Like many home improvement projects, the hardest part of laying sod is the preparation. Unless you want your expensive new lawn to die or grow in with a patchy appearance, you will take the time to prepare your lawn correctly before you lay your sod. One of the most important aspects of sod preparation is learning when to lay the sod.
Before You Lay the Sod
The first thing you need to do before you even think about buying your sod is to prepare your lawn. If you already have grass in place, you might need to cut it out – if you don’t, the sod might not be able to access the nutrients in the soil, and it could die. After removing the existing grass, you’ll need to make sure that your soil is in good condition. Send a sample of your soil to a lab for testing to find out the pH and the nutrient content. The best pH level for new sod is slightly acidic – between 6 and 7.5 on the pH scale. You may also want to till the soil so it is properly aerated in preparation for your sod.
When to Lay the Sod
In terms of the time of year that is best for laying sod, you really have a lot of flexibility to work with. As long as the weather is warm, it is a good time to lay sod – this generally means that you can lay sod during the spring, summer, or fall (even the winter in mild climates). Once you’ve prepared your soil, you can then purchase your sod – just keep in mind that you need the lay the sod quickly after you buy it. Ideally, you should purchase sod that has been cut within 24 hours, and you should try to lay it the same day for the best results. You’ll need to accurately measure your yard ahead of time to make sure you have enough sod to finish the job the first time around.
Laying sod is not exactly an easy task, but it can be made simpler with the right preparation. Just be sure to prepare your soil and measure your yard before you order your sod, then lay it as quickly as possible after purchase.
