive across your lawn and tear up the turf adjacent to your driveway. prior to your grass delivery. 5 Water the soil before you lay down the sod. Check out our Outdoor Living and Landscaping playlist for more lawn care tips: https://thd.co/2SdxuyN#TheHomeDepot #HomeImprovement #DIYSUBSCRIBE to The Home Depot: http://thd.co/2iib0HEBrowse our selection of sod: https://thd.co/2RLp6S0See our other lawn care and maintenance guides here: https://thd.co/2HV7gMIFollow these steps when learning how to lay sod:0:06 Supplies you'll need0:14 Test your soil0:28 Measure the area0:35 Till organic matter0:50 Level the soil1:01 Water soil1:05 Lay turf1:19 Lay turf in rows1:56 Fill seams2:03 Use lawn rollerFollow these steps for new sod care:2:07 Water sod2:24 Appropriate time to mow2:31 Fertilize lawnAbout The Home Depot:How doers get more done. Lay the sod now by beginning it … Sod is a good choice over grass seed because once you’ve patched a lawn with sod that’s rooted and grown for a short time, it’s difficult to tell where the patching occurred. Once you’ve cut the sod to the appropriate size, lay it on the soil and “knit” the edges of the sod to the adjacent grass by folding and pressing them together. Once you’re done laying the sod, just follow our new sod care guidelines until it’s matured and firmly rooted in the soil. Unroll one piece at a time, end to end, and avoid walking on pieces of sod as you're laying new ones down. Our step-by-step instructional DIY videos and expert advice will give you the confidence for your next project with hands-on learning. On your lightly moistened soil, lay your sod pieces with the edges butted tightly together, in a staggered brick like pattern. Don’t lay down sod on dry soil or it won’t attach properly. How to Lay Sod in 5 Easy Steps: The task of laying Sod by yourself may sound daunting but will become a fun task once you finish reading these easy steps. With some careful digging, you can install the patches at ground level so that they’ll never show. Now you can take on more renovation projects with more know-how. 6 Steps To Lay Sod Yourself (With Pictures) Turn under the old sod with a gas-powered rotary tiller. Learn how to prepare soil for sod and measure the space, along with sod care tips to make sure your lawn thrives. 4. 6. To avoid roughing up the planting surface or the new sod, kneel on a board or piece of plywood as you work. Place it over the problem area. Work with whole pieces, laying them one at a time, end to end. Rather than spending months caring for seed and hoping it will grow in healthy and weed-free, sod allows homeowners to get a big head start on the grass-growing process. From the preparation of the soil to the grown grass, the whole process only takes 2-3 weeks to lay sod. Ensure the new sod has good contact with the soil underneath by either using a weighted lawn roller or by placing boards on the new sod and walking on the boards a few times to press the sod flat. Measure the area of the damaged section of lawn, and plan to purchase a piece of sod about 1/3 larger than that area. So, in theory, it makes sense to simply mow your lawn short and lay new sod right over the existing lawn. Here’s how to cut out damaged grass and cut a sod patch that fits perfectly in its place: Lay a piece of sod over the bad spot and slice through both the sod and the damaged turf below with a sharp spade. In most cases it won't be necessary to add too much extra dirt, but the little bit of compost will help give some nutrients to the roots while your new grass becomes established Rake the soil as you lay the sod to clear any bumps under the surface. To install sod on an existing lawn, cut any existing grass low, and level out any holes or step dips in the yard. Turf likes to sit on a nutrient rich, well-aerated base. This person can also lay the pieces of sod on the soil. It’s a good time to be a doer. Then start laying other strips pushing the edges tightly together, but taking care that they don't overlap. Pro Tip: Lay your new roll of sod over the top of the area to be patched. If your property is sloped, you’ll get better water retention if you lay the sod horizontally across the slope rather than vertically down the slope. Press the sod down so that it’s level with the rest of your lawn, and then water it thoroughly. 4 Unroll the first piece of sod. A soil testing kit … You can use smaller pieces of sod to repair unsightly damage to your lawn as well. Before laying your new sod, use a hoe and rake to remove any remaining dead grass from the damaged area. Spread 2 inches of finished compost (this may be available for free if your town has a municipal compost center). The top.5 inches (1.3 cm) of soil should be loose enough that when you walk across the soil your feet leave.5 in (1.3 cm) footprints. Then dig out the bad spot and plug in the new sod. "Of course, there is usually a fair amount of prep work involved, depending on the situation, and the sod must be watered and monitored carefully until it is established. 8. Water the new patch until the soil under the sod is wet, but not saturated. Once you’ve cut the sod to the appropriate size, lay it on the soil and “knit” the edges of the sod to the adjacent grass by folding and pressing them together. In just a few simple steps, you can have that damaged patch of your lawn looking good as new. We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. Pack the sod into place and make sure there aren't air pockets between the sod and soil. Laying and Trimming Sod. Remove the top layer of soil, digging down about 2 inches if possible. This is done to provide enough moisture to make the sod root quickly and aid the soil to settle. Prepare the Soil. Lay your first row of sod, usually along the longest side of the yard. Using a shovel, cut a patch of the sod to fit the bald spot in your lawn. Whatever the source of the damage, sod is an inexpensive, easy way to restore the affected parts of your lawn. This does not harm the plant but might make it hard to unroll. How to care for your new sod patches: Learning how to install your sods will save you time and money, plus it is an exciting project you’ll enjoy. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. Before you lay your sod patch, remove any dead grass or yard waste that is covering the dirt. Rake slightly past the edges of the damaged area if necessary to form an even rectangular patch of soil for the sod to rest on. This is key to not having weeds growing up between your sod strips while the lawn is establishing. And if you have a tall stack of sod, it’s a good idea to rotate the pieces when watering so even the bottom pieces get a good watering if it’s going to be days before you lay the sod. Height: If you place a patch of sod directly on your lawn, it will be higher than the surrounding soil, and not only will it show, but it will dry out faster than the rest of the lawn. Lay down your sod lawn in narrow strips, starting your first row with the longest continuous fixed, straight edge (whether that’s your house, the driveway or sidewalk). Sod is sold in strips 20” wide x 40” long. This way, you can get an “instant lawn” in just a few days. Laying sod is such a fast way to start new grass that it is almost no exaggeration to say it gives you an "instant lawn. And there you have it! Press the sod down so that it’s level with the rest of your lawn, and then water it thoroughly. If you plant sod, cut a piece the size of the patch and lay it in. Bring in a top soil/ compost mix and spread it evenly through the yard. Spread 2 inches (5.1 cm) of topsoil or compost and other amendments over the soil. It’s always better to have extra material, rather than not enough. Work to smooth out any wrinkles in the sod. How Not to Sod- Beginner Mistakes Out on The Job. Autumn is an excellent time to lay sod, since the grass will have a month or so to take hold before winter’s cold halts growth for the season. Put a little organic matter around the edges to prevent them from drying out and water. Day at Work Building a Yard Make several passes in a crisscross pattern to chop the old sod and turn over the soil. The first step when laying sod is to prepare the soil. Water the prepared surface for 3 days before the sod is laid. Laying sod is hard work, so it’s no wonder why people are always hunting for a shortcut when they’re installing a fresh lawn. We’re helping doers in their home improvement projects. Water it daily for a couple of weeks and it will blend invisibly into your lawn. Unroll the sod next to a straight side. Before you lay your new sod, use a sod cutter or sharp utility knife to cut the sod to fit the space. Because these strips dry out quickly, you should pick them up or arrange for delivery as near as possible to the day you are going to lay them. All the homeowners can easily install the sod. Before we jump right in, let’s see the tools and materials needed. Make sure the edges are tightly butted up against each other, avoiding any gaps or overlaps. Yes, the sod installation process is as easy as it sounds. Keep these other points in mind when installing sod in winter: Sod left outside overnight might freeze in cold weather! It is best to install the same day you receive it, or at least tarp the unused sod to prevent the cold wind from freezing it. Apply a liberal amount of fertilizer to the soil to provide it with nutrients immediately before laying the sod. If you determined that your soil needs extra compost, organic matter, lime or sulfur … The new way to renovate your old lawn is by laying sod. Cut the edges of the area straight. Lay sod over the area, making sure to butt the pieces tightly together. Once the sod and soil are thoroughly mixed, add the topsoil and nutrients (lime or … Add 2 to 3 inches of sand to claylike soil to improve drainage. Be sure to stagger the joints between courses of sod. Use a good-quality topsoil or compost to provide a rich bed on which to lay the sod. Again, bear in mind that you can always cut more material away, but you can’t add material. Start unrolling sod along a straight edge in your lawn. Lay sod on either side of the string. A soil pH between 6 and 7.5 is ideal. Unroll it and slide it up against the first roll. Start laying turf along a straight edge, such as a patio, a fence, flower bed or driveway. One person can place pieces of sod in a wheelbarrow and roll them to the work area. 7. 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