How to Lay Sod in a Backyard | Ask This Old House

This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook helps a homeowner lay sod in his backyard. (See below for a shopping list, tools, and steps.)

Shopping List for Laying Sod in a Backyard:

Tools List for Laying Sod in a Backyard:

 
Steps for Laying Sod in a Backyard:
1. Use a soil probe to check the depth and texture of the topsoil.[BR]
2. Next, remove all the existing grass with a gas-powered sod cutter.[BR]
3. Place the old grass into a wheelbarrow and carry it away.[BR]
4. Loosen the topsoil with a large rotary tiller to a depth of at least 6 inches.[BR]
5. Use a mini-tiller to loosen the soil alongside fences, foundations, and other areas not accessible to the large rotary tiller.[BR]
6. Cover the entire tilled area to 2 inches deep with a 50/50 mixture of sand and compost.[BR]
7. Blend the sand and compost into the soil with the rotary tiller.[BR]
8. In the kid's play area, dig down 4 inches and cover the ground with landscape fabric.[BR]
9. Spread about 3 inches of wood chips on top of the landscape fabric.[BR]
10. Add starter fertilizer and lime to a walk-behind drop spreader and apply the mixture to the tilled area.[BR]
11. Rake the entire tilled area perfectly smooth.[BR]
12. Start laying sod, one strip at a time, along the edge of the lawn.[BR]
13. Butt the strips tightly together to produce undetectable joints.[BR]
14. After laying the first row of sod, rake the soil smooth and start the second row.[BR]
15. Use a utility knife to cut in half the first strip of sod for the second row.[BR]
16. Set the half-strip in place, then continue to lay full-length strips of sod to complete the second row. Starting with a half-strip staggers the joints between the rows.[BR]
17. Continue to lay sod, butting the strips tightly together and staggering all end joints.[BR]
18. Once you've laid all the sod, water the lawn three times per day the first week, twice a day the second week, once a day the third week, and then resume a normal watering schedule.

About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.

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How to Lay Sod in a Backyard | Ask This Old House

[IAmNotAFunguy]

RIP Roger Cook, a great landscaper and a great teacher!

[lopezlandscapingandgardening]

RIP TO THE LEGEND AND THE REASON WHY IM INTO LANDSCAPING

[manyshripps]

This was EXACTLY the video I've been trying to find for weeks! Finally just pops up in my feed while I'm having my morning coffee. Great video! 👍👍👊

[scottyhcruz]

This is the type of video you watch at 3am when you have to be at work at 6am

[paultanner]

Roger is the original from TOH. Great teacher.

[luckygurl]

This video is so satisfying to watch. I would probably pass out after ripping out a quarter of that lawn. Just looking at those two guys do this makes me tired. This is the type of work where you open a bottle of Makers Mark afterwards.

[margielulu]

I only watch it half way, I was exhausted of all that work. I say hell with it, dandelions are pretty. 🤣🤣🤣

[TheGreatEscape]

Landscaping is such hard work, but the end result is always nice. Good job👌🏻

[geloradananrlyeh]

I like to remove the old lawn grass with a flame thrower.
It adds carbon to the soil.

[jgarrison]

"Can't believe just a few hours ago... " 9:22 Yeah, right!

[cstewart]

I've never seen anyone take this level of care to lay sod

[meatmaster]

He said "this is fresh sod, cut yesterday and delivered to us this morning". Fresh cut sod still has black dirt on it, but this dirt is brown and looks to be bone dry. Maybe sod is different in the area where this was filmed? And it's very light weight. The sod I've handled is heavy. 3 rolls per wheel barrow max.

[LC-dMedia]

Who else is disappointed you didn't get to see the grass get watered?🤷‍♂️ 😂

[JohnAranita]

Middle-parted hair, like Mr. Cook's, is the best!!

[kevinneal]

This is a LOT of work. It’s hard to believe I did this in my front AND back yard years ago by myself. But the results were very nice. I’ve also done it with seed, but the results weren’t as nice as the sod. Probably because the soil prep wasn’t as good as it should have been. I just used top soil with the existing soil. No sand.

[NOMAD-qpdd]

Pfft.
This lawn will NEVER fully appreciate the love, care and attention to detail Roger put into it.
I certainly hope he doesn't expect a "Thank You"..

[daw]

Someone else did all of the work. "a few hours ago", they're not sweaty and they have no dirt on them.

[alexivack]

9:44 on how to lay sod? Try this: GREEN SIDE UP!

[rxonmymind]

Thank you. My turn next week. Although I live in California I won't have this much lawn as my wife and I decided to go with decomposed granite low water backyard. However I still like a little bit a lot lawn.

[mrtrek]

If this guy had answered me "read the instructions on the bag" after asking him a question, he would have been fertilizer for newly placed sod.