how to use a manual sod cutter whether removing grass from your yard for a garden building project or the environment you need a tool that removes grass with top layer roots without removing an excessive amount of soil a manual sod cutter removes the grass from your yard and six or 12 inch wide strips you roll up and remove from your property since a manual sod cutter uses no fuel or electricity it is a perfect tool if you are concerned with reducing greenhouse gas emissions things you will need garden hoe tape measure dick a 12 inch wide cut into the sod with the garden home this will allow the blade of manual sod cutter to cut under the sod easier and allow you to determine the depth of the grass and top layer roots set the blade of the manual sod cutter in the cut and measure the distance from the bottom of the sod cutter suil to the bottom of the grass roots with the tape measure adjust the cutting depth of the manual sod cutter blade for the tools operating manual kick the crossbar located above the cutter blade and push forward on the handles of the sod cutter to begin the cut keep your foot on the crossbar as you push to keep downward pressure on the cutting blade take the crossbar if you encounter an area that is hard to push through with a sod cutter this will cut the Kreutz and rotten limbs and push rocks into the soil push downward on the side cutter handles as you near the end of the cut to cut the side roll the cut side into a tight coil move the sod out of the cutting area continue cutting using the steps listed until the area is grass free tips warnings where heavy boots to prevent injury to your feet while removing grass with a manual sod cutter you