We Specialize In New Lawn Installation Using Seed Or Sod
Searching for new lawn installation near me?
Have you just built a new home and now want the property graded and a front and back lawn installed? Do you have an existing lawn that has been neglected and you’re tired of looking at the patchy, brown eyesore on your property?
Are you hosting an important event at your property and you want your lawn to look great? There is a lot to know about getting grass to properly take root and grow into a healthy, vibrant, lush green lawn. It’s not as simple as just laying down sod or throwing out some grass seed. There is a specific process that must be followed if you want the lawn to look amazing.
Why Do You Need A New Lawn Installed?
- Do you need a new lawn for a new construction project?
- Are you trying to renovate an existing lawn that is in poor shape?
- Do you want to improve your properties appearance and curb appeal?
- Are you embarrassed about your lawn compared to your neighbors?
- Do you have an important event coming up and you want a beautiful lawn?
Outdoor Living Experts is a landscaping contractor based out of Hampton, Virginia and serving Newport News, Poquoson, Suffolk, Smithfield, and Williamsburg. We specialize in new lawn installation for our residential and commercial clients using grass seed or installing new sod. From grading your property and lawn area for proper drainage, and preparing your lawn area with proper loam soil, organizing the installation of irrigation or sprinkler systems, and spreading the grass seed or rolling out the sod we can provide you with a beautiful looking new lawn.
For our clients that care about their lawn and always want it too look it’s best we also offer regular weekly lawn care services including mowing, seasonal fertilizing, and lawn weed control.
Should You Use Seed Or Sod For Your New Lawn?
This is a question our customers who want a new lawn area often ask us! The answer really depends on three things:
- How will the new lawn area be used?
- What is your overall budget?
- Are you under a time constraint?
If you have kids or pets that frequently use and enjoy your lawn area then keeping them off the newly seeded area could be a problem. If that’s the case, sod is usually a better option but installing sod is more expensive than traditional grass seed. With a new sod lawn you’re going to have a green lawn within a day or two and an even more beautiful lawn within a week or two of the installation.
It will look like beautiful grass from day one but you’ll still see the visible lines from the sod being rolled out. It takes a week or two for the grass to blend sufficiently so you won’t notice it.
With grass seed you’re looking at several weeks until you have a beautiful lawn and in many cases it's still not really any cheaper as you need to spend more time final grading a property for grass seed as it's a lot less forgiving than sod!
If you’re on a time constraint, let’s say you’re hosting a big party or a special event like a wedding on your property and you need it to look amazing for the big day, then sod is a much better, more predictable option.
What Types Of Grass Are Available?
We have access to a variety of sod species from local suppliers.
- Drought-tolerant and heat-resistant
- Fast-growing and self-repairing
- Dense, fine to medium-textured grass
- Ideal for high-traffic areas, sports fields, and lawns
- Cold-tolerant and can withstand harsh winters
- Fine-textured with a rich, dark green color
- Moderate shade tolerance
- Good for lawns, parks, and recreational areas in cooler climates
- Shade-tolerant and can thrive in areas with less sunlight
- Coarse-textured with a dark green color
- Good for coastal regions due to salt tolerance
- Ideal for lawns and landscapes in warm climates
- Tolerates a wide range of soil types
- Slow-growing, low-maintenance, and drought-tolerant
- Dense, medium-textured grass with good wear resistance
- Suitable for lawns, golf courses, and parks in various climates
- Shade-tolerant and can adapt to a wide range of soil conditions
- Fine to medium-textured grass with deep root systems for drought tolerance
- Cool-season grass suitable for lawns and landscapes in temperate regions
- Low-maintenance and requires less frequent mowing
- Low-growing, slow-spreading grass with a medium texture
- Drought- and heat-tolerant, as well as low-maintenance
- Good for acidic soils and has a moderate shade tolerance
- Suitable for lawns and low-traffic areas in warm climates
- Native to North American prairies and highly drought-tolerant
- Low-maintenance and requires minimal watering and mowing
- Fine-textured, grayish-green grass with a dense growth habit
- Ideal for low-traffic lawns and natural landscapes in arid regions
- Fast-growing, fine-textured grass with a rich green color
- Cold-tolerant and often used for overseeding warm-season grasses
- Requires regular maintenance, including watering and mowing
- Suitable for lawns, athletic fields, and golf courses in cool to temperate climates
We cannot guarantee ALL of these varieties will be available at local sod farms. It's best to check with us so we can let you know what species of sod are currently available through our local suppliers.
How Much Does It Cost To Install A New Lawn?
The cost for new lawn installation can vary depending on the method used (seed or sod), how much property grading is required, if you want a sprinkler system, and the size of the property, and more.
Small Lawns
$3500 - $6000
This would be for a small front and backyard on a typical, flat, level Virginia sized city building lot. Irrigation, edging, and garden beds would add additional cost.
Medium Sized Lawns
$6000 - $12,000
This would be the cost for a property that was between approximately 1/4 to 1/2 acre in size. Irrigation, edging, and garden beds would be an additional expense.
Large Or Luxury Lawns
$12,000 - $25,000+
This would be for properties larger than 1/2 acre in size. It would include front and backyard, edging, irrigation, and surrounding garden beds.
These prices are only ball park figures to give you a rough idea as to what you should expect for the cost of your new lawn installation. Your particular lawn installation project may vary depending on the site, the specific materials chosen, and the overall scope of work. If you need a firm price please request a consultation so we can view your potential project, listen to your ideas, and determine the actual scope of work required to install your lawn. After our on-site consultation we'll be able to provide you with a firm estimate to get your new lawn installed the right way.
New Lawn Installations Can Include
There is more to new lawn installation than simply throwing out some grass seed or rolling out some sod. If you want beautiful, uniform, lush green grass, this must be done right!
Property Grading
Grading your lawn will include grading for drainage, and bringing in the necessary amount of loam soil (usually 3" to 6") and spreading it.
Irrigation
We can organize the installation of a lawn sprinkler system for your new lawn should you want to have your lawn irrigated.
Seed Or Sod Installation
Depending on which method you'd like us to do we will either spread out grass seed or roll out your sod for an instant lawn.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Lawn Installation
The ideal time to install sod can vary but generally, the best time is during the growing season when temperatures are moderate, and there's adequate rainfall. Spring and fall are often the preferred times. Laying sod in the middle of a summer heatwave is not recommended.
Proper watering is critical for sod to take root. Water the sod immediately after installation, ensuring the soil beneath is moist to a depth of 4-6 inches. For the first two weeks, water the sod daily or as needed to keep the soil consistently moist. Gradually reduce watering frequency after that, allowing the grass to develop deeper roots.
You can mow the new sod lawn once the grass has reached a height of 3-4 inches, typically within 2-3 weeks after installation.
Limit foot traffic on the new sod for the first two weeks to allow the roots to establish properly. After that, you can gradually increase foot traffic as the grass becomes more established and resilient.
Yes, sod can be installed on slopes; however, it requires extra care to prevent erosion and ensure proper establishment of the sod. We will lay the sod perpendicular to the slope and use sod staples or pins to secure the edges.
Laying sod over existing grass is not recommended, as it can lead to poor root establishment and very uneven surfaces. It's best to remove the old grass using a sod cutter and prepare the soil properly before installing the new sod.
Sod typically takes about 2-4 weeks to root, depending on the grass variety, climate, and soil conditions. Proper watering and limiting foot traffic during this period will help encourage root establishment.
How Our New Lawn Installation Process Works
We’ve installed dozens and dozens of new lawns for new homes and property development in Hampton, Virginia and we are happy to get your new lawn installed properly.
- We start with our initial consultation and taking accurate measurements of your property.
- We assess the existing soil conditions and take note of any grading or drainage issues.
- We can install any required drainage and handle final grading.
- We will bring in proper loam soil or topsoil and spread as needed to ensure a uniform and level surface.
- We can arrange to have irrigation and sprinklers installed at the same time if you like.
- We then spread out your grass seed or roll out sod.
- The end result is a beautiful, lush green lawn!
For most average sized lawns this entire process can be completed in just 1-3 days. For much larger residential lawns on estate properties or acreages or commercial properties the process can take longer but the end result is exactly the same. You’re going to end up with a beautiful, lush green lawn.
If you’d like to schedule a consultation with us to discuss your new lawn installation with seed or sod we’d be happy to meet with you. Please call 757-890-0770 or fill out our online form and we’ll get right back to you.