Sod installation
Sod, from bare soil to a green yard
Sod is a lawn in a day, but only when the ground under it is ready. Most of our work is the part you won't see.
Bermuda, zoysia and St. Augustine all go down the same way: ground first, then the grass. We tell you which one suits your light before we order a pallet.
What the job includes
Measuring and a pallet count with a little extra for cuts
Old grass and weeds removed, soil loosened and graded
Delivery and laying on the same day
Rolling, hand trimming around beds, trees and walks
Haul-off of the old turf and a written watering schedule
Pricing
How pricing works
We don't price a yard from a photo. Here is what the number depends on, in the order people ask.
What decides the price
Mostly square feet and how much has to be done before the sod goes down.
Square feet of sod, plus cuts and waste
Old grass to remove and soil to fix
Slope, gates and how close the truck can get
Which grass you pick
What the estimate includes, and what it doesn't
A written scope you can read line by line.
Included: sod, delivery, prep, laying, rolling, haul-off and a watering schedule
Not included: sprinkler repair, drainage work, trees or fence changes unless the estimate lists them
What happens at the walk-through
One of us walks the yard with you, checks the light, measures, and looks at where the water goes. Plan on about half an hour.
When you get the number
After the walk-through, in writing: one price for the scope on the page, with the dates we propose. If the scope changes, the estimate changes, and we say so before we start.
When to lay sod
Sod through the Central Texas year
Warm-season grass likes warm soil. Here is what each stretch of the year means for a new lawn.
January – March
The grass is dormant and tan, and that is normal. These are good months to plan, measure and book spring.
Book spring installs while the calendar is open
Mowing starts once the soil reaches the mid-50s
Sod laid on dormant ground will not root until the soil warms
April – May
The soil warms and sod roots quickly. This is when Bermuda and zoysia are easiest to start, and when our calendar fills first.
The easy window for all three grasses begins
Water new sod every day at first
Wait to fertilize until the sod has rooted
June – August
Sod still goes down in summer. We start early in the morning, and new sod needs daily water for the first couple of weeks.
Early-morning installs
Mow high to shade the soil
Check your city's watering rules before you set a schedule
September – October
A second good window: warm soil and cooler air. Sod laid early in the fall has weeks to root before cold weather.
Last fertilizer round of the year for existing lawns
Fall installs work best before the first frost
November – December
Dormant again. We take fewer installs, tell you plainly how slowly sod roots in the cold, and plan next spring's yards.
Leaf clean-up helps the grass underneath
Book early for spring
Dates are typical for Central Texas. A late freeze or an early heat wave can move them.
After the sod is down
The first six weeks
New sod is a plant that needs looking after. This is the schedule we leave on a sheet at your door.
Days 1 to 14
Water every day, enough to keep the soil under the sod wet. Keep kids, dogs and mowers off.
Weeks 3 to 6
Tug a corner. If it resists, the roots have taken and it is time for the first mow, with the blade up. Water less often, and deeper.
After six weeks
Settle into the mowing height for your grass. Fertilize on the product's label, and call us if a spot looks thin.
About laying sod
Can you lay sod over my old lawn?
No. Sod laid over turf cannot root into the soil, so the old grass comes out first.
Why can I see seams?
Sod comes in pieces. Tight, staggered seams fill in as the grass grows, and watering keeps the edges from drying out.
What if it rains the day of the install?
Light rain is fine. In a heavy rain the soil turns to mud and we move the day, because sod laid in mud settles unevenly.
What if a section doesn't take?
Tell us right away. We will come look at it and say what went wrong. What we cover is on your written estimate.
Ready to see what your yard needs?
The walk-through is where we measure and check the light.