Preparing Your Yard for Sod

When getting your yard ready for sod, there are a few things that you can do to prepare. This will help ensure that the laying of sod will go smoothly and you’ll be left with a beautiful yard and lawn.

The first thing that you’ll want to do is grade the area that you are planning on laying sod. This means to create a slow slope away from your house. You will want to create a grade of about one foot drop for every 100 feet away from your house or building. Properly grading your area will help to ensure that water is able to drain away, helping to prevent water damage, leakage or other unpleasant results.

Next you will want to lay some topsoil on your newly graded area. We recommend a coverage of at least four inches of topsoil, with no weeds. This will help prevent weeds from sprouting through your new sod and keep your lawn looking pristine. If you do have weeds in your topsoil you will want to cultivate them or use a chemical treatment (following manufacturer’s directions).

For best results the soil should be firm, but not hard packed. This will allow the sod to properly take root after it has been laid.

Lastly, allow for room for the sod next to any walkways, driveways or patios. We recommend about approximately ¾ of an inch of room to be allowed for the sod. This is to compensate for the thickness of the sod to ensure that it can be properly laid.

Once you have followed these steps you are ready for your sod to be installed. Stay tuned for more tips on how to properly install your sod, and what to do after it has been installed! If you have any further questions, make sure to give us a call and our experts here at Prairie Sod Farms will be happy to help you!