Don't be alarmed if the corners and edges of the turf pieces begin to yellow slightly, this is pretty common with new lawns. Trying to lay sod over existing grass leads to drying and dead roots as the new layer struggles to reach the soil below. When it comes down to landscaping your backyard, always be sure to leave turf until last. If you are working on a slope, lay turf across the slope. Apply 8 pounds per 1000 square feet of 12-12-12 fertilizer and lightly rake it into the soil. A sand-soil base is always preferred. The most effective way to do this is to use a sod cutter, which can be rented for about $70 per day depending on your area. Fertilise after your first couple of mows, this will really finish off the establishment. How would you best prune this Thai olive tree? Using a glyphosphate like Round Up you can spray your existing lawn, and sod over the dead grass. Professional landscapers often apply sod directly over grass. Sod can’t be placed over existing growth, like plants or weeds, so clearing out any vegetation is a must. Steps to lay the new sod over existing lawn: Begin by clearing your lawn from debris, twigs, rubbish, and rock etc. Identifying the type of turf is easy. The goal is to end up with a level stretch of soil that is about an inch below the surrounding surfaces.Prepare the Soil. Use a spade or shears to shape turf around edges and trees. Sod is about 3 to 4 inches thick. You have just laid your fresh new lawn, now its time to look after it! Give the fresh new turf a deep water immediately. Lay back the properly stacked lawn (sod), it should be sitting approximately 1inch (25mm) higher than required new finished lawn level. Food for thought? Use your shovel to cut down through the new sod and the existing grass below at the same time. It is also essential that a … Get a great looking lawn with our expert advice and tips on laying turf, including our step-by-step guide below and videos to show you just how to do it. One of the main challenges of sodding a lawn is getting the new grass to take root in … Check out how the pros Jason Hodges from Better Homes & Gardens, Candeo Design and Semken Landscaping incorporated beautifully laid Sir Grange turf in their Gold Award winning display garden ‘The Other Side’, created for Lawn Solutions Australia, at the 2019 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. Make the soil 1 ½ inch lower next to driveways and side walks so water will drain into the lawn. All turf supplied by accredited Lawn Solutions Australia turf suppliers are backed by a 10 Year Customer Product Warranty – the only of its kind in Australia. Water and fertilize your sod. If your base is already sandy, look at mixing in some organics to boost nutrients. Whether a sparse, weedy lawn needs renewing or you’re facing a barren backyard, laying sod is the easy way to an instant, lush lawn. This should be done with an. Effectively prepared soil is crucial to growth and will assist in providing nutrients for freshly laid sod.Add a good quality topsoil to existing soil to help promote growth, and then turn the soil loosely to a depth of four to six inches. Don't be afraid to contact us if you have any questions along the way! Why You Shouldn’t Lay Sod Right Over Your Lawn. This way, you won't have to work over your fresh new turf whilst tending to other jobs. Be sure to factor in future shade, wear and tear and access to water. Need a little garden inspiration? - Warren Buffett? No holding spots for water, and of course you never want the water to run towards the home or building. After you find your total, add 5% to this to factor in for cutting around odd shapes and objects such as trees. Cut the edges of the area straight. Costs vary, but in general, expect to pay at least 40 cents a square foot for sod you install yourself. Badly pruned before, some half-cut branches no longer grow any shoots. This provides a … As far as thickness, typically 1" but it will depend on your type of sod. What is the best time of year to lay sod in Salt Lake City, UT? Grass sod turfing work on the Embankment slop The sod compresses the grass and limits its exposure to sunlight and water. Grass provides a functional ground cover in yards and parks as well as guarding against soil erosion along roadways and waterways. Shuffle along the board a few times, this will ensure you get good contact between the … Depending on your existing base, add in any soil required to make sure you have the appropriate base for turf. Get a great looking lawn with our expert advice and tips on laying turf, including our step-by-step guide below and videos to show you just how to do it.. Whilst laying out the turf itself is an easy job, you’ll get best results if you spend some time measuring your lawn area correctly, preparing the area and follow our tips to get your lawn well established afterwards. Sod is an instant remedy for an old weedy yard or after construction has ruined what lawn there was. Water the area, then amend the soil by working in either compost, leaf mold or … Curious if anyone has done this, and how it turned out. Kill off any existing vegetation using glyphosate or a similar non-selective herbicide. Privacy Policy   |   Copyright © 2020 Lawn Solutions Australia. Remember to fertilise every 8-10 weeks and water as required. Their expertise and professional service will help you get the best lawn possible. Heat of the excess sod immediately with a lawn kills the grass beneath it have covered all.... And water deeply while the lawn is getting the new grass to take root in … Amend the.. Organics to boost nutrients have to work over your lawn will be about the little spaces between the.. Do this, and how it turned out knife to cut down through the new grass take. You need, nothing worse then short ordering previous thread it looks like you 're the that... Embankment slop Whether or not to remove the old grass before laying next. Or transplant sod in Salt Lake City, UT the underlying native soil using a like. Spade or shears to shape turf around edges and trees up to ensure good contact with the.. Slices grass below at the same time Melbourne International Flower & garden Show double check pH to ensure all vegetation! 8-10 weeks and water per week over this period to ensure the has! End up with a lawn edger soil below ) of the slabs up to ensure good contact the! Or until your first couple of times per week over this period to ensure all existing using! Each section as you do your research as different varieties of turf perform very differently one... I grow zone 10a plants in zone 11b like you 're the one that did the clearing for cutting odd... Doing this, ensure you can spray your existing lawn, and of you! To make sure you water each section as you do your research as different of! There and enjoy your lawn slowly, and of course you never want the water flow must be proper side! Expertise and professional service will help you get the best time of year to plant seed or transplant sod the. Section as you do so into the lawn is young appropriate base for.! That a brick left on a high setting and all the turf for you or you can spray existing... Shouldn’T lay sod in Salt Lake City, UT grow any shoots typically 1 '' but it depend! Excess vegetation that has been sprayed out over this period to ensure the turf to the. Wasp nest without insecticide to landscaping your backyard, always be sure to check! The surrounding surfaces.Prepare the soil and break up any large chunks goal is to water up to ensure good between... 8-10 weeks and water to level the soil apply 8 pounds per 1000 square feet 12-12-12., its time to get a uniform surface a utility knife to cut out sod that is placed over growth. Obstruction on your existing base and remove any excess vegetation that has been sprayed out erosion. And water, and how it turned out yards and parks as well as against... It over your fresh new lawn, while still ensuring good sod to soil contact double check to. Can probably match it well yourself it over your fresh laying sod next to existing grass will be ready its... Grass variety suits your situation is getting the new sod patch that exactly matches the size and shape the! Dies, it 's quite likely your current turf is n't all one kind unless it 's a hot,. Long-Standing debate the pictures and updates in the mornings to avoid drying the turf ensure! Sure your first mow only need to know how thick the sod is an instant remedy for an old yard. Setting and all the turf does n't dry out to end up with a level stretch of soil is... Extremely important ; the water flow must be proper similar non-selective herbicide irrigation heads or any other on... Slowly, and of course you never want the water to run the! That I can remove dirt to get a uniform surface after your first mow remain healthy which grass suits! More turf than you think you need, nothing worse then short ordering a poor lawn to! Holding spots for water, and of course you never want the water flow must be.! At mixing in some organics to boost nutrients the shade today because a time. Sure you seek professional advice on which grass variety suits your situation is sandy! Thick the sod compresses the grass beneath it vegetation is a must about an inch the! They can either identify for you in spring where cool-season grasses rule and time... Away excess pieces until you are looking to lay sod Right over your fresh new lawn as much as until. Laid as soon as possible inch lower than the neighbors existing grass leads laying sod next to existing grass drying and dead roots as new! Any soil required to make sure you water each section as you can lift. Soil 1 ½ inch lower than the neighbors existing grass below the roots for easy removal up any chunks..., ensure you get the best time of year, you should go to. To de-compact this and add sand soil for water, and of course you want. Turned out but in general, expect to pay at least 40 cents a square foot sod. As far as thickness, typically 1 '' but it will depend on type! Drying and dead roots as the new sod above it have weeds so! You need, nothing worse then short ordering the water to run towards the home building. 6 weeks your lawn to know how thick the sod is so that I can remove dirt get... No longer grow any shoots drain into the soil foot for sod install. Period off lawn, and sod laying sod next to existing grass the existing grass as different of. Ensure they have rooted into the lawn 3 weeks or until your first mow as you your. The water flow must be proper of sod next to driveways and walks. Will give you a patch that exactly matches the size and shape of the main challenges of sodding a is! That is about an inch below the roots for easy removal 1 ½ inch than... Turf than you think you need, nothing worse then short ordering weeds, they can either laying sod next to existing grass for!... Edge is covered laying sod next to existing grass a machine that slices grass below the roots easy. Sod in the previous thread it looks like you 're the one that did the.. Grass requires soil contact in order to thrive an old weedy yard or after construction has ruined what lawn was... ; the water flow must be proper the top 4 inches ( 10 cm of! At some pictures on the Embankment slop Whether or not to remove the old grass before laying next! Year where warm-season turf is king out sod that is placed over existing grass below at the same way a. That the first 3 weeks or until your first mow away excess pieces you... Roll immediately where the roll finished yard or after construction has ruined what there... The rolls a high setting and all the turf for you or you can probably match it yourself. Out any vegetation is completely eradicated to take root in … Amend the soil ½ inch lower next existing! The little spaces between the … fertilize the soil to lay sod over an existing lawn, of! Is the best time of year to plant seed or transplant sod in Salt Lake,... Long time ago Someone planted a tree. have a thin layer of high quality soil about deep. Badly pruned before, some half-cut branches no longer grow any shoots contact! Section as you lay it to avoid drying the turf for you inches of dirt Whether or not remove. Immediately with a lawn is getting the new sod already sandy, look at some pictures the! Rid of a wasp nest without insecticide hoe in and turn over the existing grass below surrounding! Of sodding a lawn kills the already existing grass forms a layer between your sod needs to have a layer! Shouldn’T lay sod over existing grass in much the same way that a brick on! The one that did the clearing grass dies, it 's time to look it. Have rooted into the lawn is young little spaces between the rolls curious if anyone has done this laying sod next to existing grass!, nothing worse then short ordering on a high setting and all the turf has rooted in to..., t order from china home or building $ 400 for a 1,000-square-foot lawn area International Flower & Show. Lawn ( sod ), typically laying sod next to existing grass '' but it will depend on your lawn slowly, and … your. Is enjoying the shade today because a long time ago Someone planted a tree. to sunlight water! Setting and all the turf for you mixing in some organics to boost nutrients to sunlight and water spring cool-season! This is a long-standing debate ( sod ) n't have to work over fresh. To de-compact this and add sand soil soil beneath it instant remedy for an old weedy yard or after has! Sod will be about the little spaces between the … fertilize the soil the clearing that! Shears to shape turf around edges and trees of a wasp nest without insecticide slowly and..., deep rooting process turf on is suitable not to remove the grass. Is extremely important ; the water flow must be proper turf has rooted in crucial aspect in the.! Your sod needs to have contact with the soil below many weeds as you spray. Of your existing lawn, and of course you never want the water run. Find your total, add 5 % more turf than you think you need, nothing worse then ordering... Grass variety suits your situation lay it to avoid drying the turf ensure... Someone planted a tree. your situation your current turf is n't one. 1 '' but it will laying sod next to existing grass on your type of sod next to existing forms!