Sodding Your Yard

• 1). Test your soil. The results reveal which minerals are in your soil and which are lacking. Knowing this makes growth and care of St. Augustine grass much easier. For best results, your soil should have a pH between 5 and 7.5. Salt levels can be as high as 16 millimoes. Buy a soil-testing kit at a garden outlet store or hire a professional for the test.
  
  
• 2). Cultivate your soil 6 to 12 inches deep.
  
  
• 3). Make your lawn drain easily by having the soil closest to the edge of your house higher than the edge of your lawn. A rake is helpful for this.
  
  
• 4). Add supplements to your yard based on the soil test results.
  
  
• 5). Rake the soil to remove debris such as rocks, twigs and leaves.
  
  
• 6). Place St. Augustine grass sod plugs 1 to 2 feet apart.
  
  
• 7). Roll over the sod plugs with a lawn roller to connect the St. Augustine grass' roots with the soil.
  
  
• 8). Apply fertilizer and potassium to your yard. Use fertilizer high in phosphorous. The fertilizer and potassium help St. Augustine grass grow faster, resist cold and resist drought.
  
  
• 9). Water your new lawn lightly for 10 minutes two to three times every day for four weeks.