by Penny B

Created on: September 20, 2008   Last Updated: August 01, 2011

For those of us who like "instant" results with just about everything, laying sod in your yard can give you an almost instant lawn in no time. Although it's somewhat more expensive than seeding, it has several benefits over starting your lawn from scratch.

Seeding can take months to see any results and even then, you might be very disappointed. Several seeds may not germinate, giving you a patchy lawn area, or you might not like the looks of the type of grass you have chosen.

It will also take months for your yard to look as you have it pictured in your mind. There will be a lot of weeds to contend with, when you start from scratch, and you will not be able to make use of your yard for several months while you are waiting for your lawn to grow strong and healthy. This could be very inconvenient, as we all want to make use of our yards during the summer months.

Once you have decided to use sod, it is basically a simple procedure. After you have measured the area of your yard and placed your order for sod from your lawn and garden center, or nursery, you will have to prepare the area you want to sod.

PREPARING YOUR YARD FOR SOD

If you presently have an old, but tired and dead looking lawn, you will have to be sure to remove it entirely, from the roots. You can rent equipment that will make the job of cutting and stripping it away a lot easier, especially if you are working with a large area. If you are only patching areas with sod, or sodding a smaller area, you can cut away the old lawn with a shovel. Then discard.

You will now have to prepare the ground area that you will be sodding. Be sure that the ground is level. You may need to purchase some topsoil to level out certain areas first.

Then rake the area well, to be sure that there are no clumps of soil, rocks, debris or protruding roots, that could leave bumps in your lawn or rip through the sod pieces.

If it's a larger area, you may have to first rototill the soil. This will ensure that any old remnants of grass and/or debris have been removed. Then rake to level out the area of clumps and debris caused by the rototilling, being sure to remove any stones or rocks that have surfaced.

The next step is to roll out the area to be sure that the soil is well packed and level. You might need to rent a roller or tamper.

Once you have the area prepared, give your yard a light sprinkling of water before laying the sod.

LAYING THE SOD

Your area should be prepared well in advance of the arrival of your sod. You don't

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