Fresh grading, new sod and settling soil
On a new build the ground has been moved and compacted by heavy equipment. Fill dirt, buried construction scraps and fresh drainage swales are all common, and clay underneath can behave unpredictably. Posts set into disturbed soil need proper depth to stay straight, and the crew checks for builder-installed utility boxes, irrigation lines and meter covers.
Careful work protects the new grass too. Equipment and wheelbarrow routes across fresh sod leave marks, so it helps to plan a path in advance. The lot may also carry a drainage easement along the rear or side line, which affects where a fence can go and whether a gap must be left for water to flow.
