Whether you just bought a home that doesn’t have a back lawn yet or are in an older home that needs a complete lawn renovation, you’ve come to the right place. Over the years, we’ve done hundreds and hundreds of new sod lawn installation jobs. You’ll find our experienced sod installers Portland area homeowners love will get you that new lawn you need in just a day or two!
Here at Lewis Landscape Services, we strive to do everything with the utmost of care and professionalism. With our sod installation services we take careful care to do everything necessary to insure you’ll have a healthy lawn for years to come. Read on to discover the many reasons why our customers are thrilled with their new sod lawns.
Step 1: Kill Off Existing Lawn and Amend the Soil:
When you need a new lawn, sod installation is the best place to start vs. seeding a new lawn. New sod provides instant results. You can mow, walk on and play on the lawn 2 weeks after installation. With a newly seeded lawn, there will be constant challenges for 4-8 weeks while that lawn fills in and during that process, weed seeds and seeds from foreign grasses will have flown in and you won’t have a nice uniform lawn. So for these reasons we do not seed your lawn, sod installation is much better. Sod, if it’s installed correctly, prevents all of these issues and a lot of frustration.
We start by killing off the existing lawn, foreign grasses and the weeds that are in your existing lawn 1-2 weeks prior to the sod installation date. Then we cut down and remove the existing grass blades. The next step is something unique to our company. We amending the soil by tilling in a 3-way proprietary blend of 60% sandy loam, 15% garden mulch, and 15% mushroom compost. Most every of the other sod laying company in this area use a blend that has only 30% sandy loam. But due to our heavy clay soils, agronomists actually recommend a blend with 60% sandy loam, to provide better drainage. We have our supplier mix a custom blend made just for our lawn installation company so that we’ll be installing the best blend possible for our customers. These amendments help with drainage and give your soil the right nutrition that new sod lawn needs.
Upgrade Option 1 – Adding Turface To Further Improve Drainage & Soil Permeability
For lawn areas with severe drainage problems and heavy clay soil, challenging conditions that can suffocate grass roots, we can add a second soil amendment: Turface. Heavy clay soil prevents water from draining properly and restricts oxygen flow to the roots. Turface acts as a highly effective soil conditioner. It consists of hard, porous particles that, when mixed into the heavy clay, create a stable, open structure. This structure is key because it permanently improves the permeability rate of the soil, allowing excess water to drain away efficiently while simultaneously improving aeration by allowing air to reach the roots. The outcome is a significant improvement in soil health, fostering deeper root growth and creating an optimal environment for a lush, green, and much more resilient lawn. Download the document to the left to read more about Turface, how it works and additional benefits.
When implementing this option, we first till in the blended soil mentioned above and then we till the soil again, adding Turface into the soil profile. This two-step process ensures both the base amendment and the Turface are thoroughly and evenly mixed throughout the soil profile. The result is a uniformly amended, aerated, loose soil structure that provides the best possible foundation for a better draining soil and for the new sod to root deeply and thrive.
Frustrated by the disruptive mounds and tunnels that moles leave behind? If you’ve battled these unwelcome guests in your lawn, we have a lasting solution. Our method involves installing a durable 1/4″ galvanized mole-barrier netting directly beneath your new sod. This creates a physical barrier that completely prevents moles from tunneling up into your lawn, eliminating future mole problems in those treated areas. This proactive approach ensures a pristine lawn free from the unsightly evidence of mole activity.
Our installation process is straightforward and effective. During our lawn installation service, after we’ve prepared your soil with the necessary amendments and grading the surface, we lay the mole-barrier netting across the area. A thin layer of soil is then spread over the netting, providing a base for your new sod. This ensures that while the netting is present, it remains unseen beneath your beautiful, even lawn. By choosing this option, you’re investing in a long-term solution that will allow you to enjoy a smooth, undisturbed lawn free from the annoyance of mole activity. Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a mole-free lawn, season after season. Read on for more about our quality sod installation services.
Following the soil amendment steps, we move to final grading, meticulously preparing the surface before compacting it evenly with a roller. This creates a smooth, firm base essential for a successful lawn that drains properly. Then, our team begins the professional sod installation services, carefully unrolling and fitting the fresh sod strips across the prepared area. We ensure each piece is laid precisely, butted snugly against the next, creating an instant, seamless green carpet ready to establish roots in its new home.
In most cases, the sod we install is RTF (Rhyzomatous Tall Fescue), a truly revolutionary and improved variety compared to older types like perennial ryegrass. This turfgrass is celebrated for its aesthetic appeal, boasting a consistently darker green color and forming a fuller, thicker mat right from day one, giving your lawn a luxurious look and feel. One of its most significant advantages is its exceptional drought resistance, requiring up to 30% less water than traditional sod varieties to stay vibrant and healthy – a major benefit for water conservation, lower utility bills, and resilience during dry periods. Furthermore, RTF is less demanding on nutrients, needing only about half the fertilizer of regular perennial ryegrass for optimal growth and easier maintenance. Its versatility is unmatched, performing exceptionally well in both full sun and areas with more shade, unlike less tolerant grasses. It is remarkably self-repairing; it naturally fills in small bare spots or thin areas, maintaining a dense, resilient surface over time. Combined, these characteristics make RTF a superior variety of turfgrass in almost every way, offering easier maintenance, greater environmental benefits, enhanced durability, and a consistently beautiful lawn for your home.
When performing our sodding services, we understand that many properties on the Portland west side already have existing underground irrigation systems. Our crews take great care to work around existing pipes and components during the installation process to avoid any damage. Before the new sod is laid, we carefully assess your current sprinkler layout. This allows us to identify potential coverage issues and adjust the height and direction of existing sprinkler heads as needed. In some cases, heads may need to be slightly relocated to ensure complete and uniform water distribution, which is absolutely crucial for the successful establishment and healthy growth of your new sod lawn.
For properties without an existing system, or with older, inefficient ones, considering a professional underground sprinkler system is highly recommended to protect your new sod investment. Consistent, even watering is critical for the successful rooting and long-term health of new sod, and a professionally designed system provides this precision and convenience automatically. Lewis Landscape Services provides expert sprinkler system installation services tailored to ensure your new lawn receives the optimal amount of water it needs to thrive with minimal effort on your part. Read more about our sprinkler installations on Sprinkler Installations here.
After we’re finished with your professional sod installation, you’ll be provided with access to our comprehensive New Sod Lawn Care Guide, which will guide you through everything you need to do to keep your lawn looking it’s very best. We provide detailed guidance after your new lawn is installed, covering the essential steps for successful Lawn Care, Sod Installation follow-up, and long-term maintenance. We understand that caring for a new lawn might seem like a lot initially, but this resource is designed to simplify the process. Included in this guide are watering guidelines; fertilizer information and where to buy it; how to control weeds in your lawn; information about mowing and regular lawn maintenance as well as everything else you’ll need to know to keep your new sod lawn installation looking great for years. Following these simple, proven steps is key to ensuring your investment establishes strongly and remains a source of pride.
Once installation is completed, you can rest assured that your new sod lawn will look beautiful right away, have a much better soil profile to grow in, and turn out great long term. With the groundwork laid and your new sod professionally installed, you can soon look forward to stepping out onto a lush, vibrant green carpet that significantly enhances your home’s appeal. Your new lawn will boast a deeper green color, be noticeably thicker and fuller, and thanks to the RTF variety, will use 30% less water once it’s established compared to traditional grasses. Imagine the ease of enjoying a truly resilient, water-efficient lawn designed for lasting beauty and less maintenance. You’ll also have our exclusive 30 day sod warranty, providing added peace of mind as your new lawn takes root.
Our mailing address is: 21500 NW Farm Park Dr. Suite A Hillsboro, OR 97124
Office Phone: 503-524-3679 (Call or Text)
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: Winter = 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Summer = 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
To set up an appointment for a free evaluation and free quote, please complete the form below.
Licensed, Bonded & Insured
LCB #8112 CCB# 231440
Portland Metro Lic.# 9303
