At CF Landscaping, we understand that you want your lawn to look green, clean, and fresh. But sometimes, no matter what you do, that just isn’t the case. Weeds and other lawn erosions prevent you from achieving the aesthetic value you desire for your home. Replacing your lawn with sod is the most advantageous resolution and is the fastest and easiest way to establish the perfect lawn.
Although a seeded lawn is initially cheaper, laying sod has the most economical result overall. Because of erosion, reseeding, over-seeding, and watering, recurring costs arise during maintenance of a seeded lawn. Seed can also take up to 2 to 3 weeks to germinate. Also, great care and attention are both needed for newly seeded lawns to grow into a mature, healthy lawn for you to enjoy. While it may take months before you can use your newly seeded lawn, sod can be used in up to 4 weeks. Sod also needs less water to establish than seed, saving you money on your water bill.
Now that you’ve decided to sod your lawn, let CF Landscaping help you with these 8 steps for how to lay sod and ensure your sod is laid perfectly for a long-lasting, healthy lawn. First, keep in mind that the ground must not be frozen, it is best to lay sod in the early fall or early spring, and you should give yourself at least one day to prepare and one day to lay the sod.
- Sod
- Composted organic matter
- All-purpose granular fertilizer
- Topsoil
- Shovel
- Rake and broom
- Tiller
- All-purpose granular fertilizer
- Sharp knife/sod cutter
- Lawn roller
Step 1: Prepare the Site
Step 2: Grading and Pulling up the Soil
- Using a Rototiller - This option affordable because you can rent what you need from a supply store like Home Depot. Rototillers have option to set the depth you would like to go, making it more accurate than some other methods.
- Using a Mini Excavator - Using this equipment is best reserved for someone who feels comfortable operating a Mini Excavator. When we use this machinery, we grade off 3-6 inches and put the soil straight into the wheelbarrow. We also remove the soil by placing it into a Clean Fill Bin or dumper trailer.
- Hand shoveling - You should only shovel the soil from your lawn if you are doing a small area because it's so time-consuming and can be very difficult to obtain an even finished product at the end of the project.
Step 3: Remove your Soil
Once all the soil is up, get rid of it by using a Clean Fill removal service. The roots and clods you unearth should be disposed of in this way because solid waste bins are not meant to be receptacles for such debris. If you can’t afford one immediately, at least procure a wheelbarrow to set the old turf debris aside, along with any other building materials you might have lying around.
Step 4: Add the Topsoil
After the soil and debris have been removed, bring in 3-6 inches of new topsoil to top-dress your lawn. This calculator should help you measure how much topsoil you need. Spread it around until you have at least 1 to 2-inch layers using a shovel or a dirt spreader and then rake it in. Adding topsoil to your lawn will smooth low spots and provide a fertile growing ground.
Step 5: Water the Prepared Site
Step 6: Roll your Soil
Step 7: Lay your Sod
Now you will start laying sod rolls. Make sure this is done within 6 to 12 hours of the sod arriving. You don’t want it to overheat, and if it has arrived on a pallet, it will need to be unstacked to air out. Start by laying the sod along a straight edge, such as a patio, fence, or driveway. And lay the rolls like you would do for bricklaying – staggering the joints with the seam in the middle of each row.
Work with whole pieces, laying them one at a time, end to end, and avoid walking on them as you lay them. Smooth out loose areas or wrinkles, patting down the sod so it’s flat against the soil with no air pockets between them. Once the perimeters are completed, cut the other rolls in half to stagger the short, tight seams in the middle areas. This will prevent the edges from drying out or dying. Our favourite company for sod in Ontario is Green Horizons.
Step 8: Lay your Sod
Make sure to fill in any seams and to water the newly sodded area before rolling. Use the lawn roller again to even out the sod joints and ensure solid contact between the sod roots and the soil. This is also effective for eliminating air pockets. Limit your foot traffic on the sod for the first couple weeks while it establishes.
You should also make sure to also continually water the sod daily for the first week or two. If the lawn begins to puddle, cut back to watering every other day. After the third week reduce the watering to twice weekly. If you like, you can also add more fertilizer during this process.
We offer sodding installation in the GTA, Guelph, Eramosa Area.
