Method and apparatus for lifting sod from the top

A method of handling a slab of sod having grass blades projecting upwardly therefrom, comprising providing a set of clamps, said set comprising a plurality of clamps, each clamp having first and second opposing clamp surfaces, each clamp having an open condition in which said clamp surfaces of such clamp are spaced apart from each other and a closed condition in which said clamp surfaces of such clamp press against each other, at least one of said clamp surfaces of each clamp being moveable toward the other clamp surface of such clamp to change the condition of each clamp from said open condition to said closed condition, said method comprising providing said slab or sod, moving at least one of said sets of clamps and said sod toward the other of said set of clamps and said sod, with said clamps in said open condition, until said set of clamps engages an upper portion of said slab of sod, then changing the condition of all of said clamps of said set to said closed condition thereby gripping said upper portion of said sod between said opposing clamp surfaces of said clamps of said set, and then moving said set of clamps with said sod suspended from the clamps of said set.