Soil Preparation for Sod Installation

Site Preparation

• Before the turf grass can be installed, the site must be leveled in compliance with local building codes, including considerations like elevation for flood zones. According to Glenn Hardebeck and Zac Reicher, Purdue University specialists in turf grass, the same steps are used to prepare the site for sod installation and seeding. The steps include removing rock and debris after construction, creating a rough grade on the ground surface, and sloping the surface of the soil so that rainwater flows away from the building. Lower portions of the property might also need to be filled.

Soil Improvements

• After the rough grade and sloping of the soil for stormwater management purposes, the soil may need more grading. Options are adding more topsoil, grading or rototilling the subsoil and redistributing the topsoil again for at least four inches. Hardebeck and Reicher recommend studying a soil sample to examine the nutrient and pH levels of the soil. The findings of the soil sample report will point to options for achieving the right conditions in the topsoil, including remixing the topsoil for the ideal pH and nutrient levels.

Application of Chemicals

• Some sod experts recommend treating the soil surface with herbicide and fertilizer products prior to installing your sod. Whether you choose to use one of these products will depend on the type of soil you have, the quality of the soil and what kind of impact you want to have on the local environment.

Soil Preparation and Sod Benefits

• There are several reasons why taking the right steps in soil preparation are needed to realize the advantages of sod over grass seed. Installing sod helps to control against erosion, covers the lawn immediately while grass seed must grow over time, cleans up the site because dust and mud are covered and is useful any time of the year. Before you prepare the soil for a particular variety of grass, you can consult the sod provider for more specific steps for preparing local soil for planting.