Can you lay sod on top of old grass năm 2024

The Internet can be a tremendous tool, especially when it comes to seeking helpful information. Unfortunately, misinformation is abundant, even in the most unlikely of places. The website eHow may provide a great deal of worthwhile information to consumers, but one contributing writer offered readers some advice that may do more harm than good.

“Sodding your lawn is a quick and easy way to replace struggling or dying turfgrass,” he writes. “Although more expensive than seed, sod can be applied to your lawn in a single day. Sod also requires much less care than sown seed. Most homeowners go to the expense — in both work and actual financial burden — of removing their lawns before applying sod. Sod, though, can be applied directly over existing grass.”

The author went on to write: “Professional landscapers often apply sod directly over grass. The sod compresses the grass and limits its exposure to sunlight and water. This quickly kills the already existing grass in much the same way that a brick left on a lawn kills the grass beneath it. When the grass dies, it gives off nutrients that actually benefit the new sod above it. The main nutrient that the dead grass layer provides is nitrogen. Applying sod directly over grass is advantageous because it requires less work. The lawn does not need to be treated with herbicide. Also, you do not need to till your yard.” (To read the eHow article in its entirety, click .)

The pros weigh in: After reading the article, we contacted a few turfgrass producers and asked, “Would you ever lay sod over an existing lawn or sports field?” Their responses were direct and to the point.

“This is not a practice that I have ever heard of working,” says Mike Blair, Green Velvet Sod Farms, Bellbrook, Ohio. “I was always of the mindset that the decomposing of the grass would develop an acid or a slime, which would cause problems; also, the fact that you would have air trapped between the sod and the ground allowing the roots to dry out and die.”

Bob Weerts of Blue Valley Sod Farm in Winnebago, Minn., asserts simply that it’s “not a good idea.” In fact, when we left a message for Weerts, he happened to be on the road. The irony is, when he received our message to call us back, he was talking to a landscape consultant who was inspecting a lawn problem for one of his customers (a nationally known restaurant chain). By sheer coincidence, the problem he was looking into was a dying new lawn around of one of the chain’s restaurants. Corporate wanted to know what had happened to the lawn.

It appeared that a contactor had laid new turfgrass sod over the existing lawn weeks earlier, and the entire job was a disaster. The new grass never rooted. The entire project would have to be redone.

Industry consultant Isaac Branham says he couldn’t believe someone would actually lay sod on top of grass without properly preparing the area: “If a client of mine wanted me to do something like this, as a professional, I would not take the job.””Short answer: Nope!” quips Warren Bell of Biograss Sod Farm in Sandy, Utah. “Heavy aeration and power raking can improve soil-to-soil contact, but you’ll still have a soil layering problem. The surface of the old lawn has a lot of organic matter, and likely will not match the soil profile of the sod being installed. Water will never move through the profile with efficiency.”

Linda Bradley of Turf Mountain Sod in Hendersonville, N.C., was very specific on addressing necessary precautions. You can’t simply lay sod on top of grass without doing proper preparation. “All sod must make soil contact to root,” she points out. “Therefore, the existing grass / lawn must be extremely sparse or you will have to bring in dirt and put it on top before laying the new sod. Additionally, the grade is extremely important; the water flow must be proper. No holding spots for water, and of course you never want the water to run towards the home or building. If you currently have weeds, they can grow through the new sod. And the ground cannot be too hard, or the roots will not penetrate, even if the roots are touching dirt / soil. This is true whether there is existing sod or not; this is extremely important either way. We always recommend the top 2 to 3 in. to be loosened.”

So, when it comes to the idea of laying new turfgrass sod directly on top of an existing home lawn or a sports field, turfgrass sod producers are unanimous: Don’t do it!

Intuitively, laying sod over existing grass seems like an easy fix to a dying lawn: roll out new turf over struggling grass, let the bottom layer die and a new, beautiful lawn is right before your eyes. While this strategy sounds simple and efficient, is it really the best route to go?

While it seems like a great idea in theory, layering sod on top of existing turf isn’t likely to fare well. We can see why you’d think it could be a good strategy – it’s a quick fix for a dying lawn. However, like laying landscaping fabric, sod could starve existing grass for sunlight and effectively kill off the original layer.

Get to know the basics of turf with us, starting with our number one rule: laying sod over existing grass is a recipe for ruining your lawn. This is due to a variety of reasons, such as:

Roots Will Not Be Able to Establish

Turf needs to be able to grow roots quickly to become established after sod is laid. To do so, it needs additional soil. The original layer of grass will form a barrier that makes it difficult for roots to establish.

If you’re looking to add additional soil before laying sod to ensure root establishment, find out which type is best for your lawn.

It is very difficult to lay sod in a manner that will prevent its roots from drying out. Because of the air trapped in the original grass, roots will be exposed to air and, regardless of how diligently you water them, will dehydrate.

The Soil Won’t Be Properly Prepared

If you’re in the market to lay new turf over a struggling lawn or playing field, you’ll need to prepare the ground first in order to allow the sod to make root-to-soil contact. Here are some ideas to consider to prepare your soil:

1. Add a layer of topsoil on top of existing grass to ensure root contact.
2. Remove old sod with a sod cutter to expose soil. This is optimal as there is a better connection for the roots and less chance of dehydration.

Click here to read more about our tips to prepare your soil for sod.

So, how do you lay sod over existing grass? Unless the underlying turf that you are planning to put sod over is very sparse, it is best to go with another strategy, such as better preparing your soil for connection or professional installation.

Still want a quick and easy fix for your lawn? Apply for our sod installation service for fast, dependable, and hassle-free service so we can help ensure you get the lawn you want.

Don’t know what to do with your leftover sod?

Many garden centers accept sod cuttings for their mulching project, so call around if you’re concerned about diverting large amounts of yard waste from the waste stream when you re-sod your lawn. Click here for the complete list of places that recycle yard waste in Colorado.

When installing sod, how do you go about the watering aspect?

As with any other turf-laying project, you’ll need to consider grading and drainage when you install your new sod, making sure water doesn’t pool in low spots and drains properly. Check out this article from Colorado State University for how to set up your lawn for sod in terms of watering systems, along with some of

Is it OK to lay new sod over existing grass?

You can't simply lay sod on top of grass without doing proper preparation. “All sod must make soil contact to root,” she points out. “Therefore, the existing grass / lawn must be extremely sparse or you will have to bring in dirt and put it on top before laying the new sod.

Do I have to remove all old grass before laying sod?

Remove the Grass However, even the lightest amount of existing growth is best removed entirely, along with the root systems so the new sod gets the most contact with the bare soil. Trying to lay sod over existing grass leads to drying and dead roots as the new layer struggles to reach the soil below.

Can I put topsoil over dead grass?

If you're looking for a short answer, then yes, you can put topsoil over grass and existing garden lawns. Although it's possible for grass to grow through the topsoil, this can only be successful depending on the thickness of topsoil applied as a top dressing.

Do I need to put topsoil down before sod?

Air movement also has a big effect. Trees that have high branches that let the air move are better sites for bluegrass, than a maple tree surrounded by a solid board privacy fence. Adding topsoil is not essential for sod but it will provide some benefits.