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(401) 598-5388
We test and prepare the soil, lay fresh-cut sod tight, then roll and soak it, for homes and businesses across the city.
Free, no-obligation estimates. We answer the phone or call back the same working day.
Sod installation in Providence strips out the old turf, prepares and grades the soil, and lays sod the day it is cut, so the new lawn roots straight into ground that is ready for it.
What most people call rolled grass or an instant lawn is "sod": grass grown elsewhere, cut with its roots and a layer of soil, and laid like carpet. That is the appeal, a finished lawn the day we pack up.
Whether it lasts is decided underneath. Soil preparation is what separates sod that thrives from sod that struggles, which is why most of a sod job happens before the first roll comes off the pallet.
A sod installation includes a soil test, stripping the old turf, tilling, topsoil and grading, starter fertilizer, laying the sod, rolling and the first soaking, all in one quote so nothing turns into an extra charge halfway through.
The work in every sod job we quote:
Sod installation is priced by three things: the size of the lawn, the grass type, and how much soil preparation the ground needs.
$1.60 to $2.20per square foot is the typical range for sod installation in Providence, with $1.90 a common middle figure
The grass type here is usually a blend of "cool-season grasses", the fescue and bluegrass that green up in spring and fall. Your price comes from a look at your yard. Call, and you get the whole job in one quote before any work starts.
The estimate is free and carries no obligation.
We test and amend the soil, till it, grade the finish just below the walks, lay the sod with staggered seams, then roll it and soak it.
Here is the job in the order we do it:
A soil test comes first. It shows what the ground is lacking, so the amendments go in before the lawn does, not after it struggles.
The old grass and weeds come out, and we till the top 4 to 6 inches so new roots have loose soil to push into.
A thin layer of topsoil goes over the loosened ground. The "finish grade" is set about an inch below sidewalks and driveways so the sod sits flush.
"Starter fertilizer", the new-lawn feed with phosphorus and potassium, goes down on the graded soil right before the sod.
Sod goes down the day it is cut, since it stays alive only 24 to 36 hours. Joints are staggered like brickwork, seams pushed tight with no overlap, and slopes are stapled.
A weighted lawn roller goes over the whole area, then the first soaking runs until water reaches 3 to 4 inches into the soil below.
We lay sod for residential yards and for commercial properties.
At a house that might be a small front lawn between the walk and the fence, or a back yard worn down to bare dirt. On a commercial property it is the strip along a parking lot or the lawn in front of an office or a shop. The prep is the same on both, and so is the care in the seams.
We install sod across Providence and in the nearby Rhode Island towns our service area covers.
East Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Cranston and Valley Falls are on our regular routes. If your yard is farther out, ask on the call and we will tell you straight.
where Mela Landscapes works around ProvidenceTwo questions sit right beside sod installation: how to water it once it is down, and whether sod is the right choice over seed.
New sod gets water once a day for the first two weeks, then longer soakings every other day in weeks three and four.
The schedule, stage by stage:
Sod gives you a finished lawn at once, and it beats seed on slopes, where erosion is a worry, or when the lawn has a deadline.
Seed costs less on very large, flat areas when nothing is waiting on the lawn. Whichever you choose, a reputable contractor shows proof of licenses and insurance without being asked.
sod vs seed
In Providence, sod installation typically runs $1.60 to $2.20 per square foot, and $1.90 is a common middle figure. Lawn size, grass type and the amount of soil preparation move it within that range, and we quote the whole job before we start. Our lawn care cost guide covers what sets the price of the rest of the lawn work.
A thin layer of topsoil goes over loosened, tilled ground and is graded smooth, and then a starter fertilizer that supplies phosphorus and potassium goes down. Before either goes down, a soil test shows what amendments the ground needs, and our lawn soil test guide explains what it reads.
Strip the old growth, till the top 4 to 6 inches and set the finish grade about an inch below walks and drives. Lay the sod the day it is cut with joints staggered like brickwork and seams tight, then roll it and soak it until water reaches 3 to 4 inches down.
Our Google reviews, in the owners' own words.
William has been taking care of our yard since the spring, and we couldn’t be happier. What began as a simple spring clean-up has turned into ongoing lawn and yard maintenance. He’s incredibly dependable, does meticulous work, and is an absolute pleasure to work with — not to mention very reasonably priced. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a reliable and detail-oriented landscaper in the area.
William was very professional from the start with clear communication and pricing. He removed 4 large, old shrubs and trimmed others, cleaned up the beds and edged the area. He also took away all the yard waste and left the area clean. Pleasant to work with; highly recommended
I've been using Mela Landscapes for a few months and they are by far the best landscapers I've used in the Providence area. They are dependable, do an amazing job, and are a pleasure to work with. I highly recommend them.
Call with the address and roughly how much lawn you want sodded. We come out, look at the ground and quote the whole job before any work starts.
We answer the phone or call back the same working day. Calls after hours go to voicemail and we return them the next working morning.
