Sod installation
Sod installation in Longview & East Texas
Bermuda, St. Augustine or Zoysia matched to how much sun your yard gets, laid over soil we prep first. Most projects run $1,500 to $4,700.
- 5.0 on Google from 143 reviews
- Free written estimate within a day
- Same crew every visit, never subcontracted
Who does sod installation in Longview, TX?
Yard Dog Landscapes is a family-owned crew in Longview, TX, founded in 2017 and rated 5.0 stars across 143 Google reviews. We strip old turf, level and amend the soil, then lay bermuda, St. Augustine or Zoysia with tight, staggered seams and starter fertilizer, and leave you a watering plan. Most projects run $1,500 to $4,700, priced by the pallet. Square footage, grass type and how much prep the ground needs set the price. Send a quote request and we'll get back to you within a day.
What we do
Sod takes or fails because of what happens before the pallets show up. We strip whatever is there down to bare dirt, dead turf and weeds included, regrade where water needs to move, and till in two to three inches of compost or topsoil. Then we level and roll the bed so the sod sits flat.
We lay it tight with staggered seams and no gaps, put down starter fertilizer, and hand you a watering schedule you can actually follow. Picking the right grass matters just as much. Bermuda needs six to eight hours of direct sun. St. Augustine holds on with four to six. Zoysia sits in between. A lot of yards should be split, bermuda in the sunny front and St. Augustine under the trees out back. We'll tell you which fits before we price it.
- Old turf and weeds stripped to bare soil
- Regrading and leveling
- Two to three inches of compost or topsoil tilled in
- Bermuda, St. Augustine or Zoysia matched to your sun
- Tight, staggered seams with full coverage
- Starter fertilizer at install
- Written watering schedule
- Patch repairs, plugs and full-yard installs
How the job goes
Bermuda goes down best from late April through August, and St. Augustine from May through September, when the ground is warm. St. Augustine needs four to six weeks of root growth before dormancy, so get it in by the end of September. Laid in November, it sits on the ground like a rug.
Map the sun
We walk the yard, note where the sun actually falls in summer, and recommend a grass, or a split, for each area.
Measure and quote
We measure the square footage and send a written quote priced by the pallet.
Prep the ground
Old turf and weeds come out, the grade gets set, and compost or topsoil is tilled in, leveled and rolled.
Lay it tight
Sod goes down with staggered seams and no gaps, over starter fertilizer.
Water it in
You get a daily morning watering schedule for the first two weeks, then a taper to deep, less frequent soaks once the roots take hold.
Our sod installation work
Real jobs by our crew, with where they were built. Tap any photo to see the whole project.
Sun picks the grass, not the price
The most common mistake we see is bermuda sodded in a shady yard because it's cheaper and people hear it's tough. In shade, bermuda quits. Under a pine canopy or on the north side of a two-story house it thins to dirt by August no matter how it's fed.
For sun we usually lay Tif419 bermuda. For shade it's St. Augustine, in Floratam, Palmetto or Raleigh depending on how much shade tolerance the spot needs. Under about four hours of sun no turf thrives long-term, and that spot is better as a shade bed or mulch. Watering is the other half. New sod needs a deep morning soak every day for the first two weeks. Skip that in July heat and a $4,000 install can brown out in two weeks.
Sod Installation questions
Something else on your mind? Ask us in the quote form.
How much does sod installation cost in Longview, TX?
Most sod projects in Longview run $1,500 to $4,700. Sod is priced by the pallet based on the square footage you're covering, so a patch repair costs less and a full-yard install costs more. Removing old turf, grading and soil amendment add to the total. We measure on site and send a written quote. Send a quote request and we'll get back to you within a day.
Which sod is best for East Texas?
It depends on sun. Bermuda needs six to eight hours of direct sun and handles heat, kids and dogs better than anything. St. Augustine is the shade grass and holds on with four to six hours. Zoysia sits in between. Under four hours, no turf lasts. Plenty of yards should be split, and we map the sun before we recommend one.
How often should I water new sod?
Every morning for the first two weeks or so, deep enough to soak through the sod into the soil below, until the roots grab. After that, taper to two deep waterings a week that finish around sunrise, about an inch a week in summer. Evening watering keeps the blades wet all night, which invites fungus. We leave you a written schedule.
Do you prep the yard before laying sod?
Yes, and it's the most important part of the job. We strip old turf and weeds to bare dirt, regrade where needed, till in two to three inches of compost or topsoil, then level and roll. Prep is the difference between sod that holds for ten years and sod that thins out by year two.
Can you repair bare or dead patches with sod?
Yes. We do patch repairs with sod or plugs as well as full yards. St. Augustine has no seed and spreads only by surface runners, so a dead spot bigger than a few feet across won't close on its own before weeds find the bare dirt. Late summer is still a fine time to patch it. Waiting until October pushes it to next spring.
Sod Installation near you
We work all over East Texas from our home base in Longview. Pick your town for local details and answers.
Related services
Lawn Maintenance
Weekly and bi-weekly mowing, edging, trimming and blowing by the same crew every visit.
Fertilization
Soil-tested feeding, core aeration and a fall winterizer, timed to when East Texas grass can actually use it.
Drainage & Grading
French drains, regrading, downspout reroutes and swales for yards that hold water after every rain.
From the blog
What customers say
143 Google reviews
“These guys did a great job. They were even sweet and brought my trash can up to the house. Glad we switched to Yard Dog. We’d recommend them to anyone in the White Oak area!”
“I recently hired Miller to clear out my ditch area, and I couldn’t be more impressed with the results. From start to finish, the service was professional and efficient. They cleared the area quickly, removing overgrowth, debris, and ensuring proper drainage. Highly recommend Miller for any type of lawn care!”
“Miller and the 2 young gentleman that did work at my home today were great! Each of them had great manners, respect and worked extremely hard to get the job done. I look forward to using them again in the near future.”
Get a free sod installation quote
Tell us what you need and where. We call within a day, walk the property with you and send a written, itemized estimate. No pressure and no surprise add-ons.
- Free on-site walkthrough
- Written estimate, usually within a day
- Same crew every visit, never subcontracted
- Fully insured, 5.0 on Google from 143 reviews