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Sod is cut commercially for landscapers and builders, but homeowners can also cut it by using a machine called a sod cutter, available at equipment rental stores and garden centers. Cutting your own sod enables you to have new grass when you need it, at no cost. However, mastering the use of a sod cutter takes a bit of practice.
Preparation and Safety
Wear eye protection and closed-toe shoes when using a sod cutter and avoid loose clothing that may get caught in the cutter’s moving parts. Ensure pets and other people are a minimum distance of 30 feet from the machine at all times during operation, and never turn the sod cutter on in enclosed areas such as a garage or shed. Water the soil prior to cutting to give the blades of the sod cutter some traction. In dry soils the blades may slip and the sod cutter’s wheels may skid, which makes it difficult to control the machine. Check the oil level before use. The oil should reach between the two marks on the dipstick. If it does not, add high quality detergent oil according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Starting the Cutter
To start your sod cutter, shift the throttle or transmission lever, which is typically on the handlebars, to the “neutral” position. Push the blade engagement lever, which is typically on the side at the rear of the machine, away from you to lift the cutting blade above the ground. Move the sod cutter to the area of lawn you plan to cut and disengage the clutch before you start the engine. The sod cutter won’t start if the clutch is engaged. Lift the handlebars while pulling the blade engagement lever toward you to lower the blade to the ground.
Cutting the Sod
Cutting sod is simple once you start the machine. Push down on the handlebars and shift the throttle lever to the full position, and then push downward on the sod cutter constantly as you walk the machine forward. The cut sod should have 3/4 inch or less of soil attached to it to ensure rapid root growth when it is replanted. As you cut, walk in a straight line at a slow speed. The distance you walk determines the length of the sod cut. Four-foot strips are usually ideal. At the end of the cut, lift the handlebars and when the blade is clear of the sod, disengage the clutch control lever and the cutter will stop. Turn off the engine and raise the cutting blade when you finish cutting.
Blade Depth Adjustment
Most sod cutters have levers on the side at the rear of the machine. The uppermost lever typically raises and lowers the blade, the next locks the blade into place and the lowest lever locks the blade angle. You will also find a depth control knob in this location. Turn the hex nut on this knob with an adjustable wrench to unlock the depth control. Turn it clockwise to add cutting depth or counterclockwise to reduce it. Tighten the hex nut to lock the blade into position before you resume cutting.
References (2)
About the Author
Renee Miller began writing professionally in 2008, contributing to websites and the 'Community Press' newspaper. She is co-founder of On Fiction Writing, a website for writers. Miller holds a diploma in social services from Clarke College in Belleville, Ontario.
Cite this Article Choose Citation Style
Miller, Renee. 'Sod Cutter Instructions.' Home Guides | SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/sod-cutter-instructions-97398.html. Accessed 11 January 2020.
Miller, Renee. (n.d.). Sod Cutter Instructions. Home Guides | SF Gate. Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/sod-cutter-instructions-97398.html
Miller, Renee. 'Sod Cutter Instructions' accessed January 11, 2020. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/sod-cutter-instructions-97398.html
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