Send in your soil sample a month before you plan on laying down the sod so you have time to get the results back.
Please note: The WHO considers glyphosate to be a probable human carcinogen. Its use is prohibited in some states and countries. Please check with your local laws and use caution if handling this chemical. You may need to do multiple applications spaced 2-4 weeks apart depending on the herbicide you’re using. Use an herbicide with glyphosate, like Roundup, which will kill a variety of weeds even if the seeds are dormant in the subsoil rather than germinating in the topsoil. [4] X Expert Source Benjamin HansenLicensed Landscape Contractor Expert Interview. 6 October 2020.
Fertilizer doesn’t work well when it’s used in the heat. [10] X Expert Source Benjamin HansenLicensed Landscape Contractor Expert Interview. 6 October 2020.
If you don’t own a rototiller, look up rototiller rentals near you and rent one for the day. Note that a rototiller can trigger weed germination by adding oxygen to the top soil. You can minimize this by using a sod cutter instead. [12] X Expert Source Benjamin HansenLicensed Landscape Contractor Expert Interview. 6 October 2020.
Don’t pack down the soil too much or the roots on the sod won’t attach properly. The top . 5 inches (1. 3 cm) of soil should be loose enough that when you walk across the soil your feet leave . 5 in (1. 3 cm) footprints. [14] X Research source
