Can You Lay New Sod Over Old or Dead Grass?

Can sod go straight onto dirt?

Yes, once the dirt is prepared. UF/IFAS says the area should be properly prepared, for example tilled and raked smooth, before the sod is delivered, and moistened at the time the sod is laid.

What preparing the ground means

From UF/IFAS Extension's guide to preparing a Florida lawn:

• Remove all construction debris, brush, large roots, rocks, weeds and old tree stumps.
• Slope the ground 1% to 2% away from the house, about a half foot to a foot of fall per 50 feet.
• Get a soil test before planting, and finish any pH adjustment before the lawn goes in.
• Check for hard ground. Push a screwdriver into moist soil; if it will not go in at least 6 inches without significant force, compaction will likely hold the roots back.

Compaction often comes from vehicle traffic while a house is being built, and roots may not be able to get through a compacted layer.

How the new sod should go down

• Plant it as quickly as possible after delivery. UF/IFAS puts the life of sod on a pallet in summer at less than 48 hours.
• Lay it in a staggered brick pattern, pieces butted tight with no soil showing between them.
• Tamp or roll it to remove air pockets.
• Water it as it goes down, then follow the first-month schedule. The schedule, and the best months to lay sod.

Why the preparation matters

UF/IFAS warns that without proper site preparation and post-installation care, sod can die almost as easily as any other newly planted area.

Questions to ask before sod goes down

• How does the old grass come out, and where does it go?
• Will you grade the yard and check the soil?
• Is taking out the old lawn a separate line on the written estimate? What tear-out and grading cost, from published price lists.