Lawn (Sod) Installation
Lay Sod:
Begin to install your sod immediately after delivery. Start laying your sod along a straight edge such as a walkway or driveway. Butt edges and ends tightly together, do not overlap. Stagger joints similar to rows of bricks to offset seams. Use a sharp knife to cut and shape sod around curves, trees and borders, etc.
Hot summer temperatures can wilt fresh sod, so keep your sod moist as you lay it down!
Trim Edges:
Trim edges with your sod knife to fit around curves and leave clean, trimmed edges around sprinkler heads, driveways, etc. Avoid cutting sod into short or narrow strips because smaller pieces tend to dry out and fail to root properly.
Roll Sod:
When all the sod is installed, use a roller over the entire lawn to ensure a good contact between the sod and native soil. Rolling will smooth and level your sod and press out air spaces below the sod.
Water New Sod:
Start watering within 30 minutes even if all the sod isn't installed yet, to prevent wilting and drying. Never, never let the sod dry out and kill the tender grass roots. After you have laid about 200 square feet of sod, mist it with a garden hose before you finish the whole job to prevent the new sod from drying out.
Water your sod as much as necessary to keep it squishy wet for 10 days. The sod needs this water to re-establish itself with new root growth. Avoid watering at night. After 10 days of frequent watering, you can return to your normal schedule.
Mowing New Sod
Be sure to allow the soil to firm up to give you an opportunity to mow your lawn. A new sod lawn should be mowed two weeks after installation.