Laying Sod? Here's How to Measure How Much Sod You Need

Calculating the amount of sod you need for installation can save you time and money by avoiding costly errors in measurements. Whether you're a first-time homeowner or an experienced landscape professional, determining the correct amount of sod you should buy is a great starting point.

What is Sod?

Sod is pre-grown grass that is harvested from a sod farm and often sold in pallets. It consists of dense, mature grass and a thin layer of soil and is held together by a mesh or biodegradable material.

Used widely in residential lawns, golf courses, and athletic fields, sod provides an almost instant, dense, and uniformly green cover you can enjoy almost immediately after installation. It saves you from the long wait required for seeds to germinate or grass plugs to fill in your landscape.

Besides its immediate aesthetic benefits, sod also helps prevent soil erosion, reduces the risks of flooding, and improves soil, water, and air quality and drainage.

How to Calculate How Much Sod You Need

Determine the amount of sod grass you need by calculating the square footage of your lawn. Multiply the length and width of the area to get the total square footage. For irregularly shaped landscapes, divide your lawn into sections of squares and triangles, and use the same formula for each section, then add them up to get the total. Consider structures like sidewalks, driveways, and any plants you want to keep.

At Bethel Farms, we deliver sod grass for sale in pallets, each containing a total of 400 square feet of sod. Using a sod cutter, trim and cut the sod to fit the shape of your lawn. We recommend adding 5-10 percent to your measurements to account for errors or installation losses when shaping around odd areas. It's better to have a little leftover than to need more sod delivered later, which further adds to the sod cost.

6 Tips for Measuring Your Lawn for Sod Installation

Buying sod in bulk can seem intimidating, but knowing the amount you need for delivery can save you money, time, and effort. It also reduces the risk of wasting excess sod, leading to a successful and efficient installation process. Check out more tips for a successful sod installation.

Prepare the Soil: Remove any debris, rocks, and weeds. Aerate the soil to a depth of about 4-6 inches to facilitate healthy root growth. Additionally, ensure the site is level to promote better sod-to-soil contact and create a uniform appearance.

Lay Sod: Start by laying the sod along a straight edge, such as the driveway, and work your way across the lawn in a brick pattern. Use a sod cutter to trim the sod to fit around edges, trees, plants, and other obstacles.

Water Thoroughly: Before installation, keep the sod moist but not soaked to keep it from drying out. Immediately after installation, water the sod again until it feels spongy underfoot. Continue watering for the next 10-14 days to help the sod establish roots and facilitate healthy growth.

Use a Roller: After laying and watering the sod, run the roller across your lawn to remove air pockets and wrinkles and ensure good contact between the sod and soil. Rolling will also help fill in any gaps between the sod pieces, creating a uniform and even surface.

Post-Installation Maintenance: Avoid walking or using heavy equipment on the newly laid sod for the first few weeks to allow the roots to grow and establish. Once the sod has taken root and is firmly established, you can gradually reduce the frequency of watering and transition to a regular watering schedule. For most warm-season grasses, the general guideline is to provide about one inch of water per week, either through rainfall or irrigation.

Proper Lawn Care: Regular maintenance practices such as mowing, fertilizing, and weed control, once the sod has been fully established, usually within 3-4 weeks after installation. These steps are crucial to keep your new lawn healthy and vibrant. Read here for a more comprehensive guide on how to lay sod.

Buy Sod Grass for Sale at Bethel Farms

Bethel Farms stands out as one of the most trusted sod farms in Central Florida, providing a wide range of warm-season grass sod for installation, including our proprietary improved Bermuda variety, BIMINI® Bermudagrass.

We take pride in delivering the best sod to our clients, ensuring that each sod pallet is fresh and of the highest quality. With multiple farm locations across Florida, we guarantee efficient delivery services so that your sod arrives in peak condition for your landscaping projects.

Trust our lawn care experts at Bethel Farms for your grass needs and experience the difference in quality and service. Visit our website to get started.