How to Install Bermuda Sod in Georgia
- 1). Multiply the length by the width of the area to calculate the square footage of Bermuda sod you will need. Divide this number by three to get square yardage, the measurement by which sod is sold.
- 2). Inspect the sod carefully for signs of yellowing, drying or insects. Sod rolls should be moist, green and healthy. In Georgia weather, sod life after rolling is less than 48 hours; so ask when the sod was cut.
- 3). Till the area to be planted with a tilling machine to a depth of 6 inches. Remove rocks, stones and vegetation as you go. Rake the surface smooth until it is free of clumps and clods. Rake until it slopes at a two- to five-degree downward angle to improve drainage.
- 4). Water the area deeply the night before sod is delivered because you'll need to plant it as soon as it arrives. When the sod is delivered, inspect it again before accepting delivery to make sure it's what you ordered.
- 5). Unroll lengths of sod and cut them with a sharp utility knife to fit the area. Tamp each piece down with your feet to ensure firm contact of roots with moist soil. Air spaces will cause roots to dry out quickly and the sod will die in the Georgia heat.
- 6). Fit pieces of Bermuda sod together tightly but do not stretch them. Stretching tears roots and foliage apart and stresses the grass. Instead, cut narrow pieces of sod to fill gaps if you make a mistake.
- 7). Water Bermuda sod thoroughly after planting. For the next seven days, sprinkle the planted sod for 20 minutes, two to three times a day, to keep the soil moist while new roots grow into the underlying soil.
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