Question
Hello Ken,

I live in Massachusetts and was wondering the adv/disadv. to using the roll-out pregrown grass replacements I see at lawn care busnesses. I don't know of the initial care needed to make a project like this successful and I'm having trouble finding info on the web.

Thanks much!!

Answer
It is also called sodding (like rolling out carpets of grass). It is good for an instant lawn (faster than seed).

Loosen soil and amend with fertilizer/lime as per soil test.
water the soil well to settle and then rake smooth. the day before sod is delivered, water the soil once and then loosen the top 1/4" with a rake (scratch surface).

Lay sod like bricks, making sure that the pieces are budded up close together, but staggered so seams do not appear on top of each other. e.g. the seams between two pieces should not be right above a seem from the lower tier. think of how bricks in a brick house are arranged.

If posssible, rent a landscapers roller and roll the sod lightly to ensure good soil/sod contact. alternatively walk on it and push it down with your food for smaller areas. equipment rental stores (where you rent tents, pole diggers, etc) are good places to check.

Finally water daily as to keep the top 1/2" of soil slightly damp. avoid keeping the sod/soil very wet (saturated) but don't let it be too dry either. If you lift one corner, the soil underneath should be slightly damp, but not saturated. if the sod "squishes" when you walk on it, it is too wet. In cool humid weather water less frequently. In very hot dry weather you may need to water daily or twice daily. The sod should root in 7-10 days.

Gently lift a corner to check if the sod has rooted. lift a different piece every time (or the same piece will never root).

Generally, sodding is no more difficult than seeding. good soil preparation is still needed. It is more expensive than seeding, however.