Sod Installation in Slidell, Laid on Sandy Loam

01 · Slidell

How do we prep Slidell soil before the sod goes down?

1. 01

   Test, then lime

   LSU AgCenter advises sending a soil sample several weeks before planting. Slidell topsoil usually reads pH 5.0 to 5.3, so the results tell us how much lime to work in for the grass you pick. Centipede needs little or none. The others usually want more.

2. 02

   Clear and loosen

   Old turf and weeds come out first, because sod laid over them never gets proper soil contact. Then we loosen the top layer. On Stough ground a dense fragipan sits about 15 inches down, and no amount of tilling turns it into a drain, so the surface grade does the real work.

3. 03

   Crown the grade

   On land this flat, small changes matter. LSU’s older lawn guide says a 1 percent slope or a slight crown can head off drainage trouble later. We fill low spots and shape the yard so water moves toward the street, away from the slab.

4. 04

   Roll and lay

   A light roll sets the contour. Sod then goes down in a staggered brick pattern with tight seams, and gets rolled again to press out air pockets.

02 · Slidell

What should you check with the city first?

Most sod jobs need no paperwork. A few Slidell projects do, and it’s easier to know before the trucks arrive:

We don’t install drainage pipe. If your yard needs subsurface drainage in the right of way, the city requires a Culvert Permit, and that work is for a drainage company before we lay a single pallet.

• 01

  Utility locate

  Utility locate: Call 811 before any digging. Louisiana One Call is a free service and takes homeowner requests online.

• 02

  Bringing in fill

  Bringing in fill: The city’s Development Process page says a Fill Plan is required if fill will be brought to the site. Ask the Planning Department at 985-646-4320.

• 03

  Taking out a tree

  Taking out a tree: Slidell requires a Tree Removal Permit to remove trees or clear land, through the same department.

• 04

  Flood zone work

  Flood zone work: The city’s flood ordinance calls for a permit on development that includes excavation. If regrading is on the table, the Floodplain Administrator in Building Safety can tell you where your lot stands.

04 · Slidell

How do you water new sod in Slidell’s climate?

Slidell is wet. The in-city NOAA station averages about 66 inches of rain a year, with close to 8 inches in July alone, when highs sit near 90 F. Rain helps, but it doesn’t replace a watering plan for the first weeks.

Roots usually take hold within 30 to 60 days. Lift a corner to check. Once it grips, LSU suggests a light first feeding of up to 0.5 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft, and the first mow on soil that isn’t saturated. For a grass-specific timeline, see how long Bermuda takes to establish after installation.

Not sure which turf to lay? Compare St. Augustine for Slidell’s shaded yards with low-input centipede on Slidell soil, or start from our Slidell lawn guide and the full sod installation process.

• 01

  Day one

  Day one: soak until the sod and the soil under it are both moist, without water running off.

• 02

  Days 1 to 14

  Days 1 to 14: during the growing season, water once or twice a day.

• 03

  After 2 weeks

  After 2 weeks: water less often but longer, so roots chase moisture downward.

• 04

  After a downpour

  After a downpour: if the soil under the sod is still moist, hold off. The main soils here can carry a wet-season water table within 6 to 12 inches of the surface.