670 rolls of sod, a rake & a 10 year old son???

Bob_Skurka · Jul 22, 2004

OK guys, a close friend moved into a suburban new house a couple weeks ago in the far western suburbs of Chicago (Oswego, IL). Tomorrow the sod truck is rolling into his driveway with 670 rolls of sod (I am guessing that there are about 70 to 100 rolls per pallet?) so he will be dealing with something in the neighborhood of 7 to 10 pallets of sod.

His back yard was graded 3 or 4 weeks ago. Since then we've have numerous rains hit the area and the soil has crusted over.

I asked him what he was going to use to break up the soil and prepare it for the sod. He said he had a rake. As in a wooded stick about 6' long with metal tines on the end of it. The kind they use in suburban neighborhoods to gather leaves in the fall. That kind.

So I asked him how many people he had lined up to help. He said his kid. Mikey. 10 year old boy. His other kid, 13 or 14, will help for a while, but has to play in a little league(?) game Saturday.

He figures he can lay all the sod on Saturday.

I am out of town (actually I live almost 2 hours a way even when I am in town) or I would have taken a tractor, tiller, drag, etc over there and helped him. I know several other mutual friends who would have also dropped everything to help, but for 2 problems. First, he didn't ask anyone for help. And second, by the time we found out, everyone else had plans, or like me, is out of town.

So I've never laid an entire yard. And I certainly wouldn't do it with the help of a 10 year old if I intended to remain sane. But has anyone actually done a similar yard project with minimal help and if so, how long will it take? I figure a half dozen guys could do it in a weekend, maybe even a day. But one guy, no tools except a rake, and the only helper probably can't even lift a roll of sod.

Seriously, after you finish laughing at my friend, how long is it going to take him?

jwstewar · Jul 22, 2004

I bet he'll have to be mowing the first roles before he gets the last ones (which are now dead) down. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Cliff_Johns · Jul 22, 2004

How much area does a roll cover? Sounds like a big yard.

Cliff

Bob_Skurka · Jul 22, 2004

( I bet he'll have to be mowing the first roles before he gets the last ones (which are now dead) down. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

Any idea how long a roll of sod will stay alive on a pallet? I wonder if they go dormant for a few days or if they just die and turn brown?

Bob_Skurka · Jul 22, 2004

(
How much area does a roll cover? Sounds like a big yard.

Cliff
)

He told me the back lawn area was measured at 6700+ square feet after deducting off the patio and walk areas. He told me the rolls of sod her purchased were 10 square feet (2'wide by 5'long). Consequently 670 rolls x 10 sq.ft. = 6700 sq.ft. yard.

DAP · Jul 22, 2004

The real danger here is not so much how much work is involved but can the rolls survive the implementation.

If those roots cant penetrate their bed, those sod roles will die out pronto.

Whether they survive for the next year I can't say.

Those rolls are living plants and should be treated just like they were a new rose bush going into a pot I would think.

/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

mwood · Jul 22, 2004

Right on DAP..

When my parents had sod laid over their new septic, the crew did a real good job of turning over the soil and on especially rocky / hard areas, they brought in topsoil to smooth it all out. The sod took just fine except for one part on the edge. Not their fault entirely -- they did all they could.

Sod is simply a collection of plants and should be treated accordingly. Some of it may die and that's just a fact of transplanting it. I would think your friend may want to order a couple extra rolls and put them in a garden in case all of his doens't take.

As far as time, I think i'll agree with the "mowing the first one before he's done" comment

Lloyd_E · Jul 22, 2004

I assisted my older brother 25 years ago.

Four adults, including myself, laid 13,500 sq ft of sod, in the rain, over a 2 day period.

Flatbed was left in yard on Friday - driver said he would be back Monday morning to pick it up.

We had shovels, rakes and three wheel barrels.

Six years later he sold the place - new buyers put a pool (31'x18' = 558 sq ft) in middle of yard.

Have fun! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

jwstewar · Jul 22, 2004

( Any idea how long a roll of sod will stay alive on a pallet? )

I have no clue and I've never laid sod. Just have heard many comments of how bad it is. Even from people that said "How bad can it be? You lay it down and roll it out." /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I wish him the best.

Cliff_Johns · Jul 22, 2004

( . . . "How bad can it be? You lay it down and roll it out." /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif . . . )

Yes, and you must remember, "Green side up!"
Cliff