Five Steps for Sod Preparation and Installation in Ontario and Other Provinces
- Measure area for sod
- Multiply the width by the length and divide by 9 for the square footage required. This gives you your total square footage to order. Suggestion: Add 5% to the total for irregular shapes. As well, consider if you are sodding around trees, gardens or alongside walkways. You may need to cut the sod to fit the area.
- Soil preparation for sod
- Clear the site of all rocks, stones or other debris that is larger than 2 to 3 inches in diameter
- Rough grade the entire area to eliminate drainage problems by sloping the grade away from building foundations and by filling low-lying areas
- Till the existing soil to a minimum depth of at least 2 inches before adding any topsoil or soil amendments
- Add topsoil, if necessary, to achieve a total topsoil depth of 4-6 inches
- Apply "starter fertilizer" that is high in phosphate (P, or the middle number on a bag of fertilizer), at a rate recommended for the particular product. Typical starter fertilizer recommendations are (N-P-K) of 10-10-10 or 19-19-19. Lightly incorporate this starter fertilizer into the top 2-3 inches of topsoil to avoid root injury
- Lightly tamp or roll the topsoil to settle the surface and create an ideal surface for installing the sod
- Order the necessary amount of sod and schedule the delivery on the day you plan to start laying your sod
- Install day of delivery! Same-day installation of your sod is imperative to the success of establishment. Sod is a living plant that requires immediate water, nutrients, and air to live and establish itself.
- Laying your quality Dominion Construction sod
- Start at a straight line, such as a driveway or walk
- Lay out the sod as you would a rug or tiles
- Make sure all joints are butted tightly together (without overlapping or creating spaces between strips of sod)
- Stagger the joints in each row like rows of bricks
- Use a large sharp knife for shaping sod around trees, at flower beds or along borders
- Completely soak the sod with at least 1" of water. Start watering 20 minutes after the first strip is laid
- Roll the sod to smooth out small bumps and air pockets. This will assure good contact with the soil
- Immediate watering schedule
- To gauge watering, place an empty can about 6 inches away from the sprinkler
- When there is an inch of water in the can, it is time to move the sprinkler to the next area
- Reflected heat along buildings dries sod quickly. Be sure to water such areas more often
- In the summer months, during high temperatures, you cannot over water your sod. More water is better than not enough
