How to remove sod by hand, the easy way

Watch for a simple technique that will save you time and extra work! The best way would be to pay someone with a bobcat to remove the sod, OR RENT a sod cutter.... but maybe you just have a small patch that renting a sod cutter is not worth the bother. Or maybe you just want to get it done on a holiday. Here is the easiest way with a shovel, but really I would recommend to just pay someone.

[@sydneysovern]

Thank you! All these videos are like, “you just need a saw, a sod ripper, a 2x4, a hoe, a drill, a hammer, and a metal rod! Simple!” 😂

[@mvogelmeier1]

this video made my second day of removing sod a breeze even in this 90 degree weather... good job brother

[@njdnjdnjd]

+M thanks for the comment

[@politicaljunkie]

I wish I had watched this last summer before our first attempt. This time, we'll use your method: low-tech, easy to understand. Love it! Thanks!

[@vegasjill21]

That's exactly how I widen my flower beds!! Then I take those nice strips of grass and mend the patchy places in the lawn. Just lay it right on top if the grass and water. And wa-la. Nice green grass!!! Thanks for sharing!!

[@vashon100]

wa-la? LOL It's voila.

[@Marc.Vanguard]

Just started an area for a small shed, and even in here in England I'm sweating like hell, this looks far better than my method I'll give it a try. Many thanks.

[@paddycaseygsxr]

If anybody is doing this by hand soak the area with water the night before and save yourself 50% of the hard work 😓 as the ground will be softened up with the moisture

[@fucheduck]

water stimulates grass growth when the sun comes up, even as short as overnight.

[@paddycaseygsxr]

@@fucheduck why would you be worried about 1mm of growth if you are digging the fcuker up in an hour

[@carlduffin]

no - keep the ground dry and the roots will give up more easily.

[@jimcorn2923]

@@carlduffin makes sense

[@888strummer]

@@carlduffin I started out dry and then did wet and wet is 100% easier.

[@2007rgallo]

i use my edger and cut a grid into the lawn, followed by scraping the grid cut lawn up with a square shovel. works like a champ !

[@NMranchhand]

Amen!

[@fucheduck]

even if you scrape the grass seeds you uprooted will grow next spring.

[@kbjpj8249]

U r the man great video I have been dreading removing sod on someone s yard I cut I went Home Depot didn't want to rent sod cutter this video was so helpful

[@tylerdurden4289]

you are probably my favourite person at this point in time. Good man

[@Themaskedtalker]

thanks a lot, just moved into our new house and the garden was neglected mixture of lawn and weeds and this will surely help. thanks once again

[@njdnjdnjd]

Themaskedtalker Thanks for the nice comment!

[@leeb.7188]

It helps to take a file and sharpen the edge of the shovel. (Sharpen the inside edge only.) Most shovels are sold with somewhat dull edges for safety reasons. I found that sharpening mine really helped cut through old, tough sod.

[@njdnjdnjd]

+Laura B. Good tip

[@winterbird9189]

metal file?

[@leeb.7188]

+♡ Winterbird ♡ Yes, usually you first use what is called a "bastard" file, it is metal and about 10 inches long. Available at any hardware or tool store. Then maybe finish up with a smoother file. Look on KZbin for " how to sharpen a shovel." Make sure you read the comments, too. There's one guy who instructed people to do it the wrong way and the commenters pointed that out. I'm certainly no expert, but I did use a super sharp shovel recently and was surprised at how much easier it was to slice through tough grass and roots. Digging up sod is a really difficult job and you need good tools!

[@bryanpresti6413]

@@leeb.7188 Your comment is the best type of comment and why I love reading these comment sections. Thank you.

[@EvanCarmichael]

Looking good - going to try this tomorrow - thanks for the video :)

[@IIJOSEPHXII]

Great how to. I've just spent the day doing it one shovelful at a time, and getting nowhere fast. I want to actually keep the sods and make a path out of them, but taking them out bit by bit was ruining them.

[@lynnseabridge306]

that's more realistic than the other ones I've seen

[@Karl0010]

Great video. Thanks very much. I have a couple of areas I have to dig out and re lay. Will definitely be trying this

[@lippypongstockings8356]

I have been doing mine by sitting on a board on the ground and digging it out horizonatally, but with same principle of making a series of cuts. it's much easier on your back. Probably doesn't remove as much root but my back has to take priority - I had lumbar spinal surgery a couple of years ago.

[@helenmullarney2298]

Simple instruction, love it, thank you.

[@alejandrocruz2953]

I got a project going on and this might has just saved me. Thanks for the tip!

[@njdnjdnjd]

+Alejandro Cruz thanks for the nice comment

[@Wisegogo]

Really helpful nice video. He demonstrates very wise and systemically work.

[@christinas814]

Thanks! Been trying to figure out how to make a job easier on me and less time consuming.

[@jdmarr2259]

My son just removed a foot width of sod around our HVAC. We're probably going to clean it up out another foot. I'm going to try your method. Thanks!

[@annachosak5871]

So simple and helpful! Thanks!!!

[@irisgraeber2684]

Thank you! That's very helpful. I'll try it.

[@remcat03]

Thank you for sharing this. I want to take sod out of our parkways to put in something that uses less water. The drought in CA is murder - our water bill last month was $182!!! And March-April are cool months. My son has a bad back, but hopefully, between the two of us we can use your method to get it all out of there!

[@njdnjdnjd]

+remcat03 thanks for the nice comment, & good luck with your removal

[@BuildingBridgesVentures]

Thank you for saving me time and money. You da man Nick!

[@njdnjdnjd]

Thanks for the comment

[@willinglis3302]

Excellent, thank you very much for the upload

[@GadgetGirl888]

Thank you! I'm going to try this out!

[@katherineelizondo6217]

Thank you...keep it simple.

[@fortheearth]

Nice tips! Thank you!

[@henrysimmons6767]

Thanks. I am going to try this technique

[@robertleemary7723]

awesome. will give that a try now. thanks for the tip.

[@pfmurphy525]

Nice video. Thanks for the help.

[@TheatreAbsolute]

Thanks! I'm doing this on my small front garden - hope I can manage it!

[@njdnjdnjd]

Thanks for the comment & good luck!

[@LIBERTYinPERIL]

Thanks for the video. You make it look easy

[@njdnjdnjd]

+Dim Wit thanks for the comment

[@n017kingg7]

thank you for the tips

[@BolasDaGrk]

It is funny, after several minutes and different techniques, I concluded with that final technique. I was looking for something even easier, but I guess this is it! =o|

[@njdnjdnjd]

+BolasDaGrk thanks for the nice comment

[@kimcarignan8085]

I'll be doing this today looks easy enough

[@dwuuwd6914]

That's good advice. Thanks

[@sonnyvtsax6452]

Wonderful, thank you Sir!

[@yagirltones8748]

Thanks for posting!!! This is helpful!

[@njdnjdnjd]

Thanks! Glad it helped.

[@testchannel300]

clever technique, will try tomorrow

[@mode.or.culture]

Omg!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

[@km-nq4tj]

Thanks for the tips

[@mimichan5864]

thank you! definitely gonna try this method out. 🤘

[@njdnjdnjd]

Good luck! Thanks for the comment

[@MrAssassinash]

good job. Hope you are healthy

[@melissaallenmainegardener4574]

thank god you shared this!

[@jasonsol73]

Thank sod is more like it..lol

[@CardinalCoop]

NICK! thank you bro

[@trishayoung4465]

Now why didn't I think of that? lol. Thank's for being helpful!

[@njdnjdnjd]

Trisha Young Thanks Trisha for the nice comment!

[@555markallen]

Love It! thanks man :P

[@mnvn]

You make it look so easy. I can try this method except mine runs 2 feet deep. That’s a mess to have to deal with. I want to build a flower bed.

[@SlickShinobiDojo]

I'll give that a go tomorrow!

[@robwilson4511]

Thank you!

[@TexasGovernor]

Clutch. Thanks brother.

[@sylviajohnson3291]

Thanks ~ that's what I'll do!

[@imager09tube]

Excellent! thanks!

[@lindy2341]

Good job, Man!

[@njdnjdnjd]

Thanks for the nice comment!

[@ferrit69]

Just wanted to say thanks!

[@njdnjdnjd]

ferrit69 Thanks for the Thanks!

[@fahidhussain6154]

Thank you i am going to try your method , will the grass grow again?

[@Kendkend]

Thank you for taking the time. Hopefully it won't grow back

[@njdnjdnjd]

I made a really nice fire pit area that I will be finishing with flagstone early this spring. So don't have to worry about it growing back.

[@andrewbland1194]

Thank you

[@marlar74]

Thank you! I have a small but stubborn patch that didn't justify renting a machine.

[@njdnjdnjd]

Thanks for comment! Glad this video helped you!

[@JoshuaSlaughters69]

nice , this is gonna help me big time , thanks ! could I reuse the removed grass for patchy places of dirt ?

[@njdnjdnjd]

You can for sure reuse it if you want.

[@ScottLive1]

Wondering if it helps any to wet it first?

[@sniper524]

Sweet thanks just saved me a backache and probably 10 hours of pure hell

[@mchomelessful]

Flat shovel recommended you can make way bigger strips

[@mattbernaciak6027]

Thank you! Good video!

[@njdnjdnjd]

Thanks for the comment!

[@sakibanjum6860]

Very helpful. after watching this video i used this way as i have limited resources. 5m x 8m I now have a big pile of old sod with overgrown grass. Is there anything i can do with the pile like mixing it up and spreasing it over the area before another layer of topsoil or is it best to get rid of it? I am only replacing it with new lawn

[@njdnjdnjd]

Thanks for the comment! I am not a lawn expert, but I think usually you have to get rid of it, because the Sod is just too difficult to do anything with. Most landscaping places accept sod.

[@nathanhassett30]

Thanks man.

[@njdnjdnjd]

nathan hassett Thanks for the Thanks

[@migchig12]

Brilliant

[@JackD87]

How do you normally dispose of it?

[@rossprivate5456]

only problem with my place is that the roots of my grass go down nearly a foot

[@wyzechick]

awesome thanks!

[@njdnjdnjd]

+wyzechick thanks for the nice comment

[@OGRagtoproy]

Brilliant. Wish I watched it yesterday lol!

[@njdnjdnjd]

+OGRagtoproy thanks for the nice comment

[@dare_challenge_a_god1536]

intelligent.

[@katesisco]

It would be easier if first you cut a line in the sod with a 8 inch solid knife, then use a flat edged shovel to insert into the cut, simply push forward. Easy. Also do two knife cuts, 8 inches across, then shovel up. Easier.

[@b.k.1925]

I'm so dreading having to remove my half-dead grass in order to lay mulch and reduce my carbon footprint. Great tip, thanks!

[@foppo100]

It is very simple just hard work .

[@stephaniequintini49]

You're cute! You looked so happy and proud at the end! ;)

[@eddiehe7454]

Thanks! Is it easier to remove when it's dry or a bit wet?

[@njdnjdnjd]

Super dry is really hard, my backyard gets extremely difficult when dry. You don't want to soak it either its heavy to shovel. Good luck

[@7ascon]

Could you wet the sod a little before you begin to loosen the soil?

[@njdnjdnjd]

My opinion, a little bit wet will make it easier to dig can help if your grass/soil is dry and hard as a rock.

[@lareniastoner4833]

Oh okay. Kind of looks easy! But Lowkey a lot of work

[@andrewdegenhardt]

got it

[@platinumpepe8626]

easy lmao I just spent 2 hours removing sod then I look videos up to see how it wouldve be faster

[@asor001]

thank you sir... someone give this man a beer

[@billp3914]

In Texas Digging in concrete is easier then digging sod up

[@singpaea5434]

👍

[@alisonnorcross951]

If I just had a shovel.... And the strength

[@joeljohn1217]

Its good but removes a lot of soil too

[@bigfish3238]

Use a edger will be easier

[@rowboat1972]

Which gorilla cart is that?

[@jojom6657]

Fuck it I rented a sod cutter after 3 hours of this, however thank you for the video way better than what I was doing in the beginning! 😂🤣

[@njdnjdnjd]

For sure for a big job that’s the way to go.

[@simonfootie6255]

Your using the wrong shape spade Anyway just dig the turf in

[@cesaralvarado8913]

Seems so obvious once you show it !!

[@seanoreilly8042]

You haf to cut sods in a bog

[@njdnjdnjd]

Sean O reilly doesn't sound like fun. By backyard was good enough for me. ;)

[@oliviajensen3480]

Jesus get a great big serrated sod knife or a hook knife, unless your looking for some exercise but that looks like a good example of a hard way to do it. I make 1 foot wide by 3 foot sections with my edge then I go to the edge and just slide either one of those knives through the roots like butter and just roll it up as I go (I kneel on the grass I'm removing and move backwards.)

[@whatever895]

SQUARE SHOVE L

[@Mr_Ashley]

Sod off

[@junior_thomas]

Dont use a shovel , it digs at least use a spade

[@seananderson9346]

too much soil removed.

[@light5903]

That's wt I was thinking

[@2stovell]

And that’s how you don’t do it 🤪