Sod Installation
Sod Installation in Winter Park & Central Florida
The reason most new sod browns out in the first 60 days has almost nothing to do with the sod itself. Floratam, Palmetto, and Zoysia all root fine when they're laid on the right base, watered the right way, and rolled in the first week. Most failed installs we get called to fix were either dropped on dead old turf, laid over uneven dirt, or never watered enough in the first ten days.
Our sod jobs are a one-day install most of the time, but the prep is the day before. We strip the old turf, run a quick grade so water actually moves toward your drainage, check your irrigation coverage on every zone, and then lay fresh sod with tight seams. Roller passes the same afternoon. Watering schedule handed to you in writing.
We mostly install Floratam (full sun, the Central Florida default), Palmetto (handles partial shade better), and Empire Zoysia (premium, drought-tolerant, finer blade). We'll tell you straight which one fits your yard — Floratam in 70% shade is a $4,000 mistake.
What's included
Every sod installation job, the full scope.
- Removal and disposal of existing turf (sod cutter pass, not just kill-and-cover)
- Light grading to correct low spots and move water toward drainage
- Irrigation coverage check across every zone before we lay
- Fresh sod cut from FL farms — typically within 24 hours of harvest
- Tight-seam installation, edges trimmed clean against beds and hardscape
- Roller pass to set the sod against the soil and eliminate air pockets
- Starter fertilizer broadcast over the install
- Written watering schedule for the first 14 days
- Two follow-up site visits (day 7 and day 30) to check root strike
- Haul-off of all old turf — your dumpster doesn't fill up
How it works
Our process for sod installation.
- 1
Walk-through and turf-type recommendation
We look at sun exposure, slope, irrigation coverage, and what you're using the space for. Then we recommend Floratam, Palmetto, Empire Zoysia, or in rare cases, Bermuda.
- 2
Quote and schedule
We send a quote with square footage, turf type, and prep included. Once approved, we schedule install — usually within one to two weeks depending on time of year.
- 3
Day before: prep
Sod cutter removes the old turf, we grade low spots, and we run every irrigation zone to confirm coverage. Anything broken gets flagged before the new sod goes down.
- 4
Install day
Fresh sod delivered same morning. Crew lays seams tight, trims edges, runs the roller, broadcasts starter fertilizer.
- 5
Watering — first 14 days
We hand you a printed schedule. Typical pattern: three short cycles per day for the first week, two cycles for week two, then taper to normal. We come back at day 7 to verify root strike.
- 6
30-day follow-up
We come back at 30 days, walk the yard with you, check that everything's rooted and there are no thin spots. Anything that's not establishing gets replaced.
Why Firsthand
What separates our sod installation from the rest.
We don't skip the grade.
Most sod failures we see weren't sod problems — they were base problems. A 2-inch low spot pools water and rots the runners; a high spot dries out and yellows. We grade before we lay, every job.
Fresh from the farm.
We buy sod from FL farms within 24 hours of cut and install it the same day. Sod that sits on a pallet for three days under shrink-wrap is sod that won't establish.
Water plan in writing.
We hand you a printed schedule so the watering question isn't a guess. We also set your controller if you'd like.
We come back at 7 and 30 days.
Two no-charge follow-up visits to verify root strike. Anything thin gets replaced under our warranty.
FAQ
Questions we hear a lot.
Sod Installation where we work.
We run sod installation projects across Central Florida. Pick your area for local specifics.
Related services.
Lawn Maintenance
Weekly or biweekly lawn maintenance for Winter Park, Windermere, Bay Hill, College Park, and Orlando. Cut at the right height for St. Augustine and Zoysia. Same crew, same day.
Learn moreIrrigation
Irrigation install, repair, and zone audits in Winter Park, Windermere, and Orlando. Smart controllers, broken-head fixes, leaky valves. Most upgrades pay back in a billing cycle.
Learn moreLandscape Design & Installation
Custom landscape design and installation for Central Florida homes. Plant palettes, hardscape, lighting, and irrigation — designed and installed by the same team in Winter Park, Windermere, and Bay Hill.
Learn moreReady to talk about sod installation?
Tell us about the property. We'll come out, walk it with you, and write up an honest estimate — usually within two business days.