Resodding a Lawn

lawn sod (amount varies depending on size of lawn)
sprinkler timer
PVC cement
3/4-inch PVC pipe $8.00 $8.00
1-inch PVC pipe $8.00 $8.00
assorted 1-inch and 3/4-inch PVC adapters
assorted PVC fittings

Tools:

rakes
rotary tiller
shovels
sod roller
garden hose

1. Clear the area where you'll be installing sod. Renting a rotary tiller will make the job go much quicker. Put on safety glasses and till the area exposing fresh dirt below (figure A).

2. After tilling, rake the soil to remove any sticks and clumps of old grass. If there is live grass under the sod, it will die and rot and poison the roots of the new sod, causing brown spots.

3. Spray the area with water to moisten the soil. Laying sod down on dry dirt will cause the new sod to die.

4. Begin laying strips of sod. Offset the seams in each row, as you would if you were laying bricks for a wall (figure B). If you need to install sod around a patio or landscape feature, trim it just like you would carpet using a utility knife (figure C).

5. Keep the sod moist as you lay it, and hose it down after you're finished. Keep the seams tight, they will dry out faster than the center of the sod panels if they are left exposed.

6. Run a sod roller over the area to compact the soil of the new sod into the existing soil of the yard (figure D).

7. If your lawn has an irrigation system, install an automated time to ensure your yard gets regular doses of water.