Can You Lay Sod Over Existing Grass? What to Know Before You Start
Sodding over your lawn usually creates more work than it saves
Highlights
Sod is simply ready-made mature grass.
Installing sod over existing grass doesn’t work well.
For the best results, add sod only to properly prepared areas.
By taking the right steps beforehand, you can successfully repair or replace your lawn with sod.
When it’s time to repair or replace your lawn for the upcoming sunny season, you have a couple of options, including laying sod or planting grass seed. But can you lay sod over existing grass? While laying sod over your existing lawn might seem like an easy way to minimize the time you spend nurturing your yard, it will create more work and yield worse results.
However, taking the time to install sod properly can immediately reward you with a beautiful lawn that you’ll want to admire all spring and summer long. Here are some tips and tricks to properly repair or replace your lawn instead of placing sod directly onto existing grass.
Can You Lay Sod Over Existing Grass?
Technically, you can lay sod over grass, and on very rare occasions, with a whole lot of effort, it may work. For successful sod installation, it’s crucial that the sod establishes direct contact with the soil beneath it. Simply placing sod on top of existing grass can lead to it drying out and dying, as it won’t root properly.
Instead, ensure proper sod establishment by either removing or eliminating the current grass. Then, till the soil to create a healthy growing environment for the sod’s new roots. You’ll need a depth of three to four inches of loosened soil for optimal results
The average cost to sod a yard is nearly $2,000, or between $0.35 and $0.85 per square foot. So, doing it one time the right way is far less costly and much easier in the long run than skipping a step or two. So, no, laying sod over existing grass isn’t very practical.
How to Lay Sod
Although laying sod is labor intensive, the concept is relatively simple. The only steps involve removing the old lawn, preparing the soil, and rolling out new grass. In other words, it’s a DIY project that will take an entire weekend (more if you count the time it takes the grass to die).
Spot Repair Your Lawn
Using sod to repair grass in your yard provides a nearly instant fix that typically looks great from day one.
Measure the repair area and purchase 10% to 20% more sod than you’ll need.
Use herbicide or lay black plastic over your yard to kill existing grass and weeds in the repair area. This process can take between two weeks and 20 days for herbicide and two to three months for plastic, on average.
Remove the dead vegetation and the top few inches of soil with a rake and outdoor vacuum in a neat square or rectangular shape, then discard them. Overlap slightly into the adjacent healthy grass.
Use a garden tiller, shovel, or another appropriate lawn tool to further loosen the soil to 6 inches deep.
Add a thin layer of potting or garden soil on top of the loose dirt and pat down the surface to about 1 inch that’s level below the existing lawn.
Cut (if necessary) and lay the new sod to fit into the prepared area.
Water the grass three to six times per day, depending on weather conditions, to keep the new sod moist for a few weeks until the roots take hold and the grass grows on its own.
Replace Your Lawn
Replacing your entire lawn with sod is a big undertaking, but with the right tools and guidance, it can be the most rewarding outdoor project you’ve ever done. Again, the keys to success are excellent preparation and plenty of elbow grease.
Purchase 10% more sod than you’ll need to cover the entire area, which will account for waste during cuts.
Schedule delivery on the same day you’ll install the sod.
Use herbicide or lay black plastic over your entire yard, if practical, to kill existing grass and weeds.
Loosen the soil to 6 inches deep with a garden tiller while raking away and removing any remaining vegetation.
Install a new, thin layer of topsoil over the entire area.
Grade and level your yard with a leveling rake.
Wet the entire surface of your yard and roll the new sod out while staggering the joining edges between pieces.
Water the grass three to six times per day, depending on weather conditions, to keep the new sod moist for a few weeks until the roots take hold and the sod is strong enough for regular maintenance.
If this is a bigger task than you can or are willing to take on, don’t worry; you’re not alone. Most homeowners opt to hire a local sod installation specialist to sod their entire yard. Paying extra for labor costs can be worth it, especially if you have a large yard that would be too time-consuming to sod on your own.