- My name's Aaron Massey from mrfixitdiy.com,
and welcome back to another episode of Home School'd.
For today's project, I'm gonna show you
how to install sod in your yard.
(upbeat music)
As part of my recent backyard renovation,
I chose to install sod
to add a nice lawn area in the backyard,
so today I'm gonna show you
all the steps required to install sod
at your home.
Sod is a popular option in many renovations
because it gives you the option
of having an instant green lawn,
without going through the long process
of seeding and growing a lawn.
I rate these projects by how many f-bombs
you're likely to drop while tackling the project,
this one isn't too difficult,
but it is a bit labor-intensive
depending on the state and size of your project
and if you are replacing a current lawn
or starting from scratch.
In this case, I'm starting with a newly created area
that I added with the construction
of some retaining walls,
so the first step for me was to add fill dirt
to bring the area up to grade
and compact it to minimize settling.
Now if you're replacing a current lawn,
your first step will be to kill the existing lawn
and remove it.
You can't install sod over existing grass
because the existing lawn will decompose underneath
and it will heat up during that process,
which will kill the sod above it.
Once you've killed and removed the existing lawn,
you can then use a rototiller to prep the area
and loosen the existing soil.
In my case, I brought the grade up
by using basic fill dirt
and then added a few inches of topsoil
to bring it up to the grade that I needed.
You'll also need to make sure
you have irrigation installed in the sod area,
if you're living in a dry climate.
Sod requires regular watering to successfully root,
so having an irrigation system or regular watering schedule
is necessary for your success.
You'll need to make sure your irrigation system
has head-to-head coverage,
so that there are no dry spots between heads,
so that your sod is fully watered.
I'm not gonna go into a great amount of detail
on an irrigation system in this video,
but if you'd like some tips
for how to install a sprinkler system,
I've done a video on that,
which you can find at the link
in the description down below.
From there, use a large rake
to fine grade the area.
Depending on the sod you choose,
you'll wanna make sure the finished grade
is that thickness below any walkways or driveways,
in my case, the finished grade is half an inch
below the surrounding patio.
Next apply a sod fertilizer or seed starter
over the area, and then use a roller
to settle and firm the surface.
You can typically rent a roller like this
from Home Depot for around 20 bucks a day.
Measure the area you'll be installing
and order your sod.
Many sod distributors can deliver same day or next day,
and once it arrives, begin installing it immediately
as it needs to be installed before drying out
and wilting in the sun.
Make sure you have a few hours or the full day set aside
to tackle the project in one go
when deciding when to have the sod delivered
or when you go pick it up.
In this case, I'm installing a Marathon II Sod
which is a year-round green fescue
that is dense, durable, and quick to recover.
I recommend finding a sod dealer in your area
that can help you choose which sod is best
for your application and your climate.
Sod pricing can vary greatly
depending on the area that you're in,
so do some research on the front end
for expected pricing for your area.
Start by laying the sod along the longest edge
or boundary first,
and stagger each new row in a brick-like pattern.
Cut the sod around any obstacles or edges
with a large knife or a spade shovel.
I found using a drywall knife actually worked pretty well,
you just have to clean it really well afterwards.
Make sure you're bumping the edges
of each piece of sod tightly to those around it,
and water lightly
once you've installed every 200 square feet of sod.
Once you've covered the entire area,
use the roller to roll the entire area
and ensure solid contact between the sod
and the soil beneath it.
Next, turn on the sprinkler system
and let it run until the sod is good and soaked.
Once it's installed, check the recommended guidelines
for watering schedule of your chosen sod.
Try to water your sod as early in the morning as possible
but not before 4 am,
and try not to water it during the heat of the day as well.
Even though it may seem a little early,
make sure you cut the sod a week after installation
or once it reaches around
three to three and a half inches tall,
and fertilize it once a month thereafter
for best results.
And that's it, you are finished with this project.
Thank you guys for watching,
and if it's your first time visiting the channel,
please hit that subscribe button,
and also hit that notification bell
so you never miss out
on any of the new content I put out,
and as always,
I encourage you to leave me a comment down below,
let me know what you thought of this project
and what types of project you'd like to see me tackle next.
Thank you so much for watching,
I'll see you next time.
(upbeat country music)