Everybody loves a shortcut, right? Especially when it comes to dirty, back-breaking work like laying sod.
We can sense you pondering how to lay your new sod and be done in time to grab a steak dinner and fit in nine holes of golf.
Maybe you can just lay new sod over the existing grass? Or maybe you don’t need to install a whole new lawn. Can you just do some patches, and lay sod next to existing grass?
Sod installation in Apopka, FL comes with questions.
Just like magic, here are your answers.
Can You Lay Sod Over Existing Grass?
No. This might seem like a pretty sweet shortcut, but it could kill your new sod if the grass can’t make contact with dirt.
Your new sod needs to establish its roots in the soil, to take advantage of the water and nutrients there. The faster it takes root, the healthier it will be.
Leaving a layer of grass underneath your new sod prevents it from taking root and increases the chance that the new lawn will die from lack of nutrients and moisture.
Installing sod over existing grass also interferes with proper grade. You want the soil base level with other surfaces like sidewalks and driveways — not higher than them.
Bottom line: removing your old lawn before laying new sod is crucial for a healthy root system.
Can I Lay Sod Next to Existing Grass?
Don’t need a whole new sod lawn, but have a few dead or damaged areas to patch?
You can lay sod next to existing grass to replace those struggling spots. But it takes some careful preparation:
1. Measure the area that needs replacing.
2. Buy about a third more sod than that amount. Be sure it’s the same variety of grass.
3. Remove the dead grass. You don’t want an oddly shaped patch, so cut around the dead area in a neat square. The patch should extend two inches or so beyond the edges of the bare spot into the healthy grass area.
4. Loosen up the soil in your patch area. You want the soil nice and loose so that the roots in your sod patch can quickly grow down into the soil.
5. Remove some soil if you need to, leaving enough space so your new sod will be level with your existing lawn. This is important: make sure the new sod sits flush with existing grass and there isn’t an uneven "ledge.”
6. Cut the sod to fit the new area, making sure the edges fit very closely together.
7. Water well, and keep the sod moist for at least two weeks afterward.
Sound like a hassle? You’re not wrong. Suddenly, that steak dinner and golf outing aren’t such a sure thing. Unless you make it easy on yourself and leave it to the pros.
Need Sod Installation in Apopka, FL? Trust Ground Source
Sod installation can be tricky, whether you’re trying to lay sod next to existing grass, puzzling over what type of sod is best for your property, or worried about the health and quality of your new sod lawn.
We’re happy to deliver our high-quality sod to you for your DIY lawn project. Or, spend your weekend relaxing instead of lugging around heavy rolls of sod. 
Let the pros at Ground Source handle the delivery and installation for you, whether you need an entire sod lawn, a partial lawn, or just a few patches.
We’re sod experts, but our skills don’t stop there. We’re with you every step of the way as you plan your perfect outdoor space.
Sod, irrigation, landscape design: Let us transform your yard from an embarrassing eyesore to a place you spend every spare minute.
Are you ready to enjoy the vibrant, impressive yard you've always wanted? Request a quote today! We’ll help you review your options and then transform your property.
