ServicesSod Installation
Sod Installation in Belle Isle
We take out the tired lawn, fix the soil and grade underneath, and lay fresh sod that fits how much sun your yard gets and how much care you want to give it. You get a full lawn in a day and a plan to keep it alive.
When new sod is the right call
Sod makes sense when the lawn is more weeds and bare sand than grass, or when you are starting over after construction or a big tree comes out. If half the lawn is still healthy, we will tell you that. Sometimes better lawn care or an irrigation fix does more than new grass.
The cheapest pallet is not always the best deal. Bahia costs less and handles dry spells, but it stays thin and sends up seed heads all summer. St. Augustine fills in thick and takes some shade, but it needs steady water and watching for chinch bugs. Zoysia costs more up front and grows slower, yet it holds up well to foot traffic and needs less fixing later. We lay out those trade-offs on site so you pick the grass you will still like in five years.
We have been doing this work around Belle Isle since 2018, and most failed lawns we see did not fail because of the grass. They failed because of what was under it.
What a sod job includes
Old lawn removal
Our sod cutter slices the old turf off at the roots, weeds and all, and every roll leaves the property with us. Fresh grass set on top of an old lawn rests on a spongy mat that dries out quickly.
Grading and soil prep
We level low spots and slope the yard away from your home so water does not pond against the foundation. Where the sand is bare, we work in soil so roots have something to grab.
Sprinkler check
Before any grass goes down, we run each zone and look for dry spots, broken heads and overspray. New sod lives or dies on even coverage.
Grass matched to the yard
Full sun, deep shade under oaks, or a backyard the dogs run all day each call for a different grass. We may use more than one variety on the same property.
Laying, rolling and first water
Pieces go down tight with staggered seams, then we roll them for good soil contact and give the lawn its first deep soak.
Signs your lawn needs replacing
More weeds than grass
When dollarweed, crabgrass and sedge have taken over most of the yard, spot treating rarely wins.
Bare sand patches that keep growing
Patches that spread every summer usually point to grubs, chinch bugs or poor soil.
Water that pools after rain
Low spots stay soggy and the grass rots. That needs a grade fix before new sod.
The wrong grass for the shade
If trees have grown in since the lawn went down, sun-loving grass thins out under them year after year.
After construction or a removal
A new patio, a pool, or a tree and stump coming out leaves torn ground that needs a clean start.
How the job goes
- 1
Walkthrough and estimate
We walk the yard with you, measure, check sun and drainage, and test the sprinklers. You get a written estimate with each part of the job listed.
- 2
Prep day
We mark sprinkler heads, cut out the old turf and haul it off. Then we grade and add soil where it is needed.
- 3
Install day
Sod arrives fresh and goes down the same day so it does not dry on the pallet. Most yards are fully covered before we leave.
- 4
Cleanup and watering plan
We sweep the driveway and walks and pick up the scraps. Before we go, we set or explain a watering schedule for the first weeks.
What moves the price
Sod is priced mostly by area, but the prep often matters more than the grass itself. We list each piece on the estimate so you can see where the money goes. A bigger lawn job does not have to be paid all at once: we can finance amounts as high as $100,000, with terms anywhere from two to twelve years, and paying it off early never costs you a penalty.
- Square footage
- More yard means more pallets and more labor. We measure on site instead of guessing from a photo.
- Grass variety
- Bahia, St. Augustine and Zoysia differ in price per pallet, and in how much water and care they need later.
- Removal and grading
- Thick old turf, roots, debris, or yards that need real leveling take more time and more soil.
- Sprinkler repairs
- Broken heads or zones that miss spots get fixed before install. Skipping that step costs more when the new grass browns out.
- Access
- Narrow side gates and fenced backyards mean moving sod by hand instead of by machine.
Sod installation questions
Something not covered here? (407) 289-1778
How often do I water new sod?
For the first week or two, short waterings once or twice a day so the soil under the sod stays damp. Then we taper to fewer, deeper waterings so roots go down. Local watering rules often allow extra watering for new sod for a set time, and we will tell you what applies when we set your schedule.
When can we walk on it?
Keep foot traffic light for about two weeks. If you tug a corner and it holds, the roots have taken. Wait until then for the first mow, and set the mower high.
What time of year is best?
Late spring through summer roots fastest because the grass is growing hard. Fall works too. Winter installs are possible, but the sod sits dormant and takes longer to knit in.
Will you put new sod on top of my existing lawn?
No. Fresh grass set on dead turf and weeds ends up resting on a mat that dries fast, and the roots never reach real soil. Stripping the old lawn first is what gives the new one a long life.
Do I need irrigation for new sod?
You need reliable water. Hand watering works for a small patch, but for a whole yard a working sprinkler system is far easier. We can check and repair yours as part of the job.
Let's look at your yard
We will walk the lawn with you, show you what is failing and why, and give you a free estimate with the grass options side by side.