You’re not looking for the cheapest option. You’re looking for a lawn that works—one that doesn’t turn patchy after the first dry spell or wash out when spring runoff hits. Round Lake’s rocky soil and drainage quirks mean most DIY attempts end up costing more in the long run, between reseeding, extra topsoil, and weekends spent fixing what didn’t take.
Sod installation in Round Lake, NY gives you instant coverage and erosion protection. No waiting for germination. No babysitting a watering schedule for eight weeks. You get a yard that’s usable in days, not months, with grass that’s already established and weed-resistant from the start.
Proper site prep matters more than the grass itself. If your yard slopes toward the house or has low spots that hold water, new sod won’t fix that. We regrade for drainage, remove old debris, and improve the soil before anything gets rolled out. That’s how you avoid the same problems showing up six months later.
We started as a logging operation in 1997 and shifted to full-time excavation in 2020. Josh runs the company and is on-site for almost every job. His son joined as a partner in 2022, so this is a family business in the most literal sense.
Round Lake’s terrain isn’t forgiving. Rocky soil, unpredictable drainage, and spring conditions that destroy fresh seed installations mean you need someone who knows what they’re dealing with before the first shovel hits the ground. We’ve been working in this area long enough to know which sections drain naturally and which ones need attention before you lay down a single roll of sod.
You’re not hiring a crew that disappears after the install. You’re working with people who live here, understand the local job sites, and plan to keep doing this work for the next twenty years.
First, we remove the old grass and any debris that’s going to interfere with drainage or root growth. If your yard has low spots or slopes toward the foundation, we regrade it so water moves away from the house. Most drainage problems start here, not with the grass itself.
Next, we improve the soil. Round Lake’s rocky base doesn’t hold moisture well, so we add starter fertilizer and make sure the surface is level before the sod goes down. Uneven ground means uneven watering, which leads to brown patches within weeks.
Then we install the sod. We help you pick the right variety based on sun exposure and how you’ll actually use the yard. High-traffic areas need tougher grass. Shaded sections need something that won’t thin out by July. The sod gets laid tight, edges staggered, and rolled to eliminate air pockets that dry out roots.
After install, you’ll need to water daily for the first two weeks while the roots establish. After that, it’s normal maintenance. No months of waiting. No reseeding bare spots. Just a lawn that’s ready when you are.
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Site preparation is the foundation. We clear out old grass, roots, and any debris that interferes with grading. If your yard has drainage issues, we address them before sod goes down. Round Lake properties often have rocky subsoil, so we factor that into the prep work and pricing upfront. No surprise charges when we hit ledge.
Grading and soil improvement come next. We level the surface, adjust slopes to move water away from your foundation, and add starter fertilizer to give new roots what they need. If you’re installing sod as part of a larger project—new driveway, septic system, or site prep for a new build—we coordinate everything so the lawn install happens at the right time in the sequence.
Sod selection and installation are based on your yard’s conditions. We walk the property with you, talk through sun exposure and usage, and recommend grass that’ll hold up with minimal maintenance. Front yard lawn installation in Round Lake often needs different sod than backyard areas, especially if kids or pets will be using the space. We also handle flower bed installation in Round Lake, NY and tree planting service in Round Lake, NY if you’re looking to add more than just grass.
Cost depends on yard size, site conditions, and how much prep work is needed. A typical residential lawn installation in Round Lake runs between $1.50 and $3.00 per square foot for sod and installation, but that number moves if we’re dealing with rocky soil, significant regrading, or drainage corrections.
Round Lake properties often have ledge or heavy rock content, which affects both equipment access and the amount of soil work required. We price that in from the beginning so you’re not surprised halfway through the job. If your yard needs more than basic prep—like fixing a slope that sends water toward your foundation or removing old stumps and debris—that gets factored in during the estimate.
Most front yard lawn installation projects in Round Lake fall between $3,000 and $6,000 depending on square footage and complexity. Backyard lawn installation in Round Lake can run higher if access is limited or if we’re coordinating with other site work like septic or driveway installation. We walk the property, talk through what’s needed, and give you a number that reflects the actual work, not a lowball estimate that changes once we start digging.
You can walk on new sod within two to three weeks, but it’s not fully established until roots anchor into the soil below. That takes about four to six weeks with proper watering. During the first two weeks, you’ll need to water daily—sometimes twice a day if it’s hot and dry—to keep the roots from drying out.
After the first month, the grass is stable enough for normal use. Kids, pets, and regular foot traffic won’t damage it as long as you’re not tearing it up before the roots have taken hold. If you’re installing sod in spring or early fall, establishment happens faster because temperatures are cooler and rainfall is more consistent. Summer installs take more attention with watering, but the grass still establishes within the same timeframe.
Seeding, by comparison, takes three to four months before you have a lawn that’s usable, and even then, results are inconsistent. Sod gives you a yard that looks finished immediately and functions like a real lawn within weeks, not months. That’s the difference between waiting until fall to use your backyard and having it ready by mid-summer.
Sod gives you instant results. Seeding gives you a project that might work out. With sod installation in Round Lake, NY, you’re laying down mature grass that’s already grown, rooted, and weed-resistant. It establishes in four to six weeks and gives you immediate erosion control, which matters in areas where spring runoff washes out new seed before it even germinates.
Seeding is cheaper upfront, but it’s not predictable. You’re dealing with birds, washouts, uneven germination, and bare spots that need reseeding. Round Lake’s rocky soil doesn’t hold moisture well, so seed dries out fast if you’re not watering multiple times a day. Even with perfect conditions, you’re looking at three to four months before the lawn is usable, and there’s no guarantee it’ll come in thick and even.
Sod costs more initially, but you’re skipping months of maintenance, uncertainty, and the hidden costs of reseeding and extra watering. If you need a lawn that works now—not one you’re still nursing in October—sod is the only option that makes sense. Seeding works for some situations, but if you’re building a new home or fixing a yard that’s been torn up by construction, sod gives you a finished product you can actually use.
Yes, but the yard needs to be regraded first. Sod won’t fix drainage problems or level out dips and high spots. If your yard slopes toward the house, water will keep pooling near the foundation no matter how good the grass looks. If it’s uneven, you’ll have areas that dry out fast and others that stay soggy, which leads to dead patches and thin grass within a season.
We regrade before sod goes down. That means adjusting slopes so water moves away from your house, filling in low spots that hold water, and leveling out the surface so the lawn drains evenly. Round Lake properties often have natural drainage challenges because of rocky subsoil and terrain, so this step isn’t optional—it’s part of doing the job right.
Steep slopes need extra attention. Sod can be installed on moderate grades, but if the slope is severe, we may need to add erosion control measures or recommend terracing to keep the grass from washing out. We walk the property during the estimate and talk through what’s realistic based on your yard’s specific conditions. If regrading isn’t enough, we’ll tell you that upfront, not after the sod’s already down.
Yes. If you’re putting in a new lawn, adding flower bed installation in Round Lake, NY or tree planting service in Round Lake, NY at the same time makes sense. We can coordinate the site prep, grading, and installation so everything happens in the right sequence. That’s easier than hiring separate crews and trying to schedule around each other.
New flower bed design in Round Lake often ties into the overall yard layout, especially if you’re working around existing trees, driveways, or foundation plantings. We handle the excavation, soil prep, and edging so the beds are ready for planting. If you’re adding trees, we make sure they’re planted at the right depth, in soil that drains properly, and positioned where they won’t interfere with utilities or future site work.
Doing it all at once also means we’re not tearing up a new lawn to add a flower bed six months later. If you’re building a new home or redoing your front yard, it’s worth planning the full layout—lawn, beds, trees—before anything gets installed. We can walk through options during the estimate and give you a clear picture of what’s involved and what it’ll cost.
Water daily for the first two weeks. The roots need consistent moisture to establish, so you’re looking at watering once in the morning and possibly again in the afternoon if it’s hot. After two weeks, you can cut back to every other day, and by week four, the lawn should be on a normal watering schedule—about an inch of water per week, either from rain or irrigation.
Mowing starts once the grass reaches three to four inches, usually around two to three weeks after install. Set your mower high for the first few cuts so you’re not stressing new roots. After the first month, you can mow at normal height and frequency. Avoid heavy foot traffic during the first few weeks, but light walking is fine. The grass won’t tear up as long as the soil isn’t soaked.
Fertilizing happens after the first six weeks. The starter fertilizer we add during installation gives the roots what they need initially, but after that, you’ll want to follow a regular feeding schedule based on the type of grass and time of year. We can walk you through a maintenance plan during the install, or you can hire a lawn care service to handle it. Either way, new sod is low-maintenance compared to seeding—you’re just keeping up with normal lawn care, not babysitting a fragile planting.
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