How to Lay Sod

In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook shows how to create a lush, new lawn with sod.

Steps for Laying Sod

1. Remove old grass from lawn with a cutter mattock.
2. Run a rotary tiller over the area to loosen up the top 6 to 8 inches of soil.
3. Spread 1-inch layer of compost over the area. One cubic yard of compost covers 300 square feet at 1 inch thick.
4. Use rake to fill low spots and smooth out high spots of compost.
5. Apply lime to the area using a walk-behind broadcast spreader.
6. Use a walk-behind spreader to apply starter fertilizer.
7. Unroll first roll of sod starting along the edge of the lawn.
8. Continue to unroll sod, making sure to press the joints tightly together.
9. Stagger the joints between courses of sod.
10. When laying sod around curves, line up the sod along inside edge of curve, then use a snap-off utility knife to cut through excess sod at inside corner.
11. Water the sod every day for the first week, every other day for the second week, and then 1 inch of water per week.

Tools

You may choose to rent a power tiller from Home Depot.