Ground Preparation and Leveling
At 0:00 in
green side up!
What happens here
The initial stage of installing sod involves meticulously preparing the ground. As seen in the video, workers utilize tools like rakes (including what appears to be a "Harley rake" or power rake) to meticulously level the existing soil. The voiceover mentions spreading "additional soil" (likely topsoil) to achieve an optimal surface. The goal is to ensure the ground is "super flat" to prevent an uneven lawn that would result in a "bumpy ride when you're mowing." Heavy machinery such as small excavators or skid steers, visible in the background, are often employed for the initial movement and spreading of large quantities of soil, followed by manual raking for fine-tuning.
Goal: Create a smooth, level, and well-graded base for sod installation.
Tools and materials
- Harley Rake — Aggressively leveling, de-thatching, and preparing seedbeds with a tractor or skid steer, Rakes Unknown
- Additional Soil / Topsoil — Amending existing soil or creating a new level base