Sod Installation on Prepared Soil in Greensboro
We clear the old lawn, test and till the soil, and lay sod the day it is cut, for homes and commercial properties in Greensboro and the towns around it.
Free, no-obligation estimates. We answer the phone or call back the same working day.
Sod Installation in Greensboro
Sod installation replaces a thin, weedy or failed lawn with rolls of fresh-cut turf laid on soil we have prepared for it, so you have a finished lawn the day we leave.
"Sod" is grass grown elsewhere, cut with its roots and laid like carpet: the "instant lawn," "rolled grass" or "turf rolls," whatever you call it. The rolls are the easy part. Soil preparation is what separates sod that thrives from sod that struggles, so the ground under your new lawn in Greensboro gets the most care.
Every sod job we take on comes with the same promises:
- A free, no-obligation estimate
- The whole job quoted before we start, with no surprise charges after
- We show up when we say we will
- We clean up when the work is done
Soil Preparation Before the Sod
Before the first roll comes off the pallet, we strip the old vegetation, till the top 4 to 6 inches, let a soil test set the lime and amendments, and put down a starter fertilizer.
The soil preparation steps, in order, are these.
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Test the soil
A soil test shows what the ground needs, and whether lime is needed to adjust its pH.
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Strip the old lawn
Existing grass and weeds come out, so the new roots meet soil and not dead turf.
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Till the top layer
Breaking up packed ground gives the new roots loose soil to grow down into.
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Amend and add topsoil
Lime goes in where the test calls for it, and a thin layer of topsoil goes over the loosened ground.
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Feed the new lawn
A starter fertilizer supplying phosphorus and potassium goes down just before the sod.
The pH and nutrient readings behind the first and fourth steps are explained by the NC Department of Agriculture, Agronomic Services Soil Testing.
Grading, Laying and Rolling the Sod
We set the "finish grade" about an inch below the walks and drive, lay the sod the day it is cut with tight, staggered seams, then roll it and soak it.
From graded soil to a watered lawn, the laying goes like this.
- We rake the finish grade smooth about an inch below sidewalks and driveways, so the new sod sits flush with the paving.
- The sod is laid the day it is cut, because it stays viable for only 24 to 36 hours.
- Joints are staggered like brickwork and every seam is pushed tight without overlapping.
- On a steep slope the rows run across the hill, held with biodegradable landscape staples until the sod roots, so water does not run down the seams.
- We roll the whole area with a weighted lawn roller to press the roots into the soil.
- Right after rolling we soak the new lawn until water reaches 3 to 4 inches into the soil below.
A sod cutter, a lawn roller and a broadcast spreader do most of the work.
Sod Estimates Around Greensboro
We price a sod job from the size of the lawn, the grass type and how much soil preparation the ground needs, for homes and commercial properties in Greensboro, NC and nearby towns.
A lawn that only needs the old turf stripped costs less to prepare than one that needs heavy tilling, lime and topsoil, so we look at the ground before we give you a number. That number covers the whole job, and there are no surprise charges after we start.
Free, no-obligation estimates. The quote comes after the call, once we have seen the yard.
service area around GreensboroWatering Fresh Sod Over Four Weeks
New sod gets water every day for the first two weeks, every other day for the next two, and then goes back to a normal routine.
The first month of watering runs on this schedule.
- First two weeksOnce a day, best in the morning, 20 to 30 minutes per zone.
- Weeks three and fourEvery other day, but longer: 30 to 40 minutes per zone.
- After about a monthBack to your normal watering routine.
Keep the soil under the sod moist, never soaked: standing water rots new roots.
Fresh Sod Rooting Period
New sod gets its first mow 14 to 21 days after we lay it, with the mower at its highest setting.
14 to 21 days
from laying to the first cut
Wait until the sod has rooted: tug a corner, and if it holds, it is ready. Most sod attaches its first roots in 10 to 14 days and fully establishes in 4 to 6 weeks. On that first cut, never take more than a third of the blade.
Why Fresh Sod Fails and When to Skip It
New sod fails from air pockets, old grass left under it, soggy soil and rolls left out to dry, and every step of our process is there to stop one of them.
The common causes of sod failure are these.
- Air pockets. Gaps under new sod are the main cause of brown patches, which is why we roll every lawn we lay.
- Old grass left underneath. Sod laid over old turf never makes root contact with the soil, and it fails.
- Soggy soil. Ground that stays soaked rots the new roots; it should be moist, not wet.
- Rolls left out too long. Exposed sod dries out and struggles to root, so ours goes down the day it is cut.
Sod questions we get asked
How much would it cost to install sod?
Sod installation cost depends on the size of the lawn, the grass type and how much soil preparation the ground needs, as our guide to what lawn care costs in Greensboro explains. We look at the yard, then quote the whole job before we start. The estimate is free, and there are no surprise charges after.
What should you put down before laying sod?
Sod preparation starts with a soil test, which decides whether lime is needed to adjust the pH. The soil is then loosened, a thin layer of topsoil goes on before grading, and a starter fertilizer with phosphorus and potassium goes down just before the sod.
Can I just lay sod over dirt?
Not over untouched dirt or old grass: sod laid over old grass never makes root contact with the soil, so the old vegetation comes out and the top 4 to 6 inches are tilled first. Once laid, the sod is rolled so no air pockets are left under it. Bare dirt also takes seed, and our guide to choosing between sod and seed weighs the two.
What Greensboro neighbors say about us
These are our Google reviews, in the reviewers' own words.
Ivan was so helpful! Would definitely recommend to anyone who needs services!
I could not be happier with Cut & Grow LLC. They are professional and their work is first rate. I recommend that you give them a try, I think you will be glad you did.
Enjoyed my experience with the the Cut&Grow work crew and management. A diligent and conscientious team that rejuvenated our recently purchased residential property. Overgrown weeds, neglected bushes, and an abundance of poison ivy was transformed into a tranquil environment. Professional, cooperative, and thorough.
Ready for a lawn that roots the first time?
Call for a free estimate. We will look at the ground, tell you what it needs, and quote the whole job before we start.
Open Monday to Saturday. Calls outside those hours go to voicemail and we return them the next working morning.
- Free, no-obligation estimates
- No surprise charges after we start
- We clean up when the work is done