Just Mow Lawns? Or Learn HOW to Install Sod and Landscape

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Many viewers have requested a video on how to install sod or how to do a sod job. This video is a little crash course in the basic process I use for removing an existing lawn or grass and installing a new lawn. Sod has been one of our biggest money makers, but to be honest, it's extremely labor intensive. You MUST have the right tools available to make these sod jobs easier. For me those tools are a 1. mini skid steer with appropriate attachments, 2. enough labor/employees to execute the job. and 3. Moasure for efficient and accurate measuring of the lawn. I hope you enjoy watching our process for installing sod and transform this ugly lawn into a new yard the homeowner can enjoy!
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MY STORY:
In 2016 I had been in law enforcement for 7 years.
I was not in control of my schedule, I was hardly making any money, and I was away from my family working nights and holidays. I was capable of more, and I was silently suffering. I knew I was selling myself and my family short.
I started Florida Turf Pros as a side hustle in 2016 before going full time in 2017.
My lawn business changed my life.
I control my own schedule, control my own income, and I am proud of what I have built; a business that supports me, my family, and some employees.
If you are a lawn care business owner, this channel will be a valuable resource for you.
This really is a great industry to be in, and I hope that by documenting my journey it will help you.
-Jonathan C. Christian

[@FloridaTurfPros]

Are any solo operators dabbling in landscaping? It’s tough work for one man shows… or just sticking to mowing? We have doubled profits by adding sod work to our company. Would love to hear some feedback from our community.

[@rhubert2539]

Doing a bit of both. Mostly mulching and a few small tree transplants but looking to get into more landscaping for the margin. I’m solo and do lawn care part time so not trying to go crazy just looking for bang for the buck.

[@edensgardenshed9622]

My first year at lawn care and am solo. So far i am averaging $45-60 per hr mowing because i am making pricing mistakes. But am making over $100 hr trimming shrubs and mulch jobs. So may lean that way more.

[@loganholt3337]

I have watched your videos for a few years now and just made the connection that we are based out of the same area lol

[@walterrocha8764]

Landed a 19k job thanks to your sod videos

[@happyman5389]

In a pinch or budget you can spray round up then a week later mow it at 2in ish then edge around the area and weedwack all down to dirt . You can then rake or throw some dirt and then sod. This is so easy and cheap but you gotta spray correctly and wait a week or two until completely brown and dead. Note i also spray paint the outline area and measure that and add 10 percent to total for estimate just in case . I always measure in squares and rectangles and its a perfect measurement. When i lay sod i pick a straight line ergo against the driveway and continue along that way to avoid waste

[@FloridaTurfPros]

great comment... thanks for sharing.

[@aosaos6821]

In VA ive been mowing down to a few inches and then aeration four times or so then seeding fertilizer then throw compost on top carefully and rake in again with more seeds and fertilizer same idea as your job being solo its alot consider ing ill do thirty plus yards only a few get compost tho great videos never done sod i do fine aeration style

[@thelawnbutcher4674]

I started lawn care in 2019. Added sod work almost immediately. It’s easily over half our revenue and we do 1 install a week here in central Florida. The Lawn Butcher

[@FloridaTurfPros]

What is your technique/process? Do you use cultivator, harley rake, sod cutter?

[@aosaos6821]

Trik is tow behind aerator behind scag takes time but i charge accordingly

[@tingleslawnservice]

Can’t wait for more info on the sod part of the business. Let’s go! Thanks man!!!

[@upscalelawncaremonroe408]

Wow! I don't do sod but I have looked into it! Good info!

[@jimmyt5241]

Man awesome tips and attachment is a gamechanger i like that , cool app too i downloaded it wanna give it a shot im like that too i rather be little more away from utilities or drains rather than risk on top of it . I like doing sod alot such a difference

[@maconstroupe1583]

Excellent video.

[@FloridaTurfPros]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@edwardtorres7304]

Looking forward to you putting out that sod course ! I will be purchasing ! Been wanting to learn how to install sod the right way and professionally.

[@FloridaTurfPros]

I’m working hard on it!

[@ReelFloridaOutdoors]

Just found your channel recently and watched quite a few of your videos . Some of the things you say cracks me up. I bought the bobcat mt100 new last year and it’s amazing how things are taking off. I have an environmental testing business that I’ve run for 29 years and I do that during the week and run the bobcat stuff on weekends. I started off with a bucket and a grapple. One of my clients had the same model bobcat as I do, and when they’re lease ran out, the company left the pallet forks at their plant. They ended up giving them to me because it had been over a year since they left them there and after several phone calls, they never came back to get them. I’ve since bought a land plane and last week I got a CMP Hydro bucket. It’s very similar to your cultivator. It has a Harley rake built into the hill of the bucket. It works great for tearing old sod out and preparing the ground for new sod. I basically don’t even need to rake the ground. It does such a good job. I recently did a drainage job for a client and I had to tear out a lot of sod. I didn’t have the new bucket yet, so I use the landplane which did a good job but looking back I wish I would’ve had the Hydro bucket. It would’ve gone a lot faster. When we laid the new sod I was doing the same exact thing as you picking up the pallet when it got down to about a half. I am 58 so bending down to pick up those last couple rows of sod is not in my equation lol. What part of Florida are you guys in?I am over in Jacksonville. Great tips from your channel. Donnie

[@FloridaTurfPros]

Your handle name intrigued me enough to check out your channel... I am an avid outdoorsman, myself. Ocala National Forest is beautiful... You should post more videos!

[@ReelFloridaOutdoors]

@@FloridaTurfPros I recently bought a new laptop that’s modern lol. My old one was so slow and it took forever to upload videos so I’m gonna try again. I named my llc Leave It To Leeper. My last name is Leeper so I thought it was catchy to tell clients leave it to me. I’m hoping to start a channel soon to show some of my jobs and the ways I do things. Hopefully it will help others and also get feedback from others. I also bought a leaf vacuum trailer that helps generate some $$. We have tons of oaks here and not a lot of people in that business. What software are you using for editing? Your videos are crisp.

[@Zwrld781]

We do alot of garden bed installations, much higher profit margins than garden maintenance

[@CBeason]

Hey man, I do treatments and fertilize. It’s a good money maker and not physically demanding.. very good for solo people to do. Probably better than mowing tbh..

[@adamstout9836]

I have a full time job doing landscaping but I do my own thing 3 days a week and out of the 3 days I mow 1 and do landscaping 2 days a week and I do extremely well on my own I have been averaging $200 an hour on my landscaping jobs solo .

[@FloridaTurfPros]

Very nice!

[@gpgills]

I have a full time job in the Food Service Industry as a chef but I’m ready to walk away from it all so I’ve been trying to get my solo lawn care business started as an LLC. This may be something in the future for me to offer.

[@FloridaTurfPros]

You can do it!

[@gpgills]

It’s time for a fresh start. The food industry will consume your soul. It’s not worth it.

[@paulslawncare1403]

Love these sod videos. I do wonder - do you have to deal with a lot of irrigation systems in your area? It seems like the tilling and cultivation work would really do a number on those. Almost all of the lawns in my area of DFW (at least the decent quality ones) have irrigation systems.

[@FloridaTurfPros]

As long as the irrigation system has been installed by a professional to industry standard depth, then no issue hitting lines. Only time we have hit them is when a homeowner has done a DIY job and not bury the lines appropriately. Of course you have to mark and flag all sprinklers heads, but those are easy enough to work around.

[@pristinegrounds]

I only mow 2 days a week leaving the rest for other landscape, sod and hardscape projects.

[@miraman68]

I feel like just mowing would be so much easier. These sod jobs seem like so much work just to add some extra revenue. But you're young and smart (and have the best hair in the industry, lol) so I guess you know what you're doing.

[@FloridaTurfPros]

Just mowing is so much easier. So much less to coordinate and lineup compared to doing a side job, but there really is getting money in this work. It’s just very labor-intensive.

[@wizdom705]

Hey man, watching for a few months, great content! Odd question but do you guys not deal with rolls of sod?

[@FloridaTurfPros]

We don't... I wish we did. I'm sure it's a matter of really looking for a supplier, but sod is delivered in squares like 99% of the time in our area.

[@wizdom705]

@@FloridaTurfPros I wish I was in your position! It would be nice to just kick and lay, instead of having to roll it all out

[@patricknoone2152]

Cool video thanks Jonathan. Anybody have thoughts on robot mowing?

[@FloridaTurfPros]

They're coming... but there's plenty of money to be made in the next 10-15 years.

[@crowdnine878]

I don't think it will be as bad for the landscapers as it may sound. There will be people who want people to do the work. It's just like "hand cut meat" or ''hand sewn leather ". I still think most people will gravitate towards the "natural " or "traditional " method.

[@GardenerEarthGuy]

Last few years there are insect issues with sod in Panhandle- namely army worms.

[@FloridaTurfPros]

We call these sod webworms. Is that what you’re referring to?

[@pringle9464]

When you were using the cultivator in the video you were going over the same area a few times. Does going over it again bring any of the original turf back to the surface? Thanks!

[@pringle9464]

Ok. Thanks!

[@anthonywithkingdomlawncare865]

Looking to do more sod. I’m not comfortable with pricing these jobs. Any guidance you maybe able to share with me?

[@FloridaTurfPros]

I'm doing a full breakdown soon on sod work.

[@urbanrootslandscaping3874]

Great video. What camera do you use? Thanks.

[@FloridaTurfPros]

It’s a GoPro 9 Black

[@urbanrootslandscaping3874]

@@FloridaTurfProsthanks. Do you ever run into the problem with over heating. I’ve heard the will overheat after a couple hours.

[@NatureRUsLandscaping]

Nice work! How come you're not using 2' x 5' sod rolls? What size sod are you installing? I am solo for the most parts. I work Monday to Thursday only and mow 16 lawns on Mondays and Tuesdays. Wednesdays and Thursdays are reserved for gardening and other Landscaping projects. I have help doing garden maintenance and landscaping. Like you said, this job burns the heck out of you. So eat well and hydrate well. DON'T put all the money in the bank and the business. Invest on yourself. Eat well, sleep well, hydrate well.

[@FloridaTurfPros]

That is 💯 correct, well said.

[@jordanweaver3039]

Im interested in knowing where to get that attachment. I got quoted $7,000 for a hydro bucket. Seemed high to me

[@FloridaTurfPros]

Rotadairon... it was almost $11k

[@rhubert2539]

What is the machine called that you stripped the grass with?

[@FloridaTurfPros]

Cultivator.

[@gonzaloslawnservicesllc8720]

Bro The app or the measurements app, do you pay for it ?

[@FloridaTurfPros]

Yeah, you got a pay for the measuring device, look at my description and you can get a discount on it. But it’s just a one time cause there’s no subscription or anything, and it’s been the best thing ever for my estimates and staying organized.

[@dskrpncs]

Looks like the lawn had a grub issue

[@willh6650]

How much is a pallet and what do you charge?

[@FloridaTurfPros]

Different grass varieties cost different amounts. Anywhere from $110 a pallet to $300 a pallet is normal in my area.

[@willh6650]

@@FloridaTurfPros Thanks for the reply. Watching from Texas.

[@PCGonline]

my favorite thing about sod jobs is snagging a juicy orange root and the customer running out to tell me the cable is out

[@FloridaTurfPros]

😂 this actually made me laugh out loud... people get CRAZY about their internet! (Yes, Susan. We hit the line that wasn't marked and buried 1" inch under the soil. Call your service provider and tell them to bury it appropriately next time."

[@mikejones412]

One person could have big rolled that in an hour, not including trimming and cleanup. Buy you an attachment

[@FloridaTurfPros]

I don’t have access to rolled sod. I would love to be able to do that!