- 1). Check the ground hardness the day before you plan to use a sod cutter. Insert the shaft of a screwdriver into the ground to a depth of 3 inches. Water the grass if the screwdriver does not easily push into the ground in order to soften the ground ready for the sod cutter.
- 2). Choose a sod cutter that is appropriate for the size of job you want to do. Measure the area of the grass to remove using a measuring tape. Ask to hire a sod cutter for the square footage you need. A ride-on sod cutter may be more appropriate for large areas of grass rather than a standard, walk-behind sod cutter.
- 3). Snap chalk lines along the grass to the width of the sod cutter blade in order to use the lines as a guide for maneuvering the sod cutter. Read the safety guidelines and instruction manual that comes with the sod cutter to completely familiarize yourself with the safe operation of the machine.
- 4). Choose the cutting depth of the sod cutter by changing the blade depth setting, according to your model type. Check that the sod cutter's gear is in neutral and the blade is above the ground and then start the machine.
- 5). Position the blade on the ground according to the directions for your model type. Choose a low forward gear. Apply the throttle and guide the sod cutter along a chalk line for a few feet.
- 6). Lift the blade to cut the end of a strip of grass. Disengage the throttle and place the gear in neutral. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to continue to remove sod strips in short lengths.
- 7). Lift the blade and disengage the throttle before choosing a different gear speed. Cut the sod strips in straight lines and turn the machine only while the blade is up.
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