Escarpment Contracting
Spring & fall cleanups
A property cleanup: an overgrown side yard cut back, and the walkway beside the house uncovered and edged.
Sod installation in Welland.
New lawns from sod across Welland — for new builds, renovations and lawns that are past saving.
Sod on Welland's heavy clay lives or dies on what's underneath it. Laid straight onto compacted clay, the roots never get down and the lawn stays soggy in spring and cracked in August. Laid on graded topsoil that sheds water away from the house, it takes.
The quote spells out each step — turf removal, grading, topsoil depth, square footage and rolling — so you can compare it line by line.
Sod installation in Welland
Clay needs a real base
The Haldimand clay under most of Welland is fine-grained and drains poorly. Before sod goes down, the old turf comes off, the grade is set to carry water away from the foundation, and a proper depth of topsoil goes on top so the new roots have somewhere to go.
Low spots by the river
The Welland River rises fast after a storm because so little rain soaks into the clay around it. Lower-lying yards take the longest to dry out — and those are the ones where a sod job needs the most care with drainage.
Grade is the whole job
Because rain soaks into clay so slowly, every low spot becomes a puddle and every slope toward the house becomes a wet basement. On a Welland lawn, getting the grade right is worth more than the sod itself.
Watering on clay
New sod needs daily water for its first couple of weeks — but on clay, too much at once just runs off or sits. Shorter, more frequent watering early on, then less often but deeper, works better here than one long soak.
Where we cover
All of Welland.
- Removal of the existing lawn, and where it goes
- Grading, so water runs away from the house
- Topsoil: how much, and how deep
- Square footage of sod
- Rolling after install
- Watering instructions for the first weeks
Recent work in Welland
Sod installation in Welland: questions
Can new sod fix a yard that holds water?
Only if the grade is fixed first. Sod on the same low spot will sit wet the same way. Regrade, add topsoil, then lay sod — in that order.
When should I water new sod on Welland clay?
Early in the morning, in shorter sessions, until the top few centimetres are moist. On clay, a long soak just runs off. Check by lifting a corner — damp underneath is right, standing water is too much.
Will you check the grade by my foundation?
Yes. Ground that slopes toward the house is the first thing corrected before new sod goes down.
Can sod be laid straight onto clay?
It can, but it rarely does well. The roots struggle to get into compacted clay, and water sits on top. Topsoil over a graded base is what makes a sod lawn last in Welland.
When is the best time for sod in Welland?
Spring and early fall, when it's cool and the ground is moist but not waterlogged. On clay, avoid laying sod when the soil is soaked — it compacts.
How soon can I walk on new sod?
Keep traffic light for the first couple of weeks until it's rooted. Lift a corner gently — if it resists, it's taking.
Do you remove the old lawn?
Yes. Removing the existing turf, and where it goes, are on the quote, along with grading, topsoil and the square footage of sod.
More in Welland
Other towns we work in
Get a quote
Sod installation in Welland: get a quote.
A home, a condo corporation, or a list of sites — same form. If it's more than one property, say so and we'll ask for the list.
Prefer to talk? (905) 325-0137
Email mikeescarpment@gmail.com