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Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard

Sod can dry out quickly, so have it delivered early in the morning on the day you plan on installing it (and no earlier than the evening before).

If you want a new lawn and prefer instant results, installing rolled turf (or sod) is the fastest means to a gorgeous green yard. After all, sod is just adult grass. Only it’s grown at turf farms and carefully harvested below the root zone in 6- to 8-foot-long, 2-foot-wide, 1- to 3-inch-thick strips (depending on the sod farm’s cutting equipment). When your sod is installed properly, you’ll get immediate impact – and a great-looking yard!

But sod installation isn’t for procrastinators or those who can’t commit. To be successful with sod, you should order the amount you need (typically in increments of 100 square feet plus about 10 percent extra) at least a week ahead of when you plan to install it. And do plan on installing the day it’s delivered – because sod is rolled or folded for delivery, it generates heat and can start dying within a day – especially in warm weather and especially if it’s not kept sufficiently moist. After just two days from its receipt, sod can begin to deteriorate significantly. The point is you need to pick a day for installation and commit to it 100 percent or you’ll risk losing a sizable investment!

Another thing to note with sod is that you’ll be limited in your turfgrass selection when you order. Most sod is a single species of grass, or a blend of cultivars, rather than a blend of grasses. This means it’s more prone to disease. Since you’ve got a lot at stake, purchase only certified turfgrass from a recommended sod supplier. (The good thing about working with a reputable sod farm is that it will take back or make good on problem strips.) Since sod farms aren’t that easy to find, particularly if you live in an urban area, rely on your local home improvement store’s garden center for help, or ask your local Extension Office for assistance.

Before your sod arrives, make sure your soil bed is fully prepared for planting. It must be tilled, amended, leveled, raked, topcoated and rolled. Several days before planting, water your soil thoroughly. You need to install sod on moist, but not wet, soil.

Make sure your turf is delivered either early in the day or the night before planting. When it arrives, examine samples for weedy grasses, any signs of disease or bugs and any grass type different from what you ordered. Reject pieces that are yellowed or bluish-green, have holes or tears in them, fall apart as you pick them up, or are too dry. If you find these problems with a number of strips, reject the entire lot.

If you approve of the sod, you’re ready to go! Grab a thin sheet of plywood to kneel on as you go to avoid trampling the turf, as well as a sharp sod knife to cut the strips. Then follow the steps outlined in the accompanying photos and captions.