Once again, the soil must be adequately raked and graded for proper drainage. “Therefore, the existing grass / lawn must be extremely sparse or you will have to bring in dirt and put it on top before laying the new sod . We are a disabled couple and need to know the easiest way to do this. Prepare the damaged area by removing all dead grass and 1" to 2" of soil 3/4" past the edge of the dead grass. Dampen the prepared soil right before laying sections of new sod. A pallet of sod covers 500 square feet, and the price can range from $200 to $400 per pallet. Thanks! The lawn is now very uneven and unsightly. Can You Lay Sod Over Existing Grass?. Adding fresh grass to your lawn can be done by seed or sod, and both methods have their advantages. These days all I do is prepare yards for sod installation. 10 Mow the grass to 2 inches tall when it grows to 3 inches tall. You might also say that this process will cut down a lot of your time. 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. But it might end up adding more time than it saves. Then, you want to go ahead and just cut the pieces just 18-inches. You might also say that this process will cut down a lot of your time. Once the sod dies, you will end up having to re-sod again and remove all of the lawn underneath as well. Grass rolls are typically strips of sod 2 feet by 5 feet. We have some areas in the lawn that are 3 to 4 inches lower than the existing lawn and want to know if we can put sod over them to bring them up to level. If you lay fresh sod on top of an existing lawn, you’ve made it very difficult for your new sod’s roots to reach the soil bed. Laying sod could be a tough job, and it’s better to look for a process that makes it easier to put a new lawn. Lay sod in spring where cool-season grasses rule and any time of year where warm-season turf is king. I have a small tatty slopy lawn about 5ft x 5. Through experience, it is not best to lay sod over existing grass. What Is The Difference Between Sodding And seeding. The home is a new construction.2. The best way to prevent this fate is to get rid of existing weeds before you lay down sod. If we leave existing grass could we lay a different type of grass over the existing grass? you might want to use Sod cutter instead of line trimmer and rototiller but you will still have to turn over the soil a bit since the ground is compacted. Use a garden hose with a sprayer attachment and lightly moisten the surface area. Laying down grass sod to start or repair a lawn isn’t the hardest yard task, but it is labor intensive and requires knowing more than “green side up.” But don’t be daunted. I use a rotodairon tiller design to shred and bury sod. Use a rotary till to make the job easier and faster. Let the soil surface dry before continuing with the renovation. Have killed existing Burmuda grass and similiar problem grasses. That I am not sure about. Spreading … If you want the new sod to look its best and with no old weeds or old grass growing through it, till the ground and remove the old grass first. That’s it. Proper preparation to the soil and ground beneath the sod is crucial to the success of your lawn. Would we have to remove existing grass (which we really don’t want to do). Additionally, the grade is extremely important; the water flow must be proper. © 2020 Today’s Homeowner Media. How To Identify the Cause of Brown Spots in Your Lawn, Deck & Yard Maintenance Tips to Enjoy Outdoor Living, Today’s Homeowner Radio Show for the week of June 18, 2016, Kuppersmith Home Renovation Project 7: Lot and Countertops, How to Build a Non-Load Bearing Interior Wall. This quickly kills the already existing grass in much the same way that a brick left on a lawn kills the grass beneath it. Sod installation prices run from $1.20 to $1.80 per square foot. You can spray herbicide to kill the old turf and pull out with a sod cutter, or cover with newspapers or tarps to smother them. Rake loose concrete and dispose of it before putting down topsoil. I want to relay a turf lawn but wonder as I need to infill with topsoil/sand and level before relaying new turf whether I can leave the old stuff down. Would like your input on this. Remove and dispose of the existing sod. Inspect the area you wish to grow grass on for any loose concrete. Adding soil over grass gave us great success with our lawn repair, but it may not work for your situation. For a guide on how to properly install sod, check out our full 7-step guide. Here’s how to lay sod, in six steps. The area around it is now two feet aprox higher as i’ve had path raised to be wheelchair friendly with a deck. Just keep it moist by watering it thrice on the first week after the sod is installed. Will I need to put down plastic or other kind of base first? When the grass dies, it gives off nutrients that actually benefit the new sod above it. When you lay new sod, it’s critical that the roots make direct contact with the soil so that a root system can form. Make sure you have checked out our other repair options as well. Would we have to level the lawn with new dirt first and then plant new sod? If there are live grass left, it will spoil and affect the roots of the new sod, which will cause brown spots. In this article, we will also provide you with instructions on how to do it correctly and the list of materials and tools needed for such a job. I have a patch of dead grass in my lawn, and I’d like to repair it with sod. We're Always There For All Your Outdoor Needs, Call Us Today: +1.416.838.2229 For A FREE Estimate. Use a rake to smooth the prepared surface for your sod installation. Freshly laid sod also needs proper nutrients to thrive and to grow. Our (KBG) Kentucky Bluegrass sod is a cool-season grass. Explanation: “All sod must make soil contact to root,” Therefore, the existing grass / lawn must be extremely sparse or you will have to bring in dirt and put it on top before laying the new sod. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. All rights reserved. Haul in some topsoil, or have it delivered to your site. When putting pieces in a row, it is vital to push the ends together so the spaces between them will not be visible. Maintaining your new sod should not be that hard. If you want the new sod to look its best and with no old weeds or old grass growing through it, till the ground and remove the old grass first. A slightly acidic pH will still be great for faster growth and spreading. The biggest difference between sod cutters and tillers is what they do with the grass. Don't put so much down that you kill your existing grass; less than a quarter of an inch is plenty. If you're using grass seed to overseed your lawn instead of Scotts® Turf Builder® Thick’R Lawn™, it's a good idea to rake in a thin, 0.25-inch layer of enriched soil over your lawn to help the seed settle in. Your beautiful new lawn can be destroyed by old weeds and invasive grasses pushing up through the sod, and all your time and effort sodding will seem wasted. Start laying your sod, offsetting the seams on each row. And since it’s too late to plant grass seed for a successful fall seeding, sod is a great alternative for an instant lawn. Finally, its time to lay the new sod. -David. I have never been able to determine any down side after doing this thousands of times. Using a glyphosphate like Round Up you can spray your existing lawn, and sod over the dead grass. The "swirling" pattern is a good indication of that grass type. 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