Laying sod is difficult work, so it'southward no wonder why people are always hunting for a shortcut when they're installing a fresh backyard. So, in theory, information technology makes sense to simply mow your lawn brusque and lay new sod right over the existing lawn. Many people assume that the underlying lawn will die and provide some nutrients for the fresh sod, just that's not the case.

Why You Shouldn't Practice Information technology

When you lay new sod, it's critical that the roots make directly contact with the soil and then that a root system can form. If you lay fresh sod on elevation of an existing lawn, you've made information technology very difficult for your new sod'due south roots to attain the soil bed. At present, your new lawn's roots must piece of work twice as hard to penetrate the old lawn's root system before reaching the soil it needs. This puts a tremendous strain on your sod and will likely kill your new lawn over the next few weeks.

Once your new sod has died on top of your previous lawn, you'll now have to remove two layers of sod to get any new grass to take root. At this point, yous'll observe that the underlying layer of sod, instead of decomposing, turned into a matted slimy mess instead of composted nutrients.

Patch Up the Lawn with Sod 01:00

Patch up a spotty chiliad with a little compost and sod.

What Yous Should Exercise Instead

Properly eliminating your one-time lawn before laying new sod is the commencement critical step in ensuring that your new sod grows a strong root system. A stiff and good for you root system makes your lawn more resilient, less maintenance and more than attractive.

Starting time by mowing your old lawn as short as yous safely tin can. Pocketbook or rake as many clippings every bit possible and make sure to remove any loose debris like sticks or rocks from the lawn every bit y'all piece of work. Once the lawn is mowed, you'll want to utilize a rototiller to till the entire lawn about 4 to six inches in depth. You'll need to rake any loose droppings once more during this process. Y'all're going to exist tilling up clumps of the old root system, so y'all'll want to remove those as y'all work.

Adjacent, put downwards a thin layer of high-quality topsoil and grade all of your lawn's surface so that information technology'south nice and level and gratis from any holes or high spots. Yous'll want your sod to residual about an inch below any hardscapes like walkways or sidewalks, and then take that into consideration as yous class your surface. In one case everything is nice and level, you demand to utilise a turf starter fertilizer that's correct for the kind of sod y'all'll exist laying. Your home heart should be able to provide you with the proper mixture.

Now that your fertilizer is laid down, you tin can start laying your sod. Call up to water your sod every bit soon as you accept an area big enough for your sprinkler to embrace. Check out our watering tips and care advice for your new sod to make sure your lawn stays healthy, strong and weed-free.