How to Install a Lawn: From Soil to First Watering

A lawn that still looks good a year in depends more on soil preparation than on the sod or seed itself. This guide covers the three stages — prepare, plant, and water — for an example 80 m² (860 sq ft) garden, with quantities worked out by the site's calculators.

Stage 1 — Prepare the soil

Level the ground, remove large rocks and roots, and loosen the top 10-15 cm (4-6 in) of soil. If the existing soil is poor (very sandy, very clay-heavy, or compacted from construction), work in a layer of topsoil: for 80 m² with a 5 cm (2 in) new layer, that's 4 m³ of soil. → Soil/substrate calculator

Stage 2 — Choose sod or seed, and plant

With rolls covering 1 m² each and 10% waste, 80 m² needs 88 sod rolls. If you prefer seed at 35 g/m², the same area with the same margin needs 3.08 kg (6.8 lb). Lay sod right after delivery (don't let more than 24-48 hours pass); spread seed evenly and rake lightly to bury it a few millimeters. → Lawn calculator

Stage 3 — Establishment watering

The first 2-3 weeks are the most critical: sod needs light daily watering until it roots (about 2 weeks), and seed needs the soil kept constantly moist (not waterlogged) until germination, which takes 7 to 21 days depending on the species. After that period, switch to deeper, more spaced-out watering so roots grow downward.

Project summary (80 m²)

Topsoil (5 cm layer)	4 m³
Sod rolls (1 m²/roll, 10% waste)	88 rolls
— or seed (35 g/m², 10% waste)	3.08 kg
Establishment watering	2-3 weeks daily, then spaced out

A border of mulch around planting beds near the lawn helps define the edge and cuts down on edging work. Adjust this guide's quantities to your own garden with the linked calculators.