Can I Install Sod Over Rocky Soil? | Monarch Sod (2024)

FAQs

Can you put sod on top of rocky soil? ›

Don't stress too much about it. With a little extra effort, it's totally possible to install sod over rocky soil.

Rocks and debris must be removed from soil; soil must be tilled and rolled, and the soil pH must be tested and adjusted with a proper soil additive. For this reason, you should prepare your soil before your shipment of sod arrives at your home.

If you lay sod down without preparing the soil first, the new sod will be competing with the existing turf for water. This can lead to drainage problems and may eventually kill the new sod. To avoid this problem, you need to make sure that the soil is well-prepared before you lay down the new sod.

Let's talk about when you patch a spot or extend a lawn area with new sod. You will probably notice that even though it is the same type of sod, the new and old grass don't match (yet). In fact, newly harvested pallet of sod are always going to look different than the grass that's in place.

For rocky soil specifically, look for bermudagrass or zoysiagrass. These drought-tolerant types are best equipped to handle the dryness that comes along with rocky soil.

Some people recommend wetting the soil before laying sod. However, this is not always necessary. If the ground is moist and there is a good chance of rain in the near future, you may not need to water it. If you do decide to water the soil, be sure to use a light misting rather than a heavy stream of water.

The answer is: that depends! Though you can sometimes have decent results growing grass in poor soil, most lawn grasses need ideally at least 4 inches of topsoil to do well. Topsoil should contain some organic matter and also have a balance of clay, sand, and silt.

Mistake 2: Leaving Gaps

To avoid this: Lay the sod pieces edge-to-edge: Make no overlaps or gaps. Stagger the rows: Like bricks in a wall, this ensures that the seams don't line up, reducing the chance of gaps.

If you've got a heavy clay content in your soil, it can be challenging to get fresh sod to take root. With a little effort and some heavy tilling, you should be able to get your lawn going in no time. Here's what you need to know. Prepare your clay soil for sod by tilling and adding organic material.

Can you lay sod without tilling? ›

While you can lay sod without tilling, you'll have a better chance of success if you place your new sod on top of tilled, irrigated soil. Tilled soil allows for more thorough irrigation and is more likely to bond with new sod over untilled soil.

Of all the tips we have for caring for new sod, the most important is not walking on it too early. You should keep pets, children, and everyone else off of newly plant sod until at least the first mowing.

When you are done fitting the sod, there shouldn't be any raised edges or cracks. Now that everything is laid out, you need to make sure it stays there. Tamp all the edges down with a vertical rake and fill in any cracks with topsoil rather than trying to stretch the sod.

Be sure to set your mower to the highest setting possible in order to avoid cutting it too close to the root. Take care not to walk or run on new sod, as this can prevent the fragile young roots from developing properly.

Pre-emergents are not good for newly establishing sod. It will damage the sod root growth and maybe even kill your lawn. You can only safely apply a pre-emergent herbicide to your lawn after a full growing season has passed (3–6 months).

“Put down on properly prepared soil, it will thrive.” Turf likes a well-aerated base that's slightly acidic (with a pH between 6 and 7.5) and nutrient-rich. And the only way to know what kind of soil you've got is to test it.

You don't want a boulder to destroy your grass cutter. Clear the area of all aboveground debris before you start removing sod. If you hit a large root or rock underneath the soil surface during the process, stop and dig up the debris so your cutter doesn't get damaged.

It is important to loosen the soil before planting new sod because it reduces compaction and makes it easier for the roots to grow into the soil. Also, the loose soil will hold moisture better, reducing the amount you have to water. You don't have to rototill before laying sod but, we strongly recommend it.

Trees and shrubs will tolerate rocky soil more than flowering perennials. There are also a number of plants with shallow roots that do not require much watering or fertilizer. These plants will vary depending on which USDA hardiness zone you live in.