Renovation guides

How to lay a new sod lawn yourself: step by step

A green lawn in a weekend: the soil prep takes the first day, the sod goes down on the second, and the next two weeks of watering decide whether it takes.

Difficulty 2 of 5 · 1 weekends · you can do this

Photo of your room, the look you pick, then this guide with the materials counted for your room.

Step by step

1. Step 1 of 11

   Check the rules and the water

   

   Look up your water district: lawn-removal rebates, limits on new turf, and watering days. Many allow extra watering for new lawns — ask. Decide how you will water: hose and sprinkler, or an irrigation system (new lines mean digging, 811 first, and a backflow preventer per your city).

2. Step 2 of 11

   Remove the old grass and weeds

   

   Strip the old lawn with a flat spade or a sod cutter and pull weeds with their roots. Rake out rocks and debris.

3. Step 3 of 11

   Rough-grade with a fall away from the house

   

   Move soil so the ground falls away from the house everywhere and fills low spots where water would pool. Check with a string and a line level.

   Before you till

   • 811 marks are in and none cross where you will till, or you will dig by hand there
   • The ground falls away from the house everywhere
   • You checked your water district's rules and have a way to water the new lawn daily

4. Step 4 of 11

   Amend the top 4 in

   

   Spread compost about 1 in thick and till or fork it into the top 4 in of soil.

5. Step 5 of 11

   Rake smooth and set the height

   

   Rake the soil smooth with the landscape rake. Set it one sod thickness below the patio, walks and edging so the finished lawn sits flush with them.

6. Step 6 of 11

   Roll, feed and moisten the soil

   

   Roll the soil once to firm it, fill any footprints, spread starter fertilizer per the bag, and dampen the soil lightly just before the sod arrives.

7. Step 7 of 11

   Lay the first row along a straight edge

   

   The day the sod arrives, start laying right away along the longest straight edge — a walk, the patio or a string line. Keep the pallet in the shade and cover it if you cannot finish fast.

8. Step 8 of 11

   Lay the rest in a brick pattern

   

   Stagger the end joints like bricks, butt every edge tight without stretching, and kneel on a board on the laid sod, not on the soil. Avoid small pieces at the outer edges — they dry out first.

9. Step 9 of 11

   Cut the edges and roll

   

   Trim around beds, walks and sprinkler heads with the knife. Roll the whole lawn once so the roots touch the soil.

10. Step 10 of 11

    Water heavily for the first two weeks

    

    Water right after laying until the soil under the sod is wet — lift a corner to check. Then keep it moist every day for the first 2 weeks, more often in heat. Stay off it.

11. Step 11 of 11

    First mow, then water deeper and less often

    

    When a gentle tug on a corner meets resistance, the roots have taken. Mow on a high setting, then water less often but longer, so the roots grow deep.

Draft guide written from standard practice, not yet reviewed by a licensed pro. Follow product labels where they differ.

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