Your lawn gets tired and worn out for many reasons. Sometimes invasive weeds take over and choke out your grasses. Ugly bare spots are caused by animal urine, fungal diseases, chemical spills, insects and too much shade.
When you decide to repair some areas of your lawn, the first thing you need to do is remove the old turf so the new grass can root properly. The best way to do this is with a sod cutter. If you're looking for a sod cutter that cuts and installs small plugs, choose the Yard Butler Sod Plugger Turf Cutter and Plugging Tool and cut as many perfect 3-inch squares as you need.
People use sod cutters to cut grass below the roots so they can remove entire sections of sod at once, exposing the bare ground underneath. This removal of old turf is crucial to giving the new sod a chance to root in loose soil. Special sod cutters cut holes that exactly fit the commercial grass plugs used to fill bare spots.
No matter which sod cutter you buy, you are likely going to need a long-handled shovel to lift the old sod and a sturdy rake to smooth the ground for the new.
The simplest sod cutting tool is a hand-held garden knife with a long blade. After you make vertical cuts around all four sides, slice underneath to sever and remove the roots. This process dulls the blades quickly, so consider buying a multi-pack of knives if you have a full day’s work ahead of you.
It's tougher to cut through grass and root systems than most people imagine, so blades need to be made of steel that takes a sharp edge.
Because every cut pushes the blade through dirt, the sharp edge gets dull quickly and needs frequent resharpening. If you plan on doing a lot of sod cutting, it's an excellent idea to get a good sharpening tool.
Small sod knives cost $10-$30. Long-handled cutters run $30-$60 and powered sod cutters cost in the thousands.
A. If you’re moving large pieces of sod from your existing lawn to cover your bare spots, the best way is to cut pieces you can easily lift and handle without the sod breaking apart. A good rule of thumb is to cut strips that are as wide as your blade, but only as long as you can easily handle.
A. The closer you place the plugs, the quicker the bare spaces between will grow in. Plan on anywhere from 300 to 600 plugs per 100 square feet of lawn.
A. Hand tools are no match for a large lawn, so consider renting a commercial sod cutter or hiring a landscaper.
Yard Butler Sod Plugger Turf Cutter and Plugging Tool
What you need to know: This 4-pound tool is sized to fit commercially available 3- by 3-inch sod plugs.
What you’ll love: You can use this 33-inch-tall hand tool to cut small squares in the bare spots on your lawn and fill them with plugs you buy or ones you make yourself from the healthy areas of your lawn. The powder-coated steel hand and foot bars are sturdy, and the ejector button releases the plug without you having to bend over.
What you should consider: It's made for replacing small areas of sod.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Linsen Outdoors Stainless Steel Garden Knife
What you need to know: This double-sided knife has one blade for quick trimming and another for cutting fine edges.
What you’ll love: The high-quality stainless steel is treated to prevent rust and corrosion. The thermoplastic handle is ergonomically designed for secure, comfortable handling, and the nylon sheath with a sturdy belt loop keeps the knife handy and protects the blades from accidental damage.
What you should consider: It's made only for cutting, so you will need to remove the sod by hand or with a flat shovel.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Bully Tools 92390 12-Gauge Sod Lifter
What you need to know: Its triple-wall fiberglass handle is lightweight and sturdy.
What you’ll love: The D-shaped grip is designed for superior comfort, safety and durability. The 12-gauge steel cutting blade is 5 by 8 inches and easily kept sharp with a file or grinder.
What you should consider: Some reviewers wished the angle of the blade was steeper so they didn’t have to bend over as much.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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David Allan Van writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
