Sod Away

Tips for what to do with leftover sod.

Figure A

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"As you can see, the sod-busting project I tackled earlier (figure A) has left me with a whole bunch of sod," says master gardener Paul James. So the question is, what to do with it all? "Well, just like we did with the leftovers from last night's dinner, I'm going to put it to good use. After all, this turf is still alive and well. And so long as you don't let the roots dry out too much, it'll bounce back in no time in a new spot."

Figure B

For example, James did a lot of grading work on this spot (figure B) a few weeks ago, and had a rock wall installed. Both projects left him with many bare spots.

Figure C

To prepare the area for the sod, James first removes any weeds (figure C).

Figure D

Then, he rakes the soil to loosen it up a bit and allows the sod to make (figure D) soil contact.

Figure E

He waters the area lightly. With that done, James positions sections of leftover sod over the area, piecing them together (figure E) for a nice fit. And of course, he waters it again.

You can also use sections of sod--both large and small--to make repairs in your lawn where the grass is less than ideal.

Figure F

And even if your lawn is perfect, you can still put the sod to good use. Just flip the sections of sod soil-side-up, stack them in a sunny spot, water well (figure F), and cover the pile with black plastic or landscaping fabric. And in a few weeks the grass will decompose and you'll end up with compost.