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