Abstract: An improved severing means facilitating the formation and handling of individual pads of sod for implementation with automated sod harvesting apparatus which comprises a rotary mounted set of spaced transversely extending blades cooperating with a longitudinally mounted blade means disposed between at least two of the transversely extending blades. This unique configuration provides means to form a plurality of individual pads of sod which upon each complete revolution of the severing means automatically orients contiguous sets of pads in a cross-wise manner to facilitate further handling of the pads.

Abstract: A self-propelled sod harvesting machine includes a cutter head which separates a strip of sod from the ground, an elevator for raising the sod strip on the machine, and a blade assembly for cutting individual sod pads from the strip. A conveyer for the sod pads includes a plurality of spaced apart chains drawn around sprockets and carrying outwardly projecting teeth which penetrate the pads from the top. The teeth are arranged to pinch the sod in a manner to retain it on the conveyer as the individual pads are successively carried to a sod box containing a pallet. A stripping mechanism is lowered in a rocking type stroke to strip the sod pads off of the conveyer teeth and onto the pallet in a stack.