Ready-to-use sod - grass that's grown on a turf farm and cut into strips for installation on prepared bare soil - makes it easy to avoid the dust and mud, weeds and erosion that often go along with establishing a new lawn from seed.

Depending on the size of your lawn, the cost of having that instant-green lawn will be considerably more than putting down seed. To save some money, many homeowners opt to sod just the front and side areas and seed the back lawn. And you can save several hundred dollars if you are willing to install the sod yourself.

The Turf Resource Center tells how to install a new lawn in four weekends:

Weekend One - Replace or add flower beds so your gardening and lawn areas are established. Kill off existing weeds and grass by spraying the lawn area with a product such as Roundup or Kleenup. Read and follow directions carefully. Your lawn will shrivel, turn brown and die.

Weekend Two - Till the sprayed area to a depth of 2 inches. Rental centers usually offer heavy-duty roto-tillers. Remove rocks, roots and dirt clods that are larger than 2-3 inches in diameter. If your lawn doesn't have at least 4 inches of topsoil, it should be added during the tilling.

Weekend Three - Apply a starter fertilizer high in phosphate, such as a 10-20-10 for good root growth. Rake it in to prevent possible injury to turfgrass sod roots. Also, make sure the soil slopes away from building foundations to ensure proper drainage. Fill low spots and level high areas for a smooth, even surface. Roll the area with a one-third water-filled lawn roller to firm the surface and reveal low and high spots.

Weekend Four - Order your sod early so it can be delivered when you are ready to install it. Start installing the sod immediately. Start with the longest existing straight line, such as the sidewalk or driveway. Tightly butt the sides and ends without stretching or overlapping the pieces. The end joints should be staggered in each row in a brick-like pattern. Use a large, sharp knife to trim corners and adjust the lengths of pieces. Avoid walking repeatedly on the turf after it's installed or just after watering. Start watering within 30 minutes of installation and apply at least 1 inch of water across the entire area. Water daily for about two weeks.

SHARE YOUR PROJECT

Are you an amateur or professional landscaper who has done a landscape project you'd like to share with others? Call 247-4781.

IN A HURRY?

It takes three years for a fescue lawn to really establish itself, caution turf experts, so you can't expect a thick, lush crop the first year.

If you are impatient, consider putting down a fescue sod. Sod, which is grown for two to three years on a sod farm before being cut and installed, re-establishes itself within a year as long as it's watered and fed according to the grower's instructions.

SOD SOURCES

Here are some places homeowners can get sod:

• Franklin Turfgrass, 408 River Road, Franklin; call 1-800-234-8873.
• Tidewater Nurseries, 523 Oyster Point Road, Newport News; call 249-1494.
• McDonald Garden Center, 1139 W. Pembroke Ave., Hampton; call 722-7463.
• Quality Turf, Virginia Beach; call 468-0798.

SOD FACTS

* Know what fresh, high-quality sod looks like. Uniformity with no weeds or dissimilar grass is a must. You should be able to roll and unroll each piece without it falling apart.

* Sod should be transplanted as soon as possible but no more than 24 to 72 hours after it's been harvested from the fields.