How long does a full yard install take?
A full yard install with Roots Landscaping and Sprinklers runs four to five weeks from signing to the final walkthrough: a site walk, a written plan, HOA approval where one is required, then the install itself in a fixed sequence of grading, drainage, irrigation, concrete and curbing, sod and planting, weather permitting. Spring and fall calendars fill early, so the booking date, not the work, is usually what sets the finish date.
This page walks through each stage, what the homeowner decides and when, and what actually pushes a yard into the following season.
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Roots has been great! I worked with them as a subcontractor on a few projects and you can tell they really care about their clients. They provide a fair price and solid solutions. You can't go wrong hiring Roots!
Great lawn service and experience for our new home!
I was determined to figure out and complete my project myself. After weekends away from the family and redoing the same steps over and over, I decided to get help from Roots. Noah was very non-pressure and collaborative. My weekends are now spent in the backyard with my family , not hiding my Home Depot credit card. My five stars means he got the job done right the first time and for a fair price. I will use Roots and Noah in my future projects.
Before the crew arrives
- Site walkThe company walks the lot, locates the sprinkler stub and utility markings, reads the drainage and the builder's rough grade, and asks what the family wants.
- Plan and proposalA plan drawn to the HOA guidelines and a line item proposal. The homeowner reviews both.
- HOA and ARC approvalMost new neighborhoods require architectural review before planting. Turnaround varies by HOA from days to a few weeks. Roots prepares the submission with the homeowner.
- Scheduling and orderingSod, trees and rock are ordered against the install date. Blue Stakes utility locates are requested before trenching.
The install, in order
| Stage | What happens | Why the order matters |
|---|---|---|
| Rough grade and demo | Rock removal, excavation, dirt haul off, shaping the lot so water runs away from the house. | Everything else sits on this. Fixing grade after sod means pulling sod. |
| Drainage | French drains, dry wells, pop up drains and downspout runs. | Buried before irrigation so the two never cross. |
| Irrigation | Trenching, main line, valves, zones, heads and drip, controller set. | Trenches cross the whole lot. Done before topsoil and sod so nothing is dug up later. |
| Topsoil and final grade | Topsoil spread and graded to the final surface. | Sets the finished height against sidewalks, curbing and the foundation. |
| Curbing | Concrete curbing poured between lawn and beds. | Cured before sod is laid against it. |
| Sod | Fresh sod laid and rolled, first watering the same day. | Sod is perishable. It is delivered for the day it goes down. |
| Rock, mulch and planting | Fabric, rock or mulch, trees and shrubs, drip connected. | Last so equipment never crosses new lawn. |
| Walkthrough | The finished yard walked with the homeowner, site cleaned, care instructions handed over. | Final draw paid. |
The sequence is the same on every lot. The number of days depends on lot size, slope and weather. A production lot in Salem is a different week from a half acre bench lot in Mapleton, and the proposal states the planned dates.
What causes delays, honestly
- HOA review. Set by the HOA, not the contractor. Submitting early is the only lever.
- Weather. Sod does not go down on frozen ground or in a downpour, and concrete curbing needs cure time. A wet week moves the schedule a week.
- Season. Spring and fall calendars fill. The Roots agreement is explicit that the install season is limited and that a delay of a few weeks can push a job into the following season.
- Sod and tree delivery. Ordered for a date. A grower shortage or a late delivery moves the sod day.
- The sprinkler stub. When it is on the wrong side of the house, or missing, a change order follows. Roots checks at the site walk so the surprise lands on the proposal and not on the bill.
- Change orders. Priced in writing within 48 business hours and signed before the work changes. An approved change extends the finish date by the time it reasonably takes.
When to book
In south Utah County the install season runs roughly from when the ground thaws in spring until the ground freezes in late fall. Fall is a good time for sod and trees because cooler weather lets roots establish, and spring is when most HOA deadlines land. A homeowner who closes in winter can have the plan approved and a date on the calendar before the ground thaws, which is the single best way to beat an HOA deadline.
After the install
New sod needs frequent, light watering for the first weeks and should not be mowed until it has rooted. Trees settle through the first season. The FAQ covers the first thirty days.
Questions people ask
How long does landscaping take?
Most Roots yards are finished in four to five weeks from signing, weather permitting, with lot size and slope setting where in that window a job lands. HOA approval and spring or fall booking set the start date. Roots states the planned dates on the proposal.
How long does sod take to install?
Sod goes down in a day on most lots once grading, drainage, irrigation, topsoil and curbing are done. It is delivered for the day it is laid because it is perishable, and it is watered the same day.
Can you lay sod in October in Utah?
Yes. Fall is a good time for sod and trees in Utah County because cooler weather helps roots establish before winter. The limit is frozen ground, usually from late November.
Why is my landscaper taking so long?
The common reasons are a crew running too many jobs at once, sod or trees ordered late, waiting on HOA approval that was submitted late, or changes made mid stream. A dated schedule on the proposal and written change orders are the two things that prevent it.
Call (435) 677-6050 to book a site walk. Roots prices every yard from a line item proposal after seeing the lot.
Call (435) 677-6050