Sod installation and lawn repair in Markham

A lawn usually needs replacing because it has slowly turned into weeds, clover and bare dirt, or because something killed it fast: grubs, a dog, road salt along the driveway, a dry summer. Sod gets you a usable lawn in a few weeks instead of a season of seeding and waiting.

Lawn repair is the smaller version. We cut out the dead patches, fix the soil underneath and sod them so they blend in with the grass around them.

Re-sod the whole lawn when more than a few patches are gone or the yard is mostly weeds. Patch it when the rest of the lawn is healthy. Full sod also makes sense on a new build with bare soil, or builder sod that never took.

If the grass is thin but alive, you may not need sod at all. Overseeding in September often fills it back in, as our guide to fall lawn care in Ontario explains. Not sure whether a brown patch is dead or just dormant? See our guide to fixing brown and bare patches.

Shade matters too. The Nursery Sod Growers Association of Ontario rates plain Kentucky bluegrass sod for sun or light shade, and blends with fine fescue for more shade. Under big trees, a garden bed or mulched area may suit that corner better than any lawn.

Most of the work happens before the first roll goes down:

1. We cut out the old grass and weeds and haul them away. Sod laid on an old lawn can’t get its roots into the soil, so we never skip this.
2. We fix the grade. Low spots get filled, and the soil next to the house slopes away from the foundation so water doesn’t head for the basement.
3. Where the ground is hard clay, thin or full of construction debris, we add topsoil and rake it level. The NSGAO’s installation guide calls for 3 to 4 inches (about 8 to 10 cm), because sod roots need loose soil to grow into.
4. The sod goes down soon after delivery (the NSGAO says within 24 hours), in a staggered brick pattern with tight seams, trimmed along beds, trees, walkways and edges.
5. We roll it so every piece touches the soil, then give it a deep first watering.

On our sod, edging and mulch project page, an overgrown side yard of dry grass and weeds became new lawn with an interlock border edge and fresh mulch.

HomeStars’ 2026 sod price guide puts installed sod in Ontario at about $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot. Those are market ranges, not our prices.

Scroll sideways to see the whole table.

We quote after seeing the yard. Size matters, but so does the prep: old turf and debris to clear, clay that needs topsoil and grading, or a narrow side gate everything has to go through. Our sod installation cost guide has worked examples.

Early spring and early fall are the easiest times, though sod can go down whenever the ground isn’t frozen. According to the University of Nebraska’s sod fact sheet, it needs far less watering in spring and fall than in summer.

Summer works if you can water a lot. Our guide on the best time to lay sod in Ontario covers each season, including late fall.

Water it every morning and stay off it until the roots take hold. Iowa State University Extension advises a morning watering (plus a short afternoon one in hot weather) and says sod usually roots in 10 to 14 days.

Keep the soil moist but not soaked. Once a gentle tug won’t lift the sod, water deeply but less often and start mowing, never taking more than a third of the blade at once.

Our guide on how often to water new sod has a week-by-week schedule. If you’d rather not deal with the mowing, we also do regular lawn care.

Yes, and a small patch is a fine weekend project. The hard part is the prep: digging out the old lawn, moving soil by hand and getting the grade right, because a poor base shows up later as bumps and puddles.

Our yard prep guide explains each step. For a whole front or back yard, the digging and soil moving is the part most worth handing off.

We work across Markham and nearby, including Richmond Hill, Stouffville, Vaughan and Scarborough.

The easiest way to start is to text a few photos of the lawn to (437) 684-2535 with your street or postal code. We’ll arrange a time to come and look, and give you a free quote.

• More weeds and clover than grass
• Brown patches that don't green up after rain
• Grass that peels back like a carpet (often grub damage)
• Bare, muddy spots where people or dogs walk
• A dead strip along the driveway or sidewalk after winter
• Low spots that hold water after rain
• A new build with bare soil or patchy builder sod