ServicesSod Installation
Sod Installation in Lake Mary
A new lawn only works if it roots. We take out the old grass, fix the soil and grade, pick the right grass for your yard and lay it at a time of year when it can take hold. Then we show you how to water it.
When new sod is the right call
Some lawns can be brought back with feeding, weed control and better watering. That is lawn care, and we will tell you if that is all you need. Sod makes sense when the grass is mostly gone, full of weeds, or the wrong type for the spot it is in.
New sod gives you a finished lawn in a day. The real work is underneath. If the soil is packed hard, the yard holds water, or the sprinklers miss half the area, fresh grass will fail the same way the old grass did. So we fix those things first.
Timing matters too. Sod laid in late spring or early summer rides the start of the rainy season and roots quickly. Sod laid in a dry stretch can still work, but it needs steady watering, and we plan for that with you up front.
What the job includes
- Old turf removal
- We cut out the old grass and weeds with a sod cutter and haul it away. Laying new sod over dead grass is a shortcut that leads to thin, patchy roots.
- Soil prep and grading
- We loosen packed soil, fill low spots and shape the grade so water runs away from your home, not toward it. Where the sandy soil is poor, we add topsoil before anything goes down.
- Grass matched to your yard
- St. Augustine handles shade better than most. Zoysia stays dense and soft in full sun. Bahia takes dry spells with less water but thins out under trees. We look at your sun, shade and how you use the yard before we pick.
- Tight, staggered laying
- We lay pieces in a brick pattern with seams pushed tight, then cut clean edges along beds, walks and driveways. Gaps dry out and let weeds in, so we take care here.
- Rolling, watering in and cleanup
- Each section gets rolled so the roots touch soil, then soaked. We clear leftover pieces, pallets and debris before we leave.
Signs your yard needs new sod
More weeds than grass
Once weeds have taken over most of the lawn, spraying just leaves bare dirt. Starting over is usually cheaper in the long run.
Large dead or brown patches
Chinch bugs, grubs or fungus can wipe out big sections of St. Augustine. If the patches have not come back after a season, they will not.
Grass thinning under trees
Sun-loving grass planted in shade slowly gives up. A shade-tolerant variety, or turning that spot into a bed, fixes the cause.
Puddles and bare ruts
Standing water after a summer storm points to a grading problem. We regrade before laying sod so it does not happen again.
Finishing a new project
After a patio, new beds or tree removal, the torn-up areas around the work need fresh turf to tie the yard back together.
What moves the price
Every sod job is priced on what we find at the walkthrough. Square footage is the starting point, but prep work often makes a bigger difference than the grass itself. Your estimate lists each part so you can see where the cost goes. Financing up to $100,000 on 2–12-year terms, no prepayment penalties, is available for larger projects.
Size of the area
More square feet means more pallets and more labor. Small patches cost more per foot than a full lawn.
Grass variety
Zoysia and newer St. Augustine types cost more per pallet than Bahia.
Prep and grading
Flat yards with healthy soil are quick. Fill dirt, heavy regrading or lots of roots add time and material.
Access and haul-off
Tight side yards, fences and gates slow down equipment. The amount of old turf to haul away matters too.
How a sod job runs
- 1
Free walkthrough
We walk the yard with you, measure the area and check sun, shade, drainage and sprinkler coverage. You get a clear estimate and our honest take on whether sod is needed at all.
- 2
Sprinkler check
We run each zone to find broken heads and dry spots. New sod needs even water, so we sort out coverage before install day. Our irrigation page covers that work in more detail.
- 3
Strip and prep
On install day we remove the old turf, grade the soil and add topsoil where needed. Most yards are prepped and laid the same day.
- 4
Lay, roll and water
Fresh sod arrives on pallets and goes down the same day it is cut. We roll it, water it in and walk you through the first few weeks of watering.
Sod installation questions
What time of year is best to lay sod here?
Late spring through summer is best because warm soil and regular rain help roots grow fast. Fall works well too. Winter sod survives, but it roots slowly and sits mostly dormant until spring.
How much do I water new sod?
Every day for the first couple of weeks, enough to keep the soil under the sod damp. After that we taper you down to normal watering. The water district gives new sod some extra watering days, and we will explain how those rules apply to your yard.
When can I walk on it or mow it?
Keep foot traffic light for about two weeks. Once you tug a corner and it holds firm, it is rooted. The first mow is usually around two to three weeks in, with the blade set high.
Can you just lay sod over my old grass?
We do not. Sod laid on top of old turf sits on a dead layer and dries out fast. Removing the old grass takes a bit more time but gives the new lawn a real chance.
Which grass is right for my yard?
It depends on shade, how much you want to water and how the yard gets used. We will make a recommendation at the walkthrough and explain why.
Get the lawn in before the rains
We will walk your yard, check the soil and sprinklers and tell you the best time to lay sod. We work in Lake Mary and towns nearby like Sanford and Longwood.