Abstract: Sod is removed from the field in standard width strips and the strips are cut into equal length sections. Excess moisture, when present, is removed from the sod prior to delivering the sod sections to an apparatus which removes excess soil from the bottom of the sod to reduce weight and form a product of uniform thickness. The sod sections are then delivered soil side up to a scoring and trimming apparatus which trims each section to an accurate length and scores the sod partly through the root structure longitudinally and transversely to form a plurality of equally-sized rectangular plugs in each sod section which can be easily separated by a user. Prior to the second scoring operation, pairs of sod sections are placed on moisture-absorbing trays and following the second scoring, plural layers of processed sod sections and intervening trays are placed in superposed relation in a shipping carton having a moisture-impermeable liner.

Abstract: Cut sod sections are conveyed through a first scoring and trimming apparatus which produces plural parallel cuts or scores through the sod in one coordinate direction while trimming the ends of each section to a uniform length. The cuts or scores are not made entirely through the root network. The sod sections are turned ninety degrees and placed in pairs on trays employed in subsequent packaging and are conveyed through a second scoring apparatus which produces plural parallel scores in the sod sections in a second coordinate direction. The first and second scorings are made in the soil side of the sod while it is conveyed grass side down.