SECTION 809 — SODDING

809.1 DESCRIPTION — This work is furnishing, placing, and maintaining cultivated sod on designated areas.

809.2 MATERIAL —

(a) Sod. Conforming to the current edition of the American Sod Producers Association's Guideline Specifications to Sodding, and as follows:

• Certified sod cultivated of two or more approved Kentucky bluegrass varieties.
• Containing not more than 10% of other fine turf grass species.
• Entirely free from weeds, as defined in the Pennsylvania Seed Act of 1965 and amendments.
• Free from harmful insects, disease, and nematodes.
• Cultured in mineral soil.
• Certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture or the Department of Agriculture of the state from which sod is obtained.
• Rectangular machine sections 12 to 24 inches wide, 2 to 6 feet long with a uniform soil thickness of approximately 3/4-inch excluding top growth and thatch. Broken sections or sections having torn or uneven ends will not be accepted.
• Grass height, maximum 1 1/2 inches.
• Well-moistened condition.
• Relatively free of thatch (up to 1/2-inch uncompressed thickness acceptable).

Net sod may be used after submitting a sample to, and obtaining acceptance from, the Engineer.

(b) Lime. Section 804.2(a)1.

(c) Fertilizer. Section 804.2(a)2.

(d) Water. Section 720.2


809.3 CONSTRUCTION —

(a) Sod. Place sod within 36 hours after having been cut.

(b) Temporary Storage. For sod in temporary storage, protect from drying due to sunlight or wind. Keep sod moist.

(c) Site Preparation. Prior to placing sod, complete soil preparation or topsoiling, as specified in Section 802.3. Provide a sod bed graded so that, after placing, the top of the sod is flush with the surrounding finished grade.
Apply soil supplements, as specified in Section 804.3(c), to areas to be sodded. Moisten soil prior to placing sod.

(d) Placing Sod. Place sod when soil moisture and temperature conditions are suitable. Do not cut or place sod when the temperature is lower than 32F. Do not place frozen sod.
Carefully place sod by hand, with tight joints, no overlap, and in straight lines with rows placed parallel to and tight against each other. Break or stagger transverse joints. Do not use pitchforks or other tools which may damage the sod. Do not dump sod from vehicles. Immediately after placing, saturate sod with water to its full depth. After the initial watering, tamp the sod to close joints and ensure close contact between the sod and sod bed. Tamp to obtain a smooth, even sod surface, free from bumps and depressions. If directed, use a roller weighing not more than 65 pounds per foot of width to complete firming and smoothing the sod.
When placing sod in ditches, place the strip with the longer dimension perpendicular to the flow of water. At any point where water will start flowing over a sodded area, turn the upper edge of the sod strips into the soil, then place a layer of compacted earth over this juncture to conduct the water over the sod edge. On slopes, place sod with the long axis parallel to the contour, starting at the bottom of the slope. Stagger sod joints.
In ditches and on slope areas (3:1 or greater), stake each strip of sod securely using at least one wood stake for each 2 square feet of sod. Use stakes 1/2-inch x 1 inch and with a length of 8 to 12 inches. Drive stakes flush with the top of the sod, with the wide face parallel to the slope contour.

(e) Maintenance. Properly maintain sodded areas until the project has been accepted. This may include repeated watering, mowing and repairs or replacement of sod in areas which fail to show a uniform growth of grass, or which are damaged in any way.
Do not mow sodded areas until sod is firmly rooted and secured in place. Maintain grass height at 1 1/2 inches unless otherwise directed.

809.4 MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT —

(a) Sodding. Square Yard

(b) Watering and Mowing. Initial watering and mowing at the time of sodding will be considered incidental to sodding and will not be paid for separately. Subsequent watering, requested and required for grass survival, or as otherwise directed, will be measured and paid for by 1,000 (M) gallons. Subsequent directed mowing will be measured and paid for by the Acre.

No Supplement

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