ServicesSod Installation
Sod Installation in Maitland
A new lawn only lasts if the ground under it is right. We remove the old turf, fix the grade, mark every sprinkler head and buried line before we cut, then lay fresh sod with tight seams so it roots fast and evenly.
When New Sod Is the Right Call
Sod makes sense when a lawn is past saving: large bare patches, turf choked out by weeds, or grass killed by chinch bugs or fungus that spreading fertilizer will not bring back. Laying sod gives you a full lawn in one visit instead of waiting a season for plugs or seed to spread and cover the bare ground.
We start with the soil, not the grass. Central Florida yards are mostly fast-draining sand with little organic matter, so roots dry out quickly and low spots hold water after summer storms. We correct the grade and loosen compacted ground before a single piece goes down.
Safety runs through the whole job. We have underground utilities located before any cutting, flag irrigation heads so the sod cutter does not shatter them, and keep the work area closed off while machines are running.
What Our Sod Installation Includes
- Utility locates before digging
- We request a locate so buried gas, electric and cable lines are marked. A sod cutter only goes down a couple of inches, but we do not guess about what sits under your yard.
- Mechanical turf removal
- Old grass and roots come out with a sod cutter rather than heavy herbicide spraying. That keeps chemicals off the ground where your kids and pets will be playing within weeks.
- Grading and soil prep
- We slope the surface away from your home's foundation, build up low spots and rake out debris. Where the sand is especially poor, we work in topsoil so the new roots have something to hold moisture.
- Grass matched to the site
- Floratam St. Augustine handles full sun, while Zoysia and some St. Augustine cultivars tolerate more shade. We look at how many hours of sun each area gets before recommending a variety.
- Tight, staggered layout
- Pieces are laid in a brick pattern with seams pressed together and edges cut cleanly around beds, walks and trees. Gaps dry out first, so we avoid them.
- Rolling, first watering and cleanup
- We roll the sod for soil contact, give it a deep first soak and haul away the old turf and pallets.
Signs Your Lawn Needs Replacing
Dead patches that keep spreading
Yellow areas that turn brown and grow outward through the hot months often point to chinch bugs in St. Augustine. Once the runners are dead, they do not recover.
More weeds than grass
When dollarweed, crabgrass and sedge cover most of the yard, spot treatment becomes a losing fight. Starting over with clean sod is often faster.
Puddles that sit for days
Standing water means the grade is off, and water held near the slab or foundation is a problem for the house as well as the lawn.
Thin turf under new shade
Trees grow and canopies close in. A sun-loving grass planted years ago may need to be swapped for a more shade-tolerant one.
Ground torn up after a project
Construction, a new irrigation layout or tree and stump work can leave the yard rutted and bare.
What Affects the Cost of New Sod
Sod is priced mostly by the area covered, but the prep underneath often matters as much as the grass itself. We break each part out on the estimate so you can see where the money goes. For larger yard projects, you can finance as much as $100,000 and pick a term anywhere from 2 to 12 years, and paying the balance off early never costs you a penalty.
Square footage
The total area sets how many pallets are ordered and how long the crew is on site.
Grass variety
Zoysia and specialty St. Augustine cultivars generally cost more than Bahia or standard Floratam.
Removal and soil work
Thick old turf, heavy regrading or added topsoil take more labor and material than a yard that only needs light raking.
Access to the yard
Narrow side gates, fences and steep spots mean sod is moved by hand instead of by machine.
Irrigation condition
If heads are broken or coverage is uneven, it is worth fixing before new sod goes down. We can quote that through our irrigation service.
How a Sod Job Runs
- 1
Walkthrough and estimate
We walk the yard with you, measure square footage, check sun and drainage, and note sprinkler heads and access for the pallets. You get a free estimate that lists prep, sod and haul-away separately.
- 2
Locates and site protection
Before work day, utilities are marked and we flag irrigation heads, valve boxes and cleanouts. We ask that pets and children stay inside while the cutter and roller are operating.
- 3
Removal and grading
The old turf is cut and removed, then the soil is graded, amended where needed and raked smooth. Sod is delivered fresh so it is not sitting on pallets heating up.
- 4
Laying and first soak
We lay, trim and roll the sod, then water it until the soil underneath is wet. Before we leave, we walk you through the watering schedule for the first few weeks.
Sod Installation Questions
How often do I water new sod?
For roughly the first two weeks, the soil under the sod needs to stay moist, which usually means short watering more than once a day in warm weather. After that you taper off as roots grow into the ground. Local watering rules generally allow extra watering for new sod for a limited time, and we will tell you what applies to your address.
When can my kids and dog use the lawn?
Keep foot traffic off for about two to three weeks, until the sod resists a gentle tug and has rooted in. Walking on it earlier can lift pieces and leave dips. Light use after that is fine.
What time of year is best for sod here?
Late spring through summer is ideal because warm-season grasses root fastest in heat and rain. Sod can go down year-round in Central Florida, but winter installs grow in more slowly and need careful watering.
Do you spray chemicals to kill the old lawn?
Our standard approach is to cut the old turf out mechanically. If an aggressive weed problem calls for treatment, we explain the product and the wait time before people or pets go back on the area.
Who takes care of the lawn after it is installed?
You can, with the watering plan we leave you. If you prefer, our lawn care service can handle mowing and feeding once the sod has rooted.
Ready for a Lawn That Roots In
We will measure the yard, check the grade and sun, and tell you which grass fits. The estimate is free and the visit is on your schedule.