ServicesSod Installation
Sod Installation in Winter Garden
We strip out the tired lawn, fix the grade and lay fresh sod that fits your yard. Before anything gets ordered, we walk you through the grass choices and what each one asks of you, so you pick a lawn you can keep green.
A New Lawn, Started on the Right Base
Sod gives you a finished lawn in a day. Seed and plugs take months to spread and cover the ground, and weeds move in while you wait. With sod, the grass is already grown. Your job is to keep it watered while the roots grab hold.
The grass you pick matters more than most people think. A variety that wants full sun will thin out under an oak. One that needs regular water will brown fast if your sprinklers only reach half the yard. We match the grass to the light and the water your yard really gets.
Sod is the right call when more than about a third of the lawn is bare, weedy or dead, or when you are finishing new construction or a landscape redo. Smaller thin patches can often be fixed with spot sodding and better lawn care.
What the Job Includes
- Grass selection walkthrough
- We look at sun, shade and how your yard drains, then lay out the options. Floratam St. Augustine handles full sun and heat. Seville and CitraBlue take more shade. Zoysia grows dense and soft but costs more and spreads slower. Bahia handles drought and needs little care, but it looks coarser and throws up seed heads in summer.
- Old turf removal
- We cut out the old grass and roots with a sod cutter instead of laying over it. New sod placed on dead grass sits on a spongy layer and roots poorly.
- Grading and soil prep
- We rake and level the base so water drains away from your home and does not pool. Our sandy soil drains fast and holds little, so we add soil where low spots or bare sand need it.
- Laying and rolling
- Pieces go down tight, with seams staggered like brick. We roll the lawn so the roots touch the soil with no air gaps underneath.
- Sprinkler check
- Before the sod goes down we run your zones and adjust heads so the new lawn gets even coverage. If there are bigger problems, our irrigation work can fix them.
- Cleanup and watering plan
- We haul off the old turf, blow off walks and drives, and leave you a simple watering schedule for the first weeks.
Signs Your Lawn Needs New Sod
Bare sand showing through
When you can see sand in large patches, the grass has lost the fight. Fertilizer will not bring it back.
More weeds than grass
Crabgrass, dollarweed and sedge taking over most of the yard usually means the turf is too thin to crowd them out.
Chinch bug or grub damage
Dead, straw-colored patches that keep spreading in summer often point to insects. Once the damage is wide, replacing with a more resistant variety makes sense.
Wrong grass for the spot
Grass that keeps dying under trees or along a shady side of the house may simply be the wrong type. A shade-tolerant variety can fix that.
New build or big change
After construction, a pool install or new beds, the ground is torn up and needs a fresh start.
What Sets the Price
Sod is priced mostly by the square foot, but the grass alone is only part of it. Prep work and access can move the total as much as the variety you choose. Your written estimate shows each piece separately. On a bigger lawn job you can spread out the cost: borrow up to $100,000, pick a term anywhere from 2 to 12 years, and pay it off early without any penalty.
Lawn size
More square footage means more pallets and more labor, though larger jobs often cost less per foot.
Grass variety
Bahia is usually the most budget-friendly. Floratam sits in the middle. Shade varieties and Zoysia cost more per pallet.
Removal and grade work
A thick layer of old turf, heavy weeds or uneven ground takes more time to clear and level. Added soil raises the cost too.
Access
A wide gate and an open yard let us bring equipment in. Tight side yards or fenced lots mean more hand work.
Sprinkler repairs
Broken heads or dry zones found during the check get fixed before the sod goes down, and we price them separately.
How Install Day Goes
- 1
Free walkthrough and estimate
We come out, measure the lawn, look at light and drainage, and talk through grass options. You get a written estimate by line item so you can see what each part costs.
- 2
Prep the ground
On install day we cut out old turf, level the base and add soil where it is needed. We mark sprinkler heads first so nothing gets damaged.
- 3
Lay the sod
Fresh pallets arrive the same day they are laid so the grass does not heat up and yellow on the pallet. We lay, trim around beds and edges, and roll it.
- 4
Water in and hand off
We soak the new lawn right away and go over the watering plan with you. Stay off it for about two weeks while the roots set.
Sod Installation Questions
Which grass is best for my yard?
It depends on sun and water. Floratam St. Augustine is the most common choice for sunny yards with sprinklers. Seville or CitraBlue suits partial shade, Zoysia suits people who want a dense, fine lawn, and Bahia suits big areas with little or no irrigation. We will tell you plainly which one fits.
How often do I water new sod?
For the first week or two, water lightly once or twice a day so the soil under the sod stays damp. After that, cut back to deeper, less frequent watering. Local watering rules usually make room for new lawns for a short period, and we will go over what applies when we hand off.
When can I mow it?
Usually after two to three weeks, once the sod will not lift when you tug a corner. Set the mower high for the first few cuts. Our lawn care service can take over mowing if you prefer.
Can you lay sod over my old grass?
We do not. The old layer keeps new roots from reaching soil, and the lawn tends to fail in patches. Removing it is part of every job.
What is the best time of year to sod?
Spring through early fall is ideal because warm-season grasses root fastest in heat. Winter installs can work, but the grass stays mostly dormant and roots more slowly.
Ready for a Lawn That Fits Your Yard
We will come out, look at your sun and soil, and walk you through the grass options with a clear written price. Families in Winter Garden, Ocoee and Windermere can set it up with one phone call.