You can get a good lawn by either seeding or sodding. However, there are advantages to sodding a lawn. For instance, sodding:

• provides an instant green turf
• eliminates initial weed problems
• reduces erosion on sloping terrain
• allows more time in the year to successfully establish a lawn

• Prepare the soil equally well for sodding or seeding.
• Control problem weeds with glyphosate, sold as Monsanto Roundup or Ortho Kleenup, before you disturb the soil.
• Remove rocks and debris, till, fertilize and rake the soil.
• Have a soil test done before sodding a lawn. This is especially true if the soil was moved or replaced during construction.
• Apply corrective fertilizer, phosphorous and potassium, according to the results of the soil test. Work them into the soil four to six inches deep before laying the sod. Apply only minimal nitrogen at this time.

Sodding can be done any time the soil can be worked without being too muddy. This usually means from late April, when the soil becomes dry enough to work, until early October.

• Prior to sodding, the soil should be moist, but not overly wet.
• The strips of sod should be staggered in a brick-like arrangement, with the ends in contact, but not overlapped.
• Do not stretch sod, because cracks may develop between the pieces as they shrink during drying.
• Roll the finished lawn lightly to improve the sod-to-soil contact for better rooting.
• Thoroughly water a sodded lawn immediately after installation.

From then on, you will need to water lightly on a daily basis for two to three weeks to maintain adequate moisture during the initial rooting. After establishment, water can be applied in gradually larger amounts, but with longer intervals between watering.

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