Top New Lawn Installation (Sod & Turf) in Bolingbrook, Illinois Ranked

Transforming a patch of dirt into a lush, green lawn is one of the most impactful upgrades you can make to your Bolingbrook home. Whether you choose the natural beauty of sod or the low-maintenance appeal of artificial turf, a new lawn installation enhances curb appeal, provides a space for recreation, and can even increase property value. This guide will help you understand the key differences, processes, and considerations for turf and sod installation in the Bolingbrook area, empowering you to make an informed decision and connect with qualified local professionals for your project.

Ross & Jack's Landscaping Inc

chicago

Ross & Jack's Landscaping Inc is a family-owned landscaping company based in Elmhurst, Illinois, serving Chicago and surrounding towns. Since 1975, they have offered comprehensive landscaping services including landscape design, installation, grounds maintenance, lawn care, sod installation, drainage solutions, and hardscaping such as retaining walls and brick paving. Their expertise includes digital landscape design layouts to help clients visualize projects before installation, as well as specialized drainage solutions like dry wells to manage water issues effectively. The company focuses on creating functional and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living spaces that enhance property value.

5.0

157 Reviews

Arts Landscaping & Maintenance LLC

3146 W 59th St, Chicago, IL 60629

Arts Landscaping & Maintenance LLC is a locally owned landscaping and lawn care company based in Chicago, IL. They provide a wide range of outdoor services including lawn mowing, fertilization, weed control, sod installation, tree trimming and removal, stump grinding, yard drainage, grading, and hardscaping such as retaining walls and concrete pathways. The company serves both residential and commercial clients throughout Chicago, tailoring their services to the local climate and seasonal needs. Their capabilities include lawn aeration, overseeding, and comprehensive landscape maintenance to ensure healthy, vibrant outdoor spaces year-round.

4.9

117 Reviews

Luxterra Outdoors

chicago

Luxterra Outdoors is a landscaping company based in Chicago, IL, specializing in landscape design, sod and artificial turf installation, fence installation, yard drainage, sprinkler systems, and hardscaping including pavers and retaining walls. They focus on residential projects, offering sustainable and low-maintenance outdoor spaces tailored to Chicago's unique climate and lot sizes. Their services include managing permits for features like retaining walls and grading, and they incorporate capabilities such as smart irrigation systems and durable materials suited for winter weather. Luxterra Outdoors emphasizes thoughtful design for small urban yards, pet-friendly spaces, and historic homes, combining creativity with practical solutions.

5.0

55 Reviews

Natural Innovations Landscaping

238 S Benton St, Palatine, IL 60067

Natural Innovations Landscaping is a family-owned landscape design and hardscape construction company serving Chicago, IL. With over 15 years of experience, they specialize in installing brick paver patios, driveways, walkways, steps, stoops, and retaining walls. They use Computer Aided Design (CAD) to create custom outdoor living spaces and offer services such as paver restoration, drainage and grading solutions, landscape lighting installation, sod installation, and tree and planting bed management. As a Unilock Authorized Contractor, they focus on durable materials and precise installation techniques to enhance property aesthetics and functionality.

5.0

53 Reviews

Dario Garcia Landscaping LLC

5818 S Archer Rd Suite 114-5, Summit, IL 60501

Dario Garcia Landscaping LLC is a family-owned landscaping and snow removal company based in Chicago, IL. They provide a range of services including lawn care, sod installation, artificial turf, landscape design, tree removal, stump grinding, and snow and ice management for both residential and commercial properties. Their snow removal service includes shoveling walkways, plowing parking lots and driveways, and applying de-icer or salt to maintain safe outdoor areas during winter. The company emphasizes customized landscaping solutions and efficient snow removal using GPS-equipped trucks for effective routing.

4.8

502 Reviews

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Understanding Your Lawn Options: Natural Sod vs. Synthetic Turf

The first major decision in your lawn installation journey is choosing between natural grass sod and artificial turf. Each offers distinct advantages and caters to different lifestyles and budgets.

Natural Sod Installation provides an instant, mature lawn of living grass. It's ideal for homeowners who love the authentic look and feel of real grass, enjoy gardening, and don't mind a seasonal maintenance routine of mowing, watering, and fertilizing. A properly installed sod lawn can last for decades with good care.

Artificial Turf Installation, or synthetic grass, offers a consistently green, maintenance-light alternative. Modern turf looks remarkably realistic and is perfect for high-traffic areas, homes with pets, or for those seeking to significantly reduce water usage and lawn care chores. It provides a usable outdoor space year-round, regardless of weather conditions.

Critical First Step: Site Preparation is Everything

Regardless of which option you select, the success and longevity of your new lawn hinge almost entirely on meticulous site preparation. Skimping on this phase is the leading cause of lawn failure, drainage problems, and uneven surfaces.

For a Sod Lawn, preparation involves creating a healthy bed for the grass roots to establish. This process typically includes:

• Clearing & Excavation: Removing existing grass, weeds, rocks, and debris.
• Soil Testing & Amendment: Bolingbrook soil can vary; amending with compost or topsoil improves nutrient content and structure.
• Grading & Sloping: The ground must be carefully graded to ensure water flows away from your home's foundation to prevent flooding and basement issues^{1 2}. A level surface is also crucial to avoid puddling.
• Tilling & Leveling: Loosening the soil and creating a smooth, firm seedbed for the sod to make contact.

For an Artificial Turf Lawn, the preparation is more akin to a construction project, focused on creating a stable, permeable base:

• Excavation: Removing several inches of existing soil to make room for the base layers.
• Sub-Base Installation: A compacted layer of crushed stone or gravel (often 3-4 inches deep) is installed. This is critical for drainage, stability, and preventing the turf from shifting^{1 3 4}.
• Weed Barrier: A geotextile fabric is laid over the compacted base to prevent weeds from growing up through the turf.
• Precise Final Grading: The base must be leveled and sloped with extreme accuracy to ensure a perfectly flat final surface and proper water runoff⁵.

Poor preparation can lead to costly issues like settling, poor drainage, and a shortened lifespan for your investment^{1 5 3}.

Project Timelines: From Dirt to Green

Understanding the timeline helps set realistic expectations. While artificial turf is often faster to "green up," its installation can be more labor-intensive upfront.

• Sod Installation Timeline: For a typical Bolingbrook yard, professional sod installation can often be completed in 1 to 3 days. Small, simple areas might be done in a day, while larger properties or those requiring significant regrading may take longer^{1 2}. The sod itself is laid and rolled quickly, but the bulk of the time is spent on the essential soil prep and grading.
• Artificial Turf Installation Timeline: A synthetic lawn project generally takes 2 to 5+ days. The extensive excavation and base installation are time-consuming but critical steps. Once the base is perfect, the actual turf laying and seaming process is relatively fast^{1 6 2}. Complex designs with curves or multiple sections will add to the timeline.

Breaking Down the Costs in Bolingbrook

Cost is a primary factor for most homeowners. In Bolingbrook, prices vary based on yard size, site conditions, material quality, and labor. Here's a breakdown of what you can expect.

Sod Installation Costs: The total installed cost for natural sod typically ranges from $2 to $6 per square foot^{1 7 8}. This includes materials (the sod itself), labor, and site preparation.

• Material Cost: Sod usually costs between $0.30 and $0.80 per square foot, often sold by the pallet (covering about 450 sq. ft. for $130-$360)^{3 8}.
• Total Project Cost: For an average-sized yard, total project costs can range from $1,000 to over $10,000, heavily influenced by the size and the amount of grading or soil amendment needed^{7 8}.

Artificial Turf Installation Costs: Synthetic turf is a larger upfront investment, with installed costs ranging from $8 to $20+ per square foot^{1 6 5}. A 1,000 square foot yard could cost between $8,000 and $18,000+^{6 5}.

• What Drives the Price: The wide range depends on turf quality (from economy to premium pet-friendly or cooling varieties), the depth and type of base material required for drainage, and labor for complex installations with curves or intricate seams^{1 6 8}.

Key Factors Influencing Your Final Price

Several variables beyond simple square footage will affect your quote for either type of lawn:

• Yard Size & Shape: Larger areas benefit from economies of scale. Complex shapes with curves or narrow passages require more cutting and seaming, increasing labor time.
• Site Accessibility: Easy access for equipment keeps costs down. Tight backyards that require manual material hauling will increase labor costs.
• Existing Conditions: The need for extensive land clearing, tree root removal, or significant regrading to fix drainage problems will add to the cost.
• Material Selection: For sod, the type of grass (e.g., Kentucky Bluegrass vs. Fescue blend) affects price. For turf, the pile height, density, color variation, and backing quality create a wide price spectrum^{6 8}.
• Drainage Solutions: If your property requires additional drainage systems like French drains or channel drains, this will be an additional but crucial expense for both sod and turf projects¹.

DIY vs. Professional Installation

While a DIY approach can save on labor costs, lawn installation is a significant physical undertaking that requires specific skills for a long-lasting result.

DIY Sod Installation: You can save on labor costs (estimated at $1-$1.50/sq. ft.³), but the challenges are substantial. Proper grading requires an expert eye to ensure correct slope, and mistakes in soil prep can lead to poor root establishment, drainage issues, and a failed lawn^{3 9}.

DIY Artificial Turf Installation: This is a major project not recommended for most homeowners. Excavating to the correct depth, installing and perfectly compacting the stone base, and skillfully seaming the turf sections require specialized tools and knowledge. Errors can lead to poor drainage, visible seams, and an uneven surface that reduces the product's lifespan^{6 4}.

Professional Installation: Hiring a professional ensures the job is done correctly. Their expertise includes precise grading, proper base construction, efficient installation, and knowledge of local conditions. The cost includes their labor, experience, equipment, and often a warranty on their workmanship^{1 9}.

Frequently asked questions

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