Residential Sod Installation

When you hire The Grounds Guys for professional sod installation, you can be confident that we understand the many variables that can affect the outcome of developing a healthy, green lawn. 

Here are some of the steps our expert sod installers take to ensure your sod installation is a success:

• Remove old grass and weeds in the soil.
• Amend the soil if necessary.
• Grade the soil so it’s level and drains well.
• Install the sod with industry best practices.
• Set up irrigation or sprinklers to ensure the sod receives plenty of water.

Sod is an excellent choice for homeowners who:

• Have a newly built home with no existing lawn.
• Have a lawn that is bare or thin.
• Have a lawn that pests or weeds have overrun.
• Have a lawn that is dying or struggling due to disease.
• Don’t want to wait to grow a new lawn from seed.

While it’s possible to install sod on your own, it does require a significant amount of time and effort to get the job done right. Installing sod takes a lot of energy and know-how. Large rolls of sod are heavy and cumbersome, and you’ll need the right tools to install sod, such as an aerator, wheelbarrow, sod cutter, and lawn roller. If you don’t have all these tools, you’ll need to rent or buy them. For these reasons, it may ultimately be less expensive to hire an experienced lawn care professional like The Grounds Guys to get it all done for you. 

Why deal with the hassle? The Grounds Guys have the experience and all the right tools to make your sod installation project go smoothly from start to finish.

Sod is an investment, and your sod installation cost will depend on a variety of factors. Some of the factors that impact sod installation cost are the size of the area you want to cover and ground preparation requirements. In addition, the type of sod you want and whether you need to have an irrigation system installed or upgraded will also determine the cost of installation. If your yard has built-in landscape or hardscape features such as raised gardens, decorative boulders, or waterfalls, these features can also affect the cost.

Our sod installation starts with good preparation. We begin by measuring your lawn to ensure we order the right amount of sod. We’ll also work with you to determine the best grass variety for your geography, climate, and region in Canada and consider your preference. We don’t recommend laying sod over existing growth, so we’ll need to remove any existing plant life. We’ll then prep your soil to ensure your sod has the best chance of survival. This includes testing your soil pH, tilling the soil, and adding fertilizer as necessary.

On installation day, we’ll lay out the strips or slabs of sod in straight, even rows that are tightly fit together. We’ll even out any wrinkles so your new lawn looks smooth and beautiful. After the main installation is complete, we’ll trim and fix any small gaps or abnormalities. We’ll then water the sod to help it start growing strong. Finally, we’ll press down the sod to help the grassroots reach the soil. After installation, our crews will continue to monitor and maintain your sod to make sure that it remains healthy and continues to thrive.

Of course, before our expert sod installers can begin the job, they need to prepare the area for sod installation. Once we’ve prepped the area, several factors will determine the time it takes to complete the installation. The size of the sodded area, the number of hard-to-access areas, and the amount of cutting required can affect completion time. Because yard sizes vary, the time it takes for complete sod installation will vary too.

f your landscape has challenging terrain, such as sloping or uneven ground, this can add installation time. The Grounds Guys are expert sod installers and know how to lay sod correctly on even the most challenging landscapes. We use the best sod installation methods and techniques to avoid disrupting your garden and other features in your yard.

Technically, sod can be installed over an existing lawn. However, it’s not recommended. When sod is laid over existing grass, it can damage both the existing lawn and the new sod because the sod roots will have a difficult time reaching the soil. Our local lawn care experts have the experience and knowledge required to help you grow a healthy lawn you can enjoy for years!

Fresh sod requires a different maintenance routine than a regular lawn. Avoid putting perfect mow lines or having a picnic on your newly installed lawn. Following these sod care tips will help ensure your new sod takes root and grows into a healthy, thriving lawn:

• First Week
• Avoid overwatering, but never allow the sod to dry out. Water the sod three to four times a day for five to ten minutes (depending on weather conditions).
• Avoid watering the sod in the evening since this can encourage fungus growth.
• Avoid excessive foot traffic (including pets) on your new lawn for at least the first two weeks.
• Try to keep pets, especially dogs, from urinating on your new sod.

• Second Week
• Water the lawn for 30 minutes every day. Do it twice a day if necessary (depending on weather conditions).
• Keep foot traffic to a minimum.
• Try to keep pets, especially dogs, from urinating on your new sod.

• Third Week and Beyond
• After three weeks, you can mow your new lawn. Keep the mower deck high, and never mow more than 1/3 the length of the grass blades.
• Fertilize your new sod six weeks after installation.