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SouthGrade — Built From The Ground Up.
Landscape & Hardscape

Sod Installation & Lawn Prep

Sod laid on unprepared clay dies. The preparation is the job; the green part is the last two hours.

Coverage
Metro Atlanta
Typical duration
Most residential lawns: 1–2 days
Quotes
Free & on site

Sod fails for one reason more than any other: it is laid straight onto compacted Georgia clay. Roots cannot penetrate, water cannot drain, and within a season you have expensive brown squares.

We do the whole job — grading, decompaction, screened topsoil, and then the sod — so it knits into ground it can actually live in.

Do you need this?

If any of these sound like your property, this is the service:

  • The lawn is patchy, weedy or has failed
  • A build or excavation has left bare ground
  • You want an instant lawn rather than waiting on seed
  • Erosion is taking bare soil off a slope
  • The ground needs levelling before any lawn will work

How the job runs

  1. 1

    Grade and drain first

    Surface shaped so water runs off, not into hollows. A lawn that sits wet will rot whatever you lay on it.

  2. 2

    Break up the clay

    Compacted subsoil loosened so roots have somewhere to go. This is the step that separates a lawn that takes from one that does not.

  3. 3

    Topsoil

    Screened topsoil brought in and spread to depth — four to six inches is the target over Georgia clay.

  4. 4

    Lay, roll and water

    Sod laid tight with staggered joints, rolled for contact, and watered in. We leave you clear watering instructions for the critical first two weeks.

What affects your price

Driven by area, how much grading and topsoil the ground needs, sod variety and access. Ground that is already graded costs considerably less than ground that needs shaping first.

We quote after seeing the site, and the price we give you is fixed and in writing. Estimates are free and there is no obligation.

Get a free quote

Why it's different in Georgia

Georgia red clay is dense, holds water and roots struggle in it. Bermuda, zoysia and fescue all behave differently here and the right choice depends on sun, slope and how much water the lawn will get. We will talk that through rather than laying whatever is on the truck.

FAQ

Sod Installation — your questions


Why did my last sod die?

Almost always laid on unprepared clay, or under-watered in the first fortnight. Roots need loose soil to enter and constant moisture to knit.

How much topsoil do I need under sod?

Four to six inches of screened topsoil over decompacted ground. Less and roots hit clay and stall.

How soon can I walk on it?

Light foot traffic after about two weeks. Keep it off during the knitting period — that is when the roots are taking hold.

Sod or seed?

Sod for instant results, slopes and erosion control. Seed is cheaper but slower and washes on any gradient. On a Georgia slope, sod usually wins.

Need sod installation?

Free on-site quote, fixed price, and a date you can hold us to.

Mon–Fri 7am–6pm · Sat 8am–4pm · Phone only, no email