Lawn replacement
Sod Removal & Lawn Replacement in Toronto
When weeds, grubs or shade have beaten the old lawn, we strip it, haul it away, fix the soil and grade underneath and lay fresh-cut sod, with most lawns finished in a day or two.
Serving Toronto, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Pickering and Ajax
- WSIB-covered
- Fully insured
- Fresh-cut Ontario sod
- Free on-site quotes
- Prices shown up front
When the Old Lawn Can't Be Saved
Patching works for a few bare spots. It does nothing for a lawn with more weeds than grass, bald patches that never fill in, or turf that peels back by hand because grubs have eaten the roots. Overseeding a lawn like that each spring only buys another season of the same problem.
Replacement starts over properly. The old turf comes off, the soil and grade under it get fixed, and fresh sod goes down on a clean base, never on top of the old lawn (our sod questions page explains why that shortcut fails). If your yard is already bare ground, you need new sod installation instead.
WHAT YOU GET
What Lawn Replacement Includes
Old Lawn Removal
We strip the old turf off at the roots, so weeds, grubs and dead grass leave with it instead of rotting under the new lawn.
Haul-Away and Disposal
The stripped sod is loaded up and taken off your property. Removal and disposal are part of the replacement rate, not an extra line.
Soil Repair
With the turf gone, we loosen worn-out, compacted soil, pick out roots and debris and add topsoil where the old base was thin. Added topsoil is listed on the quote.
Grading and Levelling
Old lawns settle into dips and humps. Bare soil is the cheapest moment to correct them and set a fall away from the house that keeps water off the neighbour's side too.
Fresh-Cut Ontario Sod
New Kentucky Bluegrass from Ontario sod farms arrives on the day it is needed and goes straight onto the rebuilt base.
Aftercare Plan
We give the new lawn its first soak and leave a watering plan. If grubs or shade killed the old one, we also tell you what to watch for in the new one.
Our guarantee
Backed by Our Guarantee
THE PROCESS
From Old Turf to New Lawn in Five Steps
Instant Quote
Pick Sod Replacement in the calculator and enter your lawn size for a range that already includes removal. You will hear from us within one business day.
Site Inspection
At the free visit we work out why the lawn failed, measure it, and check access and where a truck or bin can go.
Strip the Old Lawn
The old turf comes up at the roots and goes onto the truck or into the bin, not into a pile on your driveway.
Rebuild the Base
We loosen the soil, add topsoil where it is thin, fill the low spots and set the grade.
Lay Fresh Sod
Fresh rolls go down tight and staggered, get rolled and get their first soak. Most lawns are finished in a day or two.
SEE OUR WORK
Recent Work by Our Right On Sod Crews
Lawns finished by Right On Sod crews in Lawrence Park South and Bedford Park-Nortown, Toronto. Every photo is our own work, taken on site, not stock photography.
CLIENT REVIEWS
What Right On Sod Clients Say
These are real reviews from clients of our main Right On Sod operation in the Waterloo Region. Toronto reviews will join them as those lawns are finished.
Evan and team were exceptional in their job. The whole process was made so simple and easy. It is really a pleasure to work with you guys. I recommend them highly.
Evan and his team are punctual, professional, friendly and they are experts! Before n after pictures, for you to see. I haven't had lawn in over 20 years, too many trees no sun, and now it's beautiful, thank to Rightonsod.
Evan and the crew were awesome, completed a large side yard in a day. Had to work around an odd shapes flower bed, river stone path and the sod came out amazing. Side of the house looks like a golf course! Well done guys! Thank you.
Why Lawns Fail
Grub Damage
Grubs feed on grass roots, so turf browns in patches and lifts away by hand. Skunks or raccoons digging overnight are often the first clue. Once the roots are gone, there is nothing left to save.
Weeds Taking Over
When dandelions, clover and crabgrass outnumber the grass, spot treatment stops keeping up. Stripping the lawn takes the weeds out with their roots, and the new turf is weed-free when it is laid.
Shade and Thin Grass
Turf needs a good share of direct sun, at least four hours and ideally six or more, so a lawn under maturing trees thins year after year. Where sod can still work, mowing it about 2.5 cm (an inch) higher in the shade helps. Taking the tree out is not simple either: in Toronto, injuring or removing a private tree 30 cm or more in diameter needs a permit.
Compacted Soil
Years of foot traffic, play and parked cars press the soil hard, so rain runs off and roots stay shallow. We break that layer up before new sod goes down.
A Bad Grade Underneath
Where water sits in low spots or runs toward the house, the grass rots or drowns. New sod on the same grade fails the same way, so the grade gets fixed first. Bigger reshaping falls under our grading and levelling work.
A Tired Lawn Before a Sale
Buyers see the front lawn before anything else. Patchy, weedy turf in listing photos suggests deferred upkeep, while a fresh lawn says the house has been cared for. Replacing the front alone is often enough to change that first impression.
Signs the Old Lawn Should Go
- More weeds than grass
- Bare patches that never fill in
- Turf lifts up like carpet
- Water sits in low spots
- Years of overseeding have not helped
Not sure yet?
Book a free visit. We will tell you whether the lawn can still be repaired or needs replacing, and why it failed.
Get a Free Instant QuoteWHY RIGHT ON SOD
What Sets Our Lawn Replacement Apart
We Find the Cause First
Grubs, shade, compaction or a poor grade: if the cause stays, the new lawn fails the same way. We name it at the visit and deal with it before any new sod goes down.
Removal Included
Stripping and haul-away are built into the replacement rate, so the cleanup never shows up as a surprise at the end.
Fresh Sod, Laid Tight
Ontario-grown Kentucky Bluegrass, laid in a staggered pattern with snug seams so the edges don't dry out and gap.
A Clear Price
You see a range online before we visit, and the written quote spells out any grading or topsoil. Our pricing page shows what changes the number.
What it costs
Lawn replacement runs $3.00 to $3.75 per sq ft including removal, plus 13% HST, with a $1,750 minimum job in Toronto. The free site visit confirms your final price. See full pricing →
FREE QUOTE
Price Your Lawn Replacement
Tell us the lawn size and what is wrong with it. We call back within one business day to book a free visit.
- A free site visit
- Removal and haul-away in the price
- WSIB-covered and fully insured
- The grade fixed before new sod goes down
WHERE WE WORK
Lawn Replacement Across Our Service Area
We replace lawns across Toronto's former municipalities, from Etobicoke and York to Scarborough and East York, and in Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Pickering and Ajax. Each area page has notes on the lots and lawns typical there.
Want to see finished lawns first? Browse our work: those photos come from our crews' jobs in Lawrence Park South and Bedford Park-Nortown.
Lawn Replacement Questions
Is removal of the old lawn included?
Yes. Stripping the old turf and hauling it away are both in the replacement rate. The only separate lines are added grading or topsoil and access items, such as a City permit for a bin on the road, which we price at the visit.
How long does a lawn replacement take?
Most are finished in a day or two. A large lawn, a carry-in backyard with no side gate or heavier grade work adds time. After that, the new sod ideally starts rooting within about two weeks.
Where does the old sod go?
It leaves with us. The stripped turf is loaded onto our truck or into a disposal bin and hauled away. If a bin has to sit on the street, Toronto requires a Street Occupation Permit for it, which we check at the visit and build into your quote.
Can you replace only the front or back lawn?
Yes, the front, the back or both. Small lawns can fall under our minimum job, so doing both together often makes better use of it. Toronto also holds owners responsible for keeping the boulevard strip by the street cut and weeded, so we can include that as well.
Should I replace the lawn before listing my home?
If it is weedy, patchy or brown, yes. Book the work at least two weeks before the listing photos so the sod has time to start rooting. Spring listings and spring installs compete for the same weeks, so call early.
Done Fighting the Old Lawn?
Get an instant price that already includes removal, or call to book your free site visit.