Tell me about sod!

[DJJasonp]

Got about 150-200 sq feet in my front yard that needs some new sod, due to me tearing out a pepper tree that had an extensive root system that killed surrounding areas of grass growth.

Had the stump grinded, and have tore out/dug up most of the roots (which were long as hell by the way)......and now I'm ready to lay some new sod.

Question: Is this something I can do on my own, or should I pay the extra and have it done?

Considerations: I do not have access to a tiller, or roller - and I dont have a truck to haul the equipment even if I rented it.

But - could I get by with digging up the spotty turf, spraying round-up, and "ghetto-tilling" with a metal rake?


Thanks in advance for any and all tips.....

[In58men]

It's green

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Inmem58

It's green

dumb

[In58men]

Originally Posted by Baconeater

dumb

Son of a bitch I knew it was coming.

[DJJasonp]

Originally Posted by Inmem58

It's green

here's hoping!

[eDave]

Pay for that.

[Bugeater]

Way too much cheap illegal labor in SoCal to even consider doing that yourself.

[In58men]

Originally Posted by Baconeater

Way too much cheap illegal labor in SoCal to even consider doing that yourself.

Yep, they're all lined up at home depot

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Good sod needs to be watered like a mother****er. Laying it is heavy, tiring work. You can do it by yourself. I sodded three tee complexes once and soaked them with a sump pump that was pulling water from a nearby pond. It ****ing sucked.

You need to till the old grass under, or use a sod cutter. Do not just hit it with Round-Up and think you're good.

[Buzz]

That's not a big area, why not just go with seed?

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by Buzz

That's not a big area, why not just go with seed?

This. We did it last year.

Get a few yards of good quality loam delivered if you need to add a bit of height to the spot. If you don't add loam, make sure the area is well raked or tilled. Seed the area. Spread hay over it. Keep it moist until the grass springs up.

[kccrow]

Option A: First, you can do this yourself.

1. Get a grape hoe. You use this to cut away all your old sod. Get down a couple inches. Take you a couple hours.

2. You need to turn the soil somehow. 200 square feet? Do it with a shovel.

3. Rake out to get the chunks and rocks. Level your grade according to how you want it to look and for proper drainage.

4. Spray it all with Roundup. Let that work until any remaining sod/weeds are dead. Reapply if some weeds appear. Don't seed/sod until a week or so after applying.

5. Add peat moss and fertilizer (1:1:1). Peat moss is important here, it aerates the soil and is excellent at retaining moisture which are both important to starting a great lawn. Turn in with your shovel. Rake out again to level and correct grade issues you've found.

6. Seed it, lightly rake the seed just under the soil, and cover with hay. Once you get a nice bed of grass going you can rake out the hay.

7. Don't freakin' roll it. Compacting a lawn is stupid. Walk back and forth across your seeded lawn a couple times. All you need to do is ensure contact with soil, not compress your yard into concrete.

8. Water. You have to water at least 3 times a day: in the morning, once midday, and evening. Doesn't have to be a super-soaking, but sufficient to maintain the wetness of soil throughout the day. You don't want it to dry out. Once the grass is a couple inches, reduce to a couple times a day for a longer duration.

There ya go.

Option A2:

Yeah, go ahead and get the sod for part 6. Make sure they don't drop the sod in direct sun otherwise work really fast getting it down. Not much of a big deal. Just keep your seems together without overlap and roll. Take a small potting rake to loosen the soil a bit on the back of sod as you roll out. Move along to step 8.

Option B: Be lazy, get a case of beer, and hire some sorry saps to do this all for you.

[Coochie liquor]

I am...

[Kman34]

Green Side up....

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Good sod needs to be watered like a mother****er. Laying it is heavy, tiring work. You can do it by yourself. I sodded three tee complexes once and soaked them with a sump pump that was pulling water from a nearby pond. It ****ing sucked.

You need to till the old grass under, or use a sod cutter. Do not just hit it with Round-Up and think you're good.

Ah, landscaping. One trade I never bothered with.