A new lawn isn’t just about throwing down sod and hoping it sticks. You need ground that drains properly, soil that’s been prepped to support root growth, and sod that’s cut fresh and installed before it sits too long.
When we handle lawn installation in Big Hollow, NY, you’re getting excavation experience applied to landscaping. That means grading that prevents water from pooling near your foundation. Soil that’s been loosened and leveled so roots can actually establish. Sod that’s laid tight, watered in correctly, and given the best shot at thriving through the first season.
You’re not dealing with a crew that shows up, rolls out some grass, and disappears. You’re working with people who’ve been prepping land since 1997 and know what happens when the site work gets skipped. Your lawn either takes or it doesn’t, and the difference usually comes down to what happened before the sod ever arrived.
We started as a logging operation and moved into full-time excavation in 2020. We’re a family business—Josh runs most jobs himself, and his son joined as a partner in 2022.
We’re not a landscaping company that dabbles in excavation. We’re excavators who know that a good lawn starts below the surface. That matters in Big Hollow, NY, where soil conditions vary and drainage can make or break a yard. If your property has compaction issues, poor grading, or clay-heavy soil, we’ve seen it and fixed it before.
You’ll get someone who shows up, does the work right, and sticks around if something needs adjusting. That’s how we’ve built this business, and it’s how we plan to keep it.
First, we look at your site. We’re checking grade, drainage, soil condition, and any areas where water tends to sit. If the ground slopes toward your house or holds water after rain, that gets addressed before anything else.
Next is site prep. We strip out old grass, weeds, or whatever’s there. If the soil is compacted or uneven, we bring in equipment to loosen, level, and grade it properly. This step matters more than most people realize—sod laid on hard or poorly graded soil won’t root well, and you’ll end up with dead spots or erosion within a season.
Then we install the sod. We’re sourcing fresh-cut sod and laying it the same day whenever possible. Edges get fitted tight, seams are staggered, and everything’s rolled to ensure contact with the soil. We water it in before we leave and walk you through what to do over the next few weeks.
If you’re adding flower beds, tree planting, or other features, we handle that too. The goal is a finished yard that doesn’t need a redo in six months.
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A complete lawn installation in Big Hollow, NY covers more than just laying sod. You’re getting site evaluation, grading and drainage correction, soil preparation, sod installation, and initial watering. If your project includes new construction or a full yard renovation, we’re also clearing the site, removing debris, and hauling off anything that doesn’t belong.
For properties in Big Hollow, NY, drainage is often the hidden issue. Soil here can be heavy, and if your yard doesn’t shed water properly, you’ll fight standing water and weak grass for years. We address that upfront with proper grading and, if needed, adjustments to how water moves across your property.
We also offer flower bed installation and tree planting services as part of the same project. If you’re starting from scratch or renovating an existing yard, it makes sense to handle everything at once. You get a cohesive design, and the site work is done in one shot instead of tearing things up again later.
This isn’t a drop-and-go service. We’re setting your lawn up to establish quickly and hold up through New York winters and summers without constant intervention.
Spring and early fall are your best windows. In Big Hollow, NY, that typically means late March through May or September through mid-October. The soil is workable, temperatures are moderate, and the sod has time to root before extreme heat or cold sets in.
Spring installations give your lawn a full growing season to establish before winter. Fall installations take advantage of cooler weather and consistent moisture, which helps roots develop without the stress of summer heat. Both work well if the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged.
Summer installs are possible but require more intensive watering and attention, especially during dry stretches. Winter is out—you can’t properly prep frozen ground, and sod won’t root in cold soil. If you’re planning a project, aim for spring or fall and schedule early, since those are the busiest times for lawn installation work.
Cost depends on square footage, site conditions, and what prep work is needed. A straightforward install on a relatively flat, accessible yard will cost less than a property that needs significant grading, drainage correction, or debris removal.
Sod itself is priced per square foot, but the real variable is labor and site prep. If your soil is compacted, poorly graded, or full of rocks and roots, that adds time and equipment use. If we need to bring in topsoil, adjust drainage, or work around obstacles, that factors in too.
The best way to get an accurate number is to have someone look at your property. We’ll measure the area, assess what needs to happen before sod goes down, and give you a clear breakdown. No surprises, no padding—just what the job actually requires. You can reach out by text or call, and we’ll set up a time to walk the site.
You’ll see roots starting to take hold within 10 to 14 days if the sod is watered correctly and the soil prep was done right. Full establishment—where the sod is rooted enough to handle regular foot traffic and mowing—takes about four to six weeks.
During the first two weeks, the sod needs consistent moisture. That means watering daily, sometimes twice a day if it’s hot and dry. The goal is to keep the sod and the soil beneath it damp, not soaked. After the roots start growing into the soil, you can back off to every other day, then taper to a normal watering schedule.
You’ll know it’s established when you can gently tug on the grass and feel resistance from the roots. At that point, you can start mowing (just don’t cut more than a third of the blade height at once) and treat it like a regular lawn. Rush it, and you risk pulling up sod that hasn’t rooted yet. Give it time, and you’ll have a lawn that holds up for years.
Yes, but it requires more prep and sometimes additional measures to keep the sod in place while it roots. On moderate slopes, we’ll install the sod horizontally across the slope and use stakes or biodegradable netting if needed to prevent shifting before the roots establish.
Steep slopes are trickier. If the grade is too aggressive, sod can slide or erode before it has a chance to take. In those cases, we might recommend regrading to reduce the slope, installing a retaining wall, or using erosion control methods like jute netting. The goal is to give the sod a stable base and enough time to root without washing out during the first heavy rain.
Sloped yards in Big Hollow, NY also tend to have drainage challenges. Water runs fast downhill, which can cause erosion or pooling at the bottom. We’ll look at how water moves across your property and make adjustments so your new lawn doesn’t end up with bare spots or soggy areas. It’s doable, but it’s not a simple roll-and-go job.
Not much. We handle the site prep as part of the install. That includes removing old grass, weeds, and debris, grading and leveling the soil, and loosening compacted areas so the sod can root properly.
If you want to help move things along, clear any obstacles like lawn furniture, toys, or decorations from the area where we’ll be working. If there are sprinkler heads or utility lines we should know about, flag those or let us know when we do the site visit. Beyond that, we’ve got it covered.
Some companies expect you to prep the site yourself or charge extra for it. We include it because it’s the only way to guarantee the sod goes down on properly prepared ground. Skipping that step is how you end up with a lawn that looks good for a month and then starts dying in patches. We’d rather do it once and do it right.
Yes. If you’re already doing a full lawn installation in Big Hollow, NY, it makes sense to handle flower bed installation and tree planting at the same time. We’re already on site with equipment, the ground is prepped, and you avoid tearing up new sod later to add landscaping features.
For flower beds, we’ll mark out the areas, edge them properly, and prep the soil so plants have good drainage and room to establish. If you’re planting trees, we’ll dig the holes to the right depth and width, position the trees correctly, and backfill with quality soil. Both services tie into the overall grading and drainage work, so everything functions as a complete system.
Doing it all at once also gives you a finished yard instead of a piecemeal project that drags out over multiple seasons. You’ll have a clear picture of what the final result looks like, and we can coordinate the design so the lawn, beds, and trees work together. It’s more efficient and less disruptive than coming back later to add features.
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