People often need to cut sod for a wide variety of reasons. Some of these reasons may include the movement and removal of sod. Cutting sod is not extremely difficult as there are many different tools that make this process easier. There are tools that range from motorized to hand powered.
Types of Sod Cutters
Sod cutters come into different styles. One looks like a spade with serrated edges, which is contains a specially designed plate that is made specifically to cut sod. The other has two handles and a cutting bade that are squeezed together to cut the sod.
The sod cutter is designed in such a way that it allows for the easy removal of roots and grass.
How to Use a Sod Cutter
The use of a sod cutter is very simple and it is similar to using a shovel. You place the sod cutter in the grass and you then use your foot to make sure it is firmly entrenched into the soil. This movement is similar to that of using a shovel. You will continue to push your foot on the cutter until the sod begins to lift.
The design of the sod cutter ensures that you will not dig too deep. Once you have gotten through the roots, then you can move forward creating a sod roll as you do this.
Generally the sod cutter will be able to create sod rolls that are around 16″ inches wide. Long rolls of sod can be cut and rolled up for future use.
Motorized Sod Cutters
If you on a large piece of land and want to remove the sod, handhelds sod cutters won’t work. You can then opt to use a motorized sod cutter. These machines look like a very big tiller. It rolls on 4 wheels and it is able to cut the sod into very large rectangular pieces, which can be rolled up for future use.
These motorized cutters can be challenging as they are very shaky and noisy. They are difficult to use, if the area is hilly and it is not considered to be a wise option.
When using the machine ensure the height is set to the correct level. Many of these cutters come with locks and they need to be unlocked before use. Once you have done this, turn the blade on and insert it into the sod. Move along with the machine and make sure the throttle is at the right level. Do a test cut to ensure that the cutting depth is at the right height when cutting the sod.
These motorized products can be rented from Home Depot for the day and the cost is around $40-$50. You can also hire someone who owns an automatic sod cutter to do the job.