Sod Guide

Looking to create a beautiful lawn with sod but not sure where to start? Ken Matthews is here to help! Read on to learn how to calculate your sod needs, how to order, how to pick up and how to lay the sod. If you’re not sure that sod is for you, click here to learn more about sod and the pros and cons compared to seeding with grass seed.

How Much Sod Do I Need?

The first step in your sod journey is to find out how much sod you need. The easiest method is to divide the square footage of the area your are planning to sod by the square footage of the sod itself. At Ken Matthews, we offer two types of sod, Fescue which is 5.32 square feet per piece and Zoysia which is 2.66 square feet per piece. Use the following formulas to learn how many pieces you will need.

Fescue Sod Calculation Formula:

Multiply the width of an area in feet by length of an area in feet to get your square footage.

Width _________ x Length __________ = _________ square feet.

Take your square footage and divide it by 5.32 and round your answer up to the closest whole number.

Square feet ___________ ÷  5.32 = __________ pieces of fescue sod needed.

 

Zoysia Sod Calculation Formula:

Multiply the width of an area in feet by length of an area in feet to get your square footage.

Width _________ x Length __________ = _________ square feet.

Take your square footage and divide it by 2.66 and round your answer up to the closest whole number.

Square feet ___________ ÷ 2.66 = __________ pieces of zoysia sod needed.

 

How Do I Order Sod?

Now that you know how much sod you need, it’s time to order it!

• Sod does best when it is laid within 1 week of it being cut, so we only order sod by request. We must have 2 full pallets (approx. 200 pieces of fescue and 380 pieces of zoysia) on request before we will place an order.
• Sod requests can be placed in person or over the phone at (757) 898-7799. To reserve your sod, we will need your first and last name, phone number and the number of pieces you need. 
• When we have enough requests to place an order, we will call you to confirm your order and inform you of the expected delivery date. All sod orders of 30 pieces or more require a deposit of 50% at the time of ordering.

How Do I Prep My Lawn For Sod?

Once you know when your sod will arrive, prep your lawn so you are ready to lay the sod as soon as you get it. Sod needs to be laid directly onto soil in order to thrive, so give it the perfect blank canvas.

• Kill off any weeds and existing grass with KleenUp herbicide according to instructions
• Remove dead plant matter and debris (sticks, stones, etc)
• Perform a soil test and adjust pH if needed Mag-I-Cal (ideal range is 6.2 to 7.0)
• Till soil and amend with Lobster Compost to improve soil quality and drainage
• Level the soil

How Do I Pickup Sod?

Picking up your sod is a piece of cake.

• When sod is delivered, we will call customers on our reserve list to let them know it is ready for pickup.
• We will only hold sod for 2 days, unless special arrangements have been made. After 2 days, the sod will be made available to the public.
  
• When you arrive to pick up your sod, pay at the front counter and the cashier will let you know where to pull around to have your sod loaded.
• We recommend using plastic or tarps if you are planning to transport your sod inside a vehicle, there’s a lot of dirt and freshly watered sod can be messy!

 

 

How Do I Lay Sod?

Once you have your sod, you are ready to install it.

• Water sod if it’s feeling dry
• Apply Jonathan Green New Seeding and Sod fertilizer to the soil
• Lay sod in prepared area, directly onto soil
• Alternate your pieces (every other piece starting lower than the pieces next to them) like a pattern of a brick wall
• Peak the seams so the sod won’t form a gap as they settle
• Cut sod with sharp pruners or knife if the area is an irregular shape
• If sod is being placed on an extreme slop, secure it to the ground with garden staples
• After sod has been laid, thoroughly saturate the sod and the soil

 

How to Care for Sod?

Once your sod is installed, you must keep it moist. Depending on the time of year, this may involve watering it every day or (especially in summer) watering it multiple times a day. Once the sod is established it will only need about an inch of water a week.

Until your sod is fully established, minimize how often you walk on it.

After at least 2 weeks, sod can be mowed if it’s tall enough. Make sure your blades are sharp to prevent tearing and raise them to the proper height for your grass. Ideally, Fescue should be kept at a height of 3-3.5 inches and Zoysia should be kept at a height of 2-2.5 inches.

One month after you’ve installed your sod, fertilize it again with Jonathan Green Veri-Green.