Since 2000 in business
Sod installation in Kernersville, NC
Sod installation in Kernersville on prepared ground, so the new lawn roots into the clay instead of drying out.
Free written estimate before work starts
- Since 2000 in business.
- Licensed and insured.
Sod or seed?
| Factor | Sod | Seed |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage on day one | Sod: Full lawn as soon as it is laid | Seed: Bare soil until the seed comes up |
| Time until you can use it | Sod: Light use once it roots, about two to three weeks | Seed: Several weeks to sprout, then a season to fill in before it takes traffic |
| Cost up front | Sod: Higher | Seed: Lower |
| Weeds | Sod: Few: the dense mat shades them out | Seed: More, until the new grass fills in |
| Slopes and heavy rain | Sod: Holds the soil at once; pegged on steep banks | Seed: Can wash out in a hard storm before roots form |
| Best time for fescue | Sod: Most of the cool season, whenever the ground is not frozen | Seed: Early fall, September into October |
What a sod installation includes
- Measure and check the siteSun, shade, drainage and grade, and the grass that suits them.
- Old lawn removedTurf, weeds, rocks and debris out, so the sod sits on soil.
- Ground graded and prepared, topsoil if neededClay loosened and sloped so water runs away from the house.
- Sod laid tight with staggered seamsSet like brickwork from a straight edge, cut to fit, rolled for contact.
- Watered in, with a care planThe first soaking on the day, and a watering schedule for the weeks it takes to root.
Sod day, from bare clay to a rolled lawn
We measure and check the site
We measure the area, help you choose fescue, bermuda or zoysia, and put it all in a written estimate.
We clear the old lawn
Old turf and weeds come out, with rocks and debris, so the new sod sits directly on soil.
We prepare the ground
We loosen compacted clay, add topsoil where it is needed, grade so water drains away from the house, and rake the surface smooth and firm.
We lay the sod
Fresh sod goes down soon after it arrives, seams tight and staggered, pegged on slopes, then rolled for good contact.
We water it in and hand over a plan
The new sod gets its first soaking, and you get a watering plan for the weeks it takes to root.
What a sod job costs depends on area and grass type
Sod is laid by the square foot. What has to happen to the ground before it goes down is the other half of the job.
- Area
- Sod is laid by the square foot, so the size of the lawn sets most of the cost.
- Grass type
- Fescue, bermuda and zoysia sod differ in price and availability.
- Removing the old lawn
- Stripping existing turf and weeds adds labor and hauling.
- Grading and topsoil
- Uneven ground, poor drainage or thin soil need more preparation before the sod goes down.
- Slopes and access
- Steep banks need pegging, and a backyard behind a narrow gate means carrying rolls by hand.
When to lay sod in the Piedmont
Tall fescue sod can go down almost any time of year the ground is not frozen. Fall and spring are the easiest, because mild weather means less watering while it roots. Summer installs work too, but the sod needs water every day through the heat.
Bermuda and zoysia are warm-season grasses and root only in warm soil. They go in best from mid-spring into early July, which gives them a full summer to establish before they go dormant.
Fall
Ideal for fescue sod: mild weather, less watering.
Spring
Good for fescue; warm-season sod once soil warms.
Summer
Possible with daily watering; bermuda and zoysia by early July.
Winter
Fescue sod on mild days, never on frozen ground.
What decides whether new sod roots
Sod gives you a finished lawn in a day, where seed takes a season to fill in. What decides whether it thrives is the ground underneath. Laid on hard, uneven clay, sod dries out at the seams and never roots. Laid on soil that has been cleared, loosened, graded and moistened, it knits in and grows like a lawn that was always there. Where the soil is thin, we bring in screened topsoil before the sod goes down.
Tall fescue, the most common lawn grass here, handles sun and some shade and stays green most of the year. For full-sun yards, bermuda and zoysia are the other choices; most zoysia and the finer bermudas come only as sod. We help you pick the grass, then tell you exactly how to water it.
Rooting time, watering and sun or shade sod
How long does sod take to root?
About two to three weeks with steady watering. To check, gently tug a corner: if it resists, the roots have taken hold. Stay off it until then.
How often should new sod be watered?
Keep the sod and the soil under it moist for the first week or two, which usually means watering every day and more often in summer heat. Lift a corner to check that the soil below is damp. Once it roots, water less often but longer.
Which sod is right for sun or shade?
Tall fescue suits most Kernersville yards, including those with some shade. Bermuda and zoysia need full sun and go dormant and brown in winter.
Can sod be laid over existing grass?
No. The old turf keeps the new roots from reaching the soil, and the sod dries out. We remove the old lawn first.
Can you resod part of a lawn?
Yes. Dead or worn sections are cut out to soil, the ground is loosened and leveled to match, and new sod is laid flush with the grass around it. When most of the lawn is gone, replacing all of it usually looks better than patching.
How much sod does my lawn need?
Measure the area in square feet and add about 5 percent for cuts and curves. Pallet sizes vary by farm, so we confirm the count when we measure.
Get a sod estimate
Tell us about the job. We come out, look at it with you and put a price in writing. Nothing starts until you approve it.
Rather talk, or send a photo?
Request a free written estimate
Your name and phone, so we can reach you. Everything else helps.