How to Remove Sod

Moving sod by digging it up and moving it to another area produces fast and clean results and stops your lawn's health from being thrown away. This is the most efficient method to get rid of sod without harming it.

Tools Needed to Remove Sod

Before you start, make sure you have these gardening tools available:

• Hose or sprinkler
• Sharp spade, shovel, or edger
• Spade or pitchfork

How Do You Remove Sod?

Here are the correct methods to employ when you are taking out sod:

The grass should be watered: A few days before you intend to dig the sod; you should water the area thoroughly, making the soil more manageable to handle. After a couple of days, you'll have moist but not too wet--soil that sticks together, but it's not too heavy.

Cut the sod into pieces: With a sharp spade, edger, or shovel, cut along the edges of the grass that you intend to get rid of. Cut the sod into 1-foot by two-foot pieces or one-foot square pieces. It's only necessary to cut through the soil's top layer, so don't be concerned about digging very deeply.

Sod is to be pried up: Dig under one side on each of the pieces of sod and push a spade or pitchfork beneath it to cut deep taproots. Remove the cut piece and shake the loose soil back on the surface.

Sod is rolled up: If the pieces are large enough, you can make them into carpets. If you choose square pieces, arrange them close to the spot in which you'll be transferring the sod.

Caring for Sod Before Laying It

If you're unable to transfer the sod in a hurry, it will take the option of waiting up to 5 days before you plant it out before the grass ceases to grow according to the season and the weather. In the summer months, active growing sod may begin to show signs of stress in less than 12 hours. This is why it is recommended to prepare the area for sod prior to digging it out from the soil.

If sod that has been dug up must be left out for longer than a day, be aware that moisture is essential to its continued existence. Place the strips or squares of soil in a shaded place where the sun won't dry the soil. If it takes several hours, remove the sod, and it can be watered. This will also allow heat to escape so that grass does not fade until you are able to complete the transplant.

Get Professional Assistance

If you're aware of how to get rid of sod, you'll be excited to begin. Remember that sod is a heavy material, and you'll likely require help from someone else to complete the task. For your safety, we advise the removal of large amounts of sod by an expert.