6. Lay sod from back to front. Before laying any sod, apply Pacific Sod's N16-P20-K0 "Starter Fertilizer" to the entire area at the rate of 6 pounds per 1000 square feet. The sod may be layed directly on the fertilizer.
Start laying sod from the back of your property to the front along the longest straight line boundary. Should your area be irregular in shape, run a string on a straight line though the area and begin laying sod along this line. Work away from the line so as not to step on freshly laid sod. Butt edges and ends to fit tightly against each other. Stagger strips as though laying bricks to offset seams and promote better knitting together of edges. Make sure each sod piece has good contact with the soil surface. Air pockets prevent good rooting.






7. Trim edges with sharp knife. Use a sharp knife to cut sod to conform to curved boundaries around trees, sprinkler heads and cement structures. Avoid cutting sod into short or narrow strips, as smaller pieces run a greater risk of drying out and failing to root properly. When laying sod on a steep slope, use wooden pegs or sod staples to temporarily keep sod in place.






8. Water lightly and keep moist. After you've laid down about 200 square feet of sod, spray with a fine mist from your garden hose. This will prevent the sod from dehydrating before you are finished and can turn on your sprinkler system. If you have more than 1000 square feet of sod to lay, lightly mist the sod that has not been laid yet. Very hot summer temperatures can quickly harm fresh-cut sod, so it is very important to protect the sod before, during and after installation.







9. Roll the New Sod. After all the sod is laid, use a roller to ensure good contact between the soil and sod. Avoid heavy roller marks by using a roller filled with only half as much water as when you rolled the soil before the sod was installed. When you are finished, start your irrigation system.









10. Protect your investment! Water your sod as much as necessary to keep it squishy wet. And keep it that way for 7- 10 days. The sod needs this water to reestablish itself with new root growth. After 7-10 days of frequent watering, you should start to reduce your watering to a more normal schedule. This will allow the soil to firm up and give you an opportunity to mow your lawn. Depending on the growing season, a new sod lawn will need to be mowed 2-3 weeks after installation.

NOTE: Most turfgrasses require 4 to 5 hours of full sun, or an entire day of filtered light. Sodding in very shady areas will probably not be successful.