Sod Installation
Everyone wants a yard with beautiful, healthy, green grass that their whole family can enjoy every summer. To achieve this picturesque dream yard, a few things need to be kept in mind during the initial sod installation process, including getting a new irrigation system installed, soil preparation, grading of the soil, laying the sod rolls and providing all the necessary nutrients and water new grass craves.
If you are getting new sod installed, you should also be considering a new irrigation system so that your sod has a much higher chance of survival, without you having to do the physical task of hand watering. This system should be installed prior to any soil prep work (please visit our Irrigation page for more information).
Soil Preparation
The first step of sod installation proves to be the most important part of guaranteeing a healthy and well-established yard of sod for years to come. The amount of work required in this step depends on what type of soil surrounds your house - is the soil hard and compact? Is it full of clay? Or is it relatively loose and healthy? Especially in Colorado, we are used to seeing all of these variations in multiple neighborhoods. Lucky for you, they can all be properly prepared for a top-notch sod installation.
Let’s talk here about a difficult, clay-like landscape since this takes the most effort and is the most common type of soil in Colorado. We begin by removing any and all rocks and weeds from the area to be sodded. Once the landscape is clear of any debris, we bring in a new, healthy soil with compost mixed in (the stinkier the better). Next, we rototill the ground 4-6 inches deep. Rototilling not only breaks apart the hard clumped soil but also mixes the new soil into the old soil and creates crucial air pockets in the soil for roots to grow into. These pockets also help retain water so that both the soil and sod are able to hold the moisture for a longer period.
Now, the original soil has been broken apart, the new soil has been brought and mixed in and the area has been graded (removing any high or low spots and to ensure proper drainage), the next step is to spread a vital nutrient over the freshly amended soil. This is essential in helping the sod establish new strong roots.
The final step of soil preparation before installing sod is to turn on your newly installed sprinkler system. This is the best time to make sure the system is working properly and to adjust all the heads ensuring that all the required areas are getting proper coverage. This watering session also helps hydrate the soil for the thirsty new sod that is to come.
Laying the Sod
Now that your landscape has a healthy even layer of soil, it is time to install the sod (surprisingly the easiest step). During this step it is important that foot traffic on the new soil and the newly laid sod rolls should be as minimal as possible. Begin by laying one full row of sod, making sure to not leave any open gaps or overlap any edges in between rolls. The next row should be staggered (cutting one roll in half so that the edges do not line up), this is to reduce possible movement of the sod during establishment - continue this for every row. For every few rows completed, give the newly installed sod a quick soak with a garden hose to keep it hydrated until installation is complete.
When working around a curved edge, a sidewalk, or even a sprinkler head, the most effective way of cutting the sod roll is from the under-side (it proves easier to get a straight edge than cutting through the grass blades). One roll at a time becomes one row at a time and soon enough the whole area will be a lush green utopia.
Quick and easy tip: one person brings sod rolls over; one person lays them out.
Finishing Up
Once all the new sod rolls are perfectly laid out, you have a beautiful new yard to enjoy - almost! To finalize the installation, cover the new sod with a thin layer of starter fertilizer and give the new landscape a proper soak with the irrigation system. Your sod should stay well soaked for the first few weeks after installation.
Arguably the most difficult part of the whole sod installation process is the first few weeks following. This immediate time after the installation, the sod needs to be mostly untouched - if dogs or kids are running over the newly placed sod, this can move the individual rolls, slowing proper root development. But after just a few weeks of being properly watered and receiving minimal foot traffic, the roots should be well-established for your family to now enjoy the beautiful green grass!
