Sod offers a quick solution for homeowners seeking an extreme makeover for lawns affected by Virginia’s hot, dry, summer weather. If you are considering replacing or repairing your lawn with sod, now is the time to get started. “Late fall is the absolute best time to establish new sod,” says Wendy White, office manager at Toad Hollow Sod Farm in King William County. “It is easier on the homeowner because we have more regular rainfall, and there is less heat to stress the new grass.” Although laying your own sod may sound like a daunting task, it becomes less so once you break it down into manageable steps.

If you lay your sod now, come spring you will have a lush green carpet like this. Following maintenance instructions is crucial.

1. PLANNING The first step is to evaluate the site in order to choose the best sod for your location. You must determine if the site has adequate sunlight and whether it is a high-traffic area. “Turf-type tall fescue is what most homeowners want because it stays green year-round,” says White. “Zoysia and bermuda are good choices for heavy traffic areas, but they turn brown in winter,” she explains.

A soil test will provide a detailed analysis of your soil’s nutrients, composition, and pH level. “Your soil is the basis for success or failure for your lawn, so this is not the place for shortcuts” says Mike Likins, Chesterfield County extension agent. A soil test costs about $10, and results come back in a week to 10 days. Most county libraries have free test instruction kits, or you can call your local county extension office for test information. Timing is crucial in sod installation, so you must coordinate your schedule with the sod delivery. Sod should be cut, delivered or picked up, and installed all in the same day, so orders must be placed in advance with sod farms or nurseries. Customers may purchase sod by the roll or by the pallet. Frog Hollow Sod Farm sells a pallet of turf-type tall fescue for pickup for $225. It covers 75 square yards. Or, customers may purchase a single roll for $3, which is 16 inches wide and 81 inches long.

2. PREPARATION The existing lawn must be treated with an herbicide to kill any remaining grass and weeds. A second application may be necessary two weeks after the first one. Once the grass is dead, a sod cutter or tiller can be used to remove debris before you prepare the soil.

Once cleared, the soil should be adequately prepared. First, remove rocks and debris. Next, add one to two inches of organic matter such as topsoil or compost, depending on the recommendations from your soil test. Blend the organic matter four to six inches deep into the soil with a tiller. Clear the site again to remove rocks and root clumps, and break up large clods of dirt. Using a wide rake, smooth and level the surface. Soil should be about an inch lower than your cement driveway, sidewalk or patio to accommodate the new sod.

3. LAYING THE SOD Pallets of sod should be kept uncovered and in a shaded area with good air circulation. If you are covering the entire yard, begin in the backyard and work your way to the front. Lay sod along a straight boundary, such as a driveway, or use string to create a straight line. Make sure the edges and ends of each roll fit together tightly. Use a serrated knife to cut edges and curves. Stagger the seams like brickwork, especially on hills or slopes. Roll the sod with a roller to help make the connection between the roots and the prepared soil. The sod can become dry before you finish the job, so water each new 200 square foot section as you lay it.

4. WATERING When you finish placing all of the sod, begin watering. A newly laid sod lawn should be watered every day for about 10 days or until roots become established. You can test root growth by slightly pulling up a corner of sod to see if the roots have become attached to the soil below. Once roots become established, an inch of water every week should be sufficient. The Chesterfield County Extension Office lawn-maintenance guidelines recommend watering one-half inch twice a week.

5. MOWING You can mow your new lawn in about 10 days or once it is firmly rooted. Do not mow wet grass. Tall fescue lawns should be maintained at a height of three inches. Bermuda should be one to two inches tall. You should remove only a third of the grass blade at each mowing. With proper mowing, grass clippings do not create thatch or require bagging.

Although laying sod requires hard work, homeowners who are willing to try it can save money by eliminating the labor costs of installation. Soil testing, adequate soil amending, and plenty of water are necessary ingredients in the success of do-it-yourself sod installation.