Can I Lay Sod Over Fill Dirt?

Potential

• Conduct a soil test of the fill soil on your property. Determine its pH and particle make-up as well as learning what nutrients already exist within its matrix. This data informs you whether lawn grass would grow well with or without lots of watering, fertilizing and other resource effort.

Types

• Not all species of lawn grass require the same growing conditions. If your fill soil drains quickly and remains on the dry side, water-loving cool-season grasses like fescue or bluegrass aren't the best choice. A more drought tolerant, low-nutrient grass like buffalo, centipede or zoysiagrass works better.

Prevention/Solution

• The University of Rhode Island notes that adding fresh topsoil isn't always necessary before laying sod. The need for some soil improvement, based on soil test results, may prove worthwhile. Even a shallow 4- to 6-inch layer of topsoil blended into the fill soil improves conditions for the sod.