Anyone can unroll sod. Whether it still looks good in August comes down to what happened first: stripping the old turf, correcting the grade, and laying enough quality topsoil for roots to establish. We do not skip the prep – it is most of the job.
Existing turf and weeds stripped and hauled away.
Grade corrected and fresh topsoil spread to proper depth.
Farm-fresh Kentucky bluegrass sod, delivered and laid the same day.
Staggered joints, trimmed edges, and rolling for full soil contact.
A simple first-month watering schedule so the lawn roots properly.
A sod job is really a soil job. We strip the old lawn, fix the grade so water sheds away from the house, and spread quality topsoil deep enough for roots to take hold – then the fresh-cut Ontario sod goes down the same day it arrives, staggered, trimmed, and rolled. That prep is why our lawns are still thick in year three instead of dying back in strips.
Half our sod calls are new-build lawns: a skim of soil over compacted clay that burns out by its second summer. The fix is real topsoil depth and, where the yard holds water, grading and drainage correction before the new lawn goes down. If your grass fails in the same patches every year, the problem is under the lawn – and replacing like-for-like just resets the clock.
New sod needs two things: water on schedule and patience for two weeks. We leave you a simple watering plan, and if you would rather never think about the lawn again, our lawn care crew can take over the mowing, feeding, and seasonal care from day one.
Typical Ottawa pricing runs about $3.75-$4.50 per square foot installed, which includes removal of the old lawn, topsoil, and the sod itself, plus a delivery fee. A standard front yard often lands under $2,000; a full property depends on size – the free quote gives you an exact written number.
Spring (May-June) and early fall (September) are ideal – the sod roots before heat or frost. Summer installs work too if you can water consistently. We schedule fall installs so roots establish 4-8 weeks before freeze-up.
Stay off it for about two weeks while the roots knit, then light use. First mow is usually 10-14 days in, once the sod resists a gentle tug.
Sod gives you a finished, weed-free lawn immediately and works on slopes where seed washes out. Seeding costs less up front but takes a season of babysitting. For most Ottawa front yards, sod wins; we will give you a straight recommendation on site.