# Sod installation and lawn repair in Markham

URL: https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/sod-installation/  
Updated: 2026-10-13  
By: Hotiv Landscaping, Markham, Ontario. Call or text (437) 684-2535.

**Short answer:** We replace weedy, dead or bare lawns with fresh sod that looks finished the day it goes down. Sod installation starts with the prep: we cut out the old turf, fix the grade and add topsoil where the ground is poor, then lay the sod with tight seams, roll it and water it in. For smaller damage we re-sod just the dead patches. We work in Markham, Ontario and nearby towns.

A lawn usually needs replacing because it has slowly turned into weeds, clover and bare dirt, or because something killed it fast: [grubs](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/lawn-grubs-ontario/), 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.

## What the job includes

- Measuring the lawn and looking at the soil and grade with you
- Cutting out the old grass, weeds and dead patches
- Grading low spots so water runs away from the house
- Topsoil where the ground is thin, compacted or clay
- New sod laid in a staggered pattern, trimmed to the edges and rolled
- A deep first watering, care notes and the old turf hauled away

## Price depends on

- Size of the lawn
- How much old turf and debris comes out
- Topsoil and grading needed
- Access through a narrow side gate
- Whole lawn or a few patches

## Should you re-sod the whole lawn or patch it?

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](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fall-lawn-care-ontario/) explains. Not sure whether a brown patch is dead or just dormant? See our guide to [fixing brown and bare patches](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fix-brown-patches-lawn/).

Shade matters too. The [Nursery Sod Growers Association of Ontario](https://www.nsgao.com/resources/turfgrass-technical-specifications/) 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](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/garden-beds-planting/) may suit that corner better than any lawn.

## How is sod installed?

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](https://www.nsgao.com/resources/install-sod/) 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](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/projects/sod-edging-mulch/), an overgrown side yard of dry grass and weeds became new lawn with an interlock border edge and fresh mulch.

## How much does sod installation cost in the GTA?

[HomeStars' 2026 sod price guide](https://www.homestars.com/gardening-outdoors/price-guides/grass-sod-cost) puts installed sod in Ontario at about $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot. Those are market ranges, not our prices.

| Lawn area | Installed, at $1.50 to $3.00 per sq ft |
|---|---|
| 500 sq ft (small front yard) | $750 to $1,500 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $1,500 to $3,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $3,000 to $6,000 |

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](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/sod-installation-cost/) has worked examples.

## When is the best time to lay sod in Ontario?

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](https://turf.unl.edu/sites/unl.edu.ianr.agronomy-horticulture.turf/files/media/file/Establishing-lawn-fromsod2012m.pdf), 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](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/best-time-to-lay-sod-ontario/) covers each season, including late fall.

> **Good to know:** Markham limits lawn watering to odd or even days from June 1 to September 30, but [the City of Markham](https://www.markham.ca/about-city-markham/city-hall/bylaw/water-use) exempts new sod for two months after it's laid. Richmond Hill, Vaughan and Stouffville give one month, and [York Region's outdoor water-use page](https://www.york.ca/OutdoorWaterUse) lists each town's dates.

## How do you look after new sod?

Water it every morning and stay off it until the roots take hold. [Iowa State University Extension](https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/how-should-i-water-newly-sodded-lawn) 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](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/new-sod-watering-care/) has a week-by-week schedule. If you'd rather not deal with the mowing, we also do [regular lawn care](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/lawn-care/).

## Can you lay sod yourself?

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](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/prepare-yard-for-sod/) explains each step. For a whole front or back yard, the digging and soil moving is the part most worth handing off.

## Sod installation around Markham

We work across [Markham](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/markham/) and nearby, including [Richmond Hill](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/richmond-hill/), [Stouffville](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/stouffville/), [Vaughan](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/vaughan/) and [Scarborough](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/scarborough/).

The easiest way to start is to [text a few photos](sms:+14376842535?&body=Hi%20Hotiv%2C%20I%27d%20like%20a%20quote.%20Here%20are%20some%20photos%20of%20the%20area%3A) of the lawn to [(437) 684-2535](tel:+14376842535) with your street or postal code. We'll arrange a time to come and look, and give you a free quote.

## Signs it's time

- 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

## Questions about sod installation & lawn repair

### How long does it take new sod to take root?

Usually 10 to 14 days in good growing weather, the kind you get in spring and early fall. Midsummer heat can slow it down and means more watering. To check, grab a handful of grass with both hands and lift gently. If the sod resists, the roots have taken hold and you can start watering less often but more deeply. Keep foot traffic light until then, and start mowing once it's rooted and growing again.

### Can you lay sod in October?

Yes. Early fall is one of the best times to lay sod in Ontario, because the soil is still warm and the nights are cool, so roots grow without summer stress. October works too, as long as the ground isn't frozen and the sod has a few weeks to root before the hard frost. Late in the season you water less, since evaporation is lower.

### How do I prepare my yard for sod?

If we're doing the job, you don't need to do anything except move outdoor furniture and anything else that's in the way. We take out the old grass and weeds, fix the grade, bring in topsoil where it's needed and level it before the sod goes down. If you're laying it yourself, our guide on preparing a yard for sod goes through each step.

### Can you lay new sod over the old grass?

Not if you want it to last. Laying sod over an old lawn is a shortcut that often fails. The new sod sits on a mat of old grass and weeds instead of on soil, so the roots struggle to reach the ground, and the lawn ends up lumpy because the old surface was never levelled. Taking the old turf out first is more work, but it's the reason a new lawn roots properly.

### How do I get a quote for sod installation or lawn repair?

Call or text (437) 684-2535, or send the quote form with your street or postal code. A few photos of the lawn help us understand the job before we visit. We then come out, measure the area, look at the soil and grade with you and give you a free quote.

## Related guides

- [How to prepare your yard for sod](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/prepare-yard-for-sod/)
- [How often to water new sod, and how long it takes to root](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/new-sod-watering-care/)
- [Best time to lay sod in Ontario (and can you lay sod in October?)](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/best-time-to-lay-sod-ontario/)
- [Sod installation cost in Ontario: what you pay for, and why quotes vary](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/sod-installation-cost/)
- [How to fix brown spots and bare patches in your lawn: snow mould, dog spots, salt and drought](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fix-brown-patches-lawn/)

## Related services

- [Lawn mowing & lawn care](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/lawn-care/)
- [Garden beds, planting & mulching](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/garden-beds-planting/)
- [Spring & fall cleanups](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/seasonal-cleanup/)
- [Interlock installation](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/interlock-installation/)