sod > installation Installation Guide: 7 Easy Steps to a Beautiful Lawn
Step 1: Bare the Area
Your 3D SOD BLEND should be laid on bare soil. This can be achieved 4 ways:
1. Rototill, rake, debris, level surface, lay sod.
 2. Use "clear-it" (glyphosate) on a thin lawn. When all the green is killed, just rake the area and lay your 3D SOD BLEND.
3. Rent a small sod harvester and remove the old turf to make way for the new sod.
4. Set your mower very low to the ground. Mow and rake off debris. Put down a thin, good quality layer of top soil before sodding.
Step 2: Grade Surfaces
 Carefully level all surface to be sodded. Soil surfaces should be 1 inch below walks, patios, and driveways, to accommodate 3D SOD BLEND thickness. A light rolling will show up soil depressions or surface irregularities. These can then be leveled.
Step 3: Fertilize the Area
 Your free turf starter fertilizer can be applied either on soil surface or on top of sod after it is down. Fertilizer will be used by sod over the next few days as it is watered. Apply fertilizer evenly at the recommended rate. Rake in lightly. Be sure the soil is even and smooth before laying 3D SOD BLEND. Use Greenhorizons turf starter fertilizer for best results.
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Watering newly layed sod:
• Water is the single most important tip for successful sod installation.
• Water Immediately! Our basic rule has always been: a half inch of water in the first 10-15 minutes is better than 6 inches of water a few hours later.
• Water Deeply! To maximize results, the ground must be kept moist. |
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• Check to see if water has penetrated the sod by lifting a corner and checking the ground underneath.
Sod laying tips ...
• Don't overlap
• In brick-work fashion
• Stagger your joints
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Step 4: Lay Sod
 Begin laying sod as soon as possible upon delivery, especially in the spring (May, June) to avoid damage from heating. Sod that will remain stacked on a pallet for an extended period of time must be unstacked to allow air circulation.
Lay the first strip of 3D SOD BLEND along a straight line (use string for a guide). Butt joints tightly; do not overlap edges. When laying second strip, stagger joints, much as in laying bricks. Use a sharp knife to cut sod to fit curves, edges, sprinkler heads, etc. Don't overlap.
Step 5: Water, Water, Water!
 If a large area is being sodded with 3D SOD BLEND, do not wait until the entire area is laid before watering. As soon as a "sprinkler-sized" area is laid, begin watering it. Then go on to the next section. On a hot day do not leave laid sod for more than an hour without water. On a cooler, overcast day, do not leave it for more than 2 hours. Increasing sod laying success by a whopping 99% by watering!
Step 6: Roll New Sod
 Roll your new GREENHORIZONS lawn to even out the turf joints and to ensure good contact between turf roots and the soil. Rolling is also effective in eliminating air pockets.
Step 7: Keep Moist
 Keep your new 3D SOD BLEND well watered for at least two to three weeks. This will assist the turf edges to knit and the roots to become established. Now you're ready to enjoy years of pleasure with your beautiful new Greenhorizons lawn!
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