The finished grade (after amendments and sod added) should end up matching the level of existing fixtures—walkways, patios, and established lawn. Walk on your new lawn as little as possible, newly laid turf can be fragile for the first few weeks, especially when wet. Trim your Crape Myrtles like a pro. Seed can also be used to help with the blend. Be sure your surface is level when you are through. Water every morning for about 2 weeks and keep moist until the sod has rooted. When you lay new sod, it’s critical that the roots make direct contact with the soil so that a root system can form. Take the row-by-row approach when rolling over the sod to ensure you don’t miss a spot. Patch up a spotty yard with a little compost and sod. There are a few different techniques that can be implemented for this process-. Rake or bag clippings. Use a rototiller to loosen soil to a depth of 6 to 8 … Cut the grass in your lawn to a height of 2 inches with a lawn mower. If the sod seems higher than the surrounding lawn, remove a little soil out of the patch, smooth and try again. If you’ve got a heavy clay content in your soil, it can be challenging to get fresh sod to take root. When the grass dies, it gives off nutrients that actually benefit the new sod above it. Use a lawn roller to push sod firmly against soil beneath. New sod cannot be placed over existing growth, so to prepare your lawn, kill all the weeds and stray plant life. In fact, laying fresh sod over an existing lawn is no shortcut and could kill your sod and cause you twice as much work. Though you can add fertilizer after laying the sod, you may lose some of it due to runoff. 3. Wait patiently until the grass is at least 3 inches (7.6 cm) tall, and gently pull up on several areas of sod to confirm it is firmly attached. Dig Organic Matter Into Soil. It’s a lot of work, but it will get the job done. Should You Fire Your Landscaper? Properly eliminating your old lawn before laying new sod is the first critical step in ensuring that your new sod grows a strong root system. Homeowners Guide: Planning a Successful Landscape Design. If you are really determined to remove that grass, and don't want to use chemicals or can't use a tiller, then a shovel may just be your best option. Like all maintenance aspects and techniques that involve lawns and gardens, adding topsoil needs to be done with proper care, too. Using a shovel, cut a patch of the sod to fit the bald spot in your lawn. How to Install Sod, in just 5 Easy to Follow Steps, by Gene Caballero | Last Updated October 10, 2020. Overseeding is spreading grass seed over an existing lawn. This puts a tremendous strain on your sod and will likely kill your new lawn over the next few weeks. To install sod on an existing lawn, cut any existing grass low, and level out any holes or step dips in the yard. Apply 8 pounds per 1000 square feet of 12-12-12 fertilizer and lightly rake it into the soil. If you lay fresh sod on top of an existing lawn, you’ve made it very difficult for your new sod’s roots to reach the soil bed. Your home center should be able to provide you with the proper mixture. Once your new sod has died on top of your previous lawn, you'll now have to remove two layers of sod to get any new grass to take root. Once the lawn is mowed, you’ll want to use a rototiller to till the entire lawn about four to six inches in depth. Check out our watering tips and care advice for your new sod to make sure your lawn stays healthy, strong and weed-free. Mow your existing lawn as short as possible to remove vegetation. Place it over the problem area. To install sod on an existing lawn, cut any existing grass low, and level out any holes or step dips in the yard. Worry less about the little spaces between the rolls. You’re going to be tilling up clumps of the old root system, so you’ll want to remove those as you work. Of course, if you're lucky enough to get some rain, you will not need to water on that particular day. Make sure you water in the new sod for at least one hour per day for the first 10 days, otherwise the investment in your new turf grass will most likely perish, as newly laid sod needs tons of water while it is "rooting" to your lawn. Usually this will be about 1 inch below the fixed edge you are installing around. Remember to water your sod as soon as you have an area large enough for your sprinkler to cover. Thorough watering is crucial to your new lawn’s ability to develop strong roots. Join the party! Remove the Old Grass. Copyright © 2020 GreenPal. Using a glyphosphate like Round Up you can spray your existing lawn, and sod over the dead grass. At this point, you’ll notice that the underlying layer of sod, instead of decomposing, turned into a matted slimy mess instead of composted nutrients. Rake up all grass clippings and cut vegetation from your site. You may have already done this in step one of How to Install Sod, but if you have not be sure to now. Fill up a bucket and then gently spread the topsoil over the area. Tilling the soil will help mix in the topsoil … Instantly renew your lawn by installing sod. Use a rototiller to till the top 4 inches (10 cm) of the soil. Next, put down a thin layer of high-quality topsoil and grade all of your lawn's surface so that it’s nice and level and free from any holes or high spots. If you live where rocks and roots are not an issue, you can use a tiller or bedscaper, to till existing grass into the soil. Mark the area you will … This type of lawn preparation is timely, but may be the best way to really give your sod a head start. 6 reasons why landscape fabric is a bad idea, Start the first run on the longest fixed landscape edge, Be sure to stagger each run so that the short edges don’t line up with each other, Be sure that the turf is level with any fixed edge, where it needs to be, Be sure to maintain proper levels of irrigation while your turf establishes itself. Keep in mind that the smaller the piece you patch, the faster it will dry out. Cut the edges of the area straight. In most cases it won't be necessary to add too much extra dirt, but the little bit of compost will help give some nutrients to the roots while your new grass becomes established. But remember you will need make the sod level with any edges such as walkways, driveways, or any other surface level with the ground. Professional landscapers often apply sod directly over grass. Pro Tip: Lay your new roll of sod over the top of the area to be patched. Start by watering the area and spraying an herbicide over the entire yard. Shutterstock/Pfeiffer. Once your lawn is established, follow the. This includes children and pets. Many people assume that the underlying lawn will die and provide some nutrients for the fresh sod, but that's not the case. If you are installing your grass during the summer months, you'll need to double the watering to at least twice a day for a one hour duration to compensate for the high temperatures . Limit traffic on the sod for the first three weeks while it’s establishing. Make the soil ½ inch lower than the neighbors existing grass so the sod will be about the same height. How to Place Sod Over Existing Grass. Sod grass requires soil contact in order to thrive. Sod was used in places where 2 inches or more of soil needed to be added. The sod compresses the grass and limits its exposure to sunlight and water. Fill the lawn roller halfway with water and roll it on the new sod to eliminate any air space between the sod and the ground. Once everything is nice and level, you need to apply a turf starter fertilizer that’s right for the kind of sod you’ll be laying. Wait about 2 weeks before cutting the grass. Don't miss HGTV in your favorite social media feeds. In my experience if you have an existing lawn it is not always necessary to remove it, in order to install sod,as long as you can level the ground with some organic material. Bring in a top soil/ compost mix and spread it evenly through the yard. GreenPal helps you get multiple competitive free quotes from lawn care services near you for free. At GreenPal, we're helping hundreds of thousands of Americans solve one of the trickiest problems: a reliable, fast, and affordable way to get lawncare taken care of. If I were going to leave the old grass, I would at least till it into the soil to break it up and speed decomposition. Here Are Four Pro Tips. Start with the longest fixed edge or any edge in the landscape that can not be moved e.x. Once you have decided on your turf and had it delivered, you are now ready to install your new greenery. Laying sod is hard work, so it’s no wonder why people are always hunting for a shortcut when they’re installing a fresh lawn. Get our best gardening advice and outdoor ideas delivered straight to your inbox. Learn how to inspect and replace damaged risers and heads in a lawn sprinkler system. Since most struggling lawns need soil improvement before you add sod, you'll end up digging up and removing most of the remaining grass anyway and might as well clear away all of it for a fresh start. Be sure to add enough to make up for the soil you removed, but still leave enough space so that your sod will be level with the rest of … When the grass dies, it gives off nutrients that actually benefit the new sod above it. Trying to lay sod over existing grass leads to drying and dead roots as the new layer struggles to reach the soil below. Fertilizers are essential for a green lawn as they aid your new sod with nutrient uptake and improve the soils PH, which allows the roots to establish themselves deeper in the soil, leading to a healthier, happier, and greener lawn. HGTV shares tips for getting the perfect lawn. garden beds, house, sidewalk etc. This quickly kills the already existing grass in much the same way that a brick left on a lawn kills the grass beneath it. Properly eliminating your old lawn before laying new sod is the first critical step in ensuring that your new sod grows a strong root system. As grasses mature, thinning is normal—especially if you enjoy your lawn and use it often. We’ll help you develop a system to stay on top of the most important part of lawn care. The sod compresses the grass and limits its exposure to sunlight and water. Done right, it's a straightforward process that gets results. Start by mowing your old lawn as short as you safely can. In order for sod to survive, it has to be able to form a root system. Mow once the grass is at least 3 inches (7.6 cm). Privacy Policy. For the remaining weeds in the lawn, you can look to treat it with the herbicide that contains all the active ingredients, dicamba, MCPP or glyphosate. Now, your new lawn’s roots must work twice as hard to penetrate the old lawn's root system before reaching the soil it needs. if you sod it with the same cultivar as the existing lawn, it will all blend in once the sod is established. Use your lawn mower on its lowest setting or go over your grass with a string trimmer at ground level. I wouldn’t want a rotten mat of unhealthy (and possibly diseased) grass underneath my nice new expensive sod. To lay a perfect sod, here are some essential guidelines on how to lay sods over an existing lawn Lay a sod at one end of your lawn and start to unroll it from the other side. This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook shows how to create a lush, new lawn with sod. We'll show you how with this step-by-step installation guide. Reduce the height of grass to allow for easier raking and seeding. View Entire Discussion (3 Comments) Should your lawn care company haul off the lawn clippings? In order to do this, your sod needs to have contact with the soil beneath it. Removing your old lawn before laying new sod is crucial for a healthy root system. If you're adding topsoil to fix dead patches, you'll only need to add a 1/8- to 1/4-inch layer of topsoil over dead or dying areas. Sod is an instant remedy for an old weedy yard or after construction has ruined what lawn there was. Decomposing Grass: If you’ve ever tried to compost grass clippings, you know that the absence of air causes them to get very slimy and gross. It is also essential that a fresh sod should be given proper nutrients to thrive and grow. 4. So, in theory, it makes sense to simply mow your lawn short and lay new sod right over the existing lawn. . Don't make these 4 mistakes. Be sure that edges along any paths, parts of the driveway, or garden beds are dug down enough that when the sod is laid it will be even with the surface. Mowing before the roots are well established can pull them out of the soil and damage your sod. People often think that laying sod over an existing lawn makes sense and saves time. Sprinkler heads should stick up about ½ inch. On behalf of GreenPal, I've been featured in the Indianapolis Star, the Sacramento Bee, Entrepreneur, Inc.com, and dozens more. Getting Started. You’ll need to rake any loose debris again during this process. Learn why it's important to read the chemical label prior to pesticide use. A strong and healthy root system makes your lawn more resilient, less maintenance and more attractive. Adding topsoil to an existing lawn does involve a careful process, and there are a couple of little things you should know before you go ahead with it. That translates to between 0.4 and 0.8 cubic yards of topsoil for every 1,000 square feet of lawn. © 2020 Discovery or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Rake the yard thoroughly, collect all remaining debris and place it in the bin. Use your shovel to cut down through the new sod and the existing grass below at the same time. Water the area, then amend the soil by working in either compost, leaf mold or fine-milled peat moss to a depth of 3" to 5". There are three ways to remove your existing lawn-. Although it can be the easiest way to have a new, fresh lawn, laying sod over an existing one would not be the best option. All rights reserved. You’ll want your sod to rest about an inch below any hardscapes like walkways or sidewalks, so take that into consideration as you grade your surface. Plant Grass if Needed. Before laying sod, the old grass and a bit of the old soil beneath it has to … Now you can replant grass in any bare spots. But first you'll need to do a little prep work. If you have a fescue lawn, sod it with fescue, etc. If you need help deciding on a turf variety check out our turf variety guide. Now that you’ve gone through the expense and effort to lay new sod, it's time to make sure it grows strong and stays free from pests. Now that your fertilizer is laid down, you can start laying your sod. Start by mowing your old lawn as short as you safely … If you will be replanting with seed and adding one inch of amendments then the grade should be one inch lower than your fixtures. Tips and insight from the manager of one of the most famous baseball fields in the country. 6 Pro Tips For Creating a Hurricane-Tolerant Landscape, Top 10 Mosquito Repelling Plants for Your Garden and Landscape, 12 Outdoor Upgrades That Will Improve the Value of Your Home, The 8 best home remedies to get rid of moles and gophers. This quickly kills the already existing grass in much the same way that a brick left on a lawn kills the grass beneath it. Please feel free to say hi on Twitter or connect with me on LinkedIn. While your at it add some compost and fertilizer, and mix it in. Overseeding keeps your lawn competitive and steeped in … Steps to lay the new sod over existing lawn: Begin by clearing your lawn from debris, twigs, rubbish, and rock etc. Existing grass should be able … Hi, I'm Gene Caballero and I'm the co-founder of GreenPal Here’s what you need to know. Bag or rake as many clippings as possible and make sure to remove any loose debris like sticks or rocks from the lawn as you work. Bring in a top soil/ compost mix and spread it evenly through the yard. Get started today and get your lawn mowed with out making a phone call. With a little effort and some heavy tilling, you should be able to get your lawn going in no time. You should go on to pull as many weeds as you can do manually. Fertilizing now will allow all of your fertilizer to get fully beneath the surface to feed the roots. Start a new roll immediately where the roll finished. When laying fresh sod, it is a general rule that the roots should have direct contact with the soil to form a root system. Your surface has been leveled and prepared, and it’s time to unroll your brand new lawn! (See below for a shopping list and tools. Pick the best place to start unrolling the sod that minimizes the amount you might have to carry. Your fresh sod will be unable to reach the soil to develop roots. If you install sod on top of your existing lawn, the existing grass forms a layer between your sod and the soil beneath. Check out some of GreenPal’s other articles. A tight connection between sod and soil is the secret to roots knitting quickly into soil. Then, lay compost atop the lawn and let it sit for a few weeks to fully suppress the soil. In areas where we put down less than 2 inches, the old grass will grow through and blend with the sod (under 2 to 3 inches). Though it is generally thought to be OK to lay sod over an existing lawn, some landscapers and homeowners prefer to remove any existing lawn before installation of sod. Instantly renew and level out your lawn by laying sod. We'll show you how. Using scissors, clippers or a knife cut your edge in, laying the sod parallel to the longest fixed edge. A strong and healthy root system makes your lawn more resilient, less maintenance and more attractive. Use a utility knife to cut out sod that is placed over irrigation heads or any other obstruction on your lawn. Merge the edges of the sod with the surrounding grass by pressing it with your hands. Tips for reducing the sneeze-makers in your landscape. The biggest part of the job is tilling the old lawn. All rights reserved. Spruce up your outdoor space with products handpicked by HGTV editors. 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