Step 10 – Tamper the Edges of Sod. Clear off any debris on the soil while you wait for the soil test results. Many people assume that the underlying lawn will die and provide some nutrients for the fresh sod, but that's not the case. Order your landscape tools online. Unroll the first piece of sod next to a driveway or a street. When purchased in rolls, sod tries to keep growing after being rolled. It seems they don't want to get out of the skid loader and grab a shovel and rake and do it right! The usual procedure for laying sod is, as you mention, soil preparation first, so that would mean digging over, raking off any debris, removing any weed roots, levelling off, then walking all over it on your heels to get out soft spots, re rake/levelling and then laying the turf (sod, we call it turf here...). Send in your soil sample a month before you plan on laying down the sod so you have time to get the results back. Sodding Basics 101 Covers- What to watch out for- PLUS watering, mowing, grading, how to deep to lay black dirt, sod patterns, How to remove old sod & MORE! Discussion in 'Building' started by darby, 30 Jun 2009. darby. It will allow for the viscosity of the sod roll. by Allison Fortner. The 2-inch (50mm) layer of Capillary Concrete meets the edge of the bunker. You don’t want to have sod higher than their neighboring surfaces. Rent a sod cutter to remove the grass and its roots. Once the first row is finished, start the second row with a half cut before working down alongside the first row. 16. Sod is about an inch thick, so level it with your old turf. How do you tamp down sod? OP’s posts: See next | See all Add message | Report | See all. Some people don't take the time to do the hand work to prep next to sidewalks and driveways. Lay Sod Lay first strip of sod slabs along a straight line (use a string in irregular areas). I notice people really cut corners when they have to remove an existing lawn to lay sod. I am having a new concrete driveway and foundation set for a detached garage. To achieve that, simpluy leave soil 2 inches below any cement, flagstone, walks and driveways. So, in theory, it makes sense to simply mow your lawn short and lay new sod right over the existing lawn. 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. Answered 16th Jan 2012 Like 6. 13. Make sure that individual strips of sod are closely butted together, but do not allow them to overlap. Cheap and versatile and easy to pour, concrete will last you years down the road. In this video we show you the basics of how to Lay sod down, a great job for any DIYer! If your lawn has an irregular shape, run a string across the center of the lawn area, with each end of the string attached to a stake. Published Aug 1, 2017. The concrete grid holds soil and grass in place even on steep slopes while providing good traction for wheelbarrows and lawn mowers. After finish grading, roll with a water-filled lawn roller to firm up the soil enough to be walked on. 11 Posts . We are going to be pouring a new concrete walkway next to an existing asphalt driveway. Sod that rests too high next to concrete will dry out and die. Discussion Starter • #1 • Sep 18, 2015. Did this help you out? Now, after laying the first row of sod, rake the soil smooth and start the second row. Before laying new sod, you must completely remove the old grass so that the sod has fresh, clean soil to grow on. The finished look of the sod requires that the grade next to the concrete is prepared properly. To simply mow your lawn fill in properly to keep growing after rolled. Room for the second row work it into the grass with your old turf bud... Grade next to a walk or driveway, so level it with a lawn tractor to smooth large.... 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