Michael Geist'sYard WorksLawn · Sod · Landscape · Est. 2005
Lawn Care, Landscaping & Sod Installation in Winter Park and Oviedo, FL
Michael Geist's Yard Works is an owner-operated lawn and landscape company based in Oviedo, Florida, serving Winter Park, Oviedo, Winter Springs, Maitland and Lake Mary since 2005. We install Zoysia and St. Augustine sod, design Zone 9b landscapes, upgrade irrigation, build pavers and drainage, and maintain a select group of lawns, including reel-mowed Zoysia. Owner Michael Geist is University of Georgia turfgrass certified and walks every property himself.
Who is Michael Geist's Yard Works?
One owner. One phone number. Twenty-one years.
Yard Works is Michael Geist's own company, founded in Oviedo in 2005. Michael walks every property before quoting, writes every proposal himself and oversees every installation, so the person who answers the phone is the person accountable for the lawn.
Most lawn and landscape companies in Central Florida run on sales staff and rotating crews. Yard Works runs on one set of standards: match the grass to the light, fix the soil and the water before the sod goes down, and come back to check that it rooted. For irrigation and sod installation crews, Michael uses the same trusted partners he has worked with for 17-plus years, and every job is done to his spec and his sign-off.
- Principles of Turfgrass Management Certificate, University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education, in partnership with NALP
- Sports Turfgrass Management Certificate, University of Georgia (warm- and cool-season turf)
- Florida Green Industries Best Management Practices (GI-BMP) certified, UF/IFAS program
- Raised on a large family farm in Missouri; built flagstone overlooks and pathways for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at Mark Twain State Park
- Licensed and insured in Seminole and Orange County, Florida
What does Yard Works install and maintain?
Install it right. Then keep it right.
Yard Works installs sod and landscapes, builds the systems that keep them alive (irrigation, drainage, grading and soil), and maintains a select group of lawns, including reel-mowed Zoysia, for clients who want it done right every week.
How much does sod installation cost in Winter Park and Oviedo?
Yard Works installs St. Augustine sod (ProVista, CitraBlue, Floratam) for $2.00 per square foot and premium Zoysia (CitraZoy, Empire, Zeon) for $2.15 per square foot, installed. That price includes removing and hauling the old turf, fresh sod laid within 24 hours of harvest, and a written 30-day establishment plan.
Soil testing, laser grading and compost underlayment are quoted separately when the property calls for them. They are the steps that decide whether a lawn looks right for one season or for ten years.
Whether you need a full sod replacement for a failing lawn or a first-time install, new sod is the biggest lawn investment most homeowners make in a decade. Get the grass, the grade or the water wrong and it is gone in three years. We install on properties across Winter Park (32789, 32792) and Oviedo (32765, 32766), from the lakefront homes on Lake Killarney, Lake Maitland and Lake Virginia to Alafaya Woods.
Shade, oaks and choosing the right cultivar
Under the mature live-oak canopy common in Winter Park and older Oviedo neighborhoods, shade-tolerant St. Augustine such as CitraBlue or Palmetto survives where full-sun Zoysia thins out. On open, full-sun lawns, CitraZoy and Empire Zoysia give the dense, manicured finish. Michael checks the actual sun hours on your lot before recommending a grass.
Are you taking new lawn care clients in Winter Park and Oviedo?
Yes, selectively. Yard Works maintains a limited number of lawns in Winter Park, Oviedo and Winter Springs so every property gets the owner's attention. Weekly visits cover mowing at the right height for your grass, edging, blow-off, and watching for chinch bugs, sod webworms, mealybugs and fungus. Call to check route availability; pricing is quoted after a walkthrough.
We mow by grass type, not by habit. Fine-bladed Zoysia (CitraZoy, Empire, Zeon) is cut with golf-course cylinder reels for a dense, striped finish. St. Augustine is mowed taller with a sharp rotary, at the heights UF/IFAS recommends. Irrigation schedules are tuned through the seasons as part of the program.
Is reel mowing worth it for a Zoysia lawn?
For fine-bladed Zoysia, yes. A cylinder reel shears the blade like scissors instead of tearing it like a rotary blade, so Zoysia can be cut low and evenly. St. Augustine does not benefit from a reel, so we never charge for it there.
Zoysia or St. Augustine: which grass is best for a Central Florida yard?
Choose by sunlight first. Zoysia (CitraZoy, Empire, Zeon, Trinity) performs best in full sun and rewards it with a dense, fine-bladed lawn that can be reel-mowed. St. Augustine (ProVista, CitraBlue, Palmetto, Floratam) handles partial shade under oaks and is mowed taller with a rotary mower.
We match the grass to your sun exposure, soil drainage, irrigation coverage and how you want it mowed. A Winter Park lot under mature oaks may get 3 to 6 hours of direct sun; a newer, open lot often gets 8 or more. That single number rules out half the options before price ever comes up.
Zoysia vs. St. Augustine in Winter Park and Oviedo → Best grass for Zone 9b Florida → Zoysia cultivar library →What does a landscape renovation include in Winter Park and Oviedo?
A Yard Works landscape renovation covers the design, bed preparation and soil amendment, Zone 9b plants set at the right depth, mulch, hardscape transitions such as paver walks and boulders, and tying the beds into your irrigation, all installed by one accountable team.
Landscape work has to fit the house. Heritage homes near Hannibal Square, Mediterranean revival on Interlachen and newer builds in Oviedo each call for a different palette. We design around the home's style, the lot's sun exposure and what the soil can actually support, not a stock plan.
Our default palette is Zone 9b-proven: Podocarpus, Viburnum, Firebush, Plumbago, Muhly grass, Asiatic Jasmine, Loropetalum, flax lily, saw palmetto, coontie, Southern magnolia, crape myrtle, and Florida-hardy palms like Sabal and Pindo. When a homeowner asks for a cold-tender tropical anyway, the freeze-loss risk goes in writing before it goes in the ground.
Winter Park landscaping → Oviedo landscaping →
How do you fix dry spots and high water bills?
Start with a head-by-head audit: find broken heads, leaks and spray that lands on the driveway. Then convert spray nozzles to Hunter MP Rotators, which Hunter rates at up to 30% water savings over traditional spray nozzles, and set a smart controller to a schedule that follows UF/IFAS guidance for your grass.
Most dry spots are a coverage problem, not a watering-time problem. Running the clock longer floods the good zones and still misses the bad ones. We fix the coverage first, then the schedule. For lakefront properties we also watch runoff toward the water and plant shoreline buffers where needed.
Winter Park irrigation → Oviedo irrigation repair →Do you install pavers and French drains?
Yes. Yard Works builds paver walkways, patios and driveways, regrades low spots, and fixes yard drainage with French drains and downspout extensions so water moves away from the house instead of pooling on the lawn. Drainage gets fixed before new sod goes down, because sod laid on a bad grade fails.
Pavers are set on a compacted base with edge restraint, built for Central Florida's sandy soil and summer downpours. Yard drainage work starts with where the water actually goes in a summer storm, then the grade and the drain are built to match.
Winter Park paver installation → Oviedo paver installation → Yard drainage & French drain installation →
What is compost top dressing, and does my lawn need it?
Top dressing spreads a thin layer of sand or a sand-and-screened-compost blend over an established lawn. It levels low spots and, with compost, adds the organic matter that Central Florida's sandy soils lack. Lawns that are thin, bumpy, or dry out fast after watering are the ones that benefit most. Sand-and-compost blends start at $300 per cubic yard.
Much of Winter Park and Oviedo sits on deep, fast-draining sand. Water and nutrients move past the roots quickly, so turf struggles to stay dense even when it is mowed and fed correctly. Applied in the growing season, top dressing builds the soil a little at a time. Straight compost or straight leveling sand is priced on request.
Michael grew up on a large family farm, where soil health decided every season. Soil is only alive when the microorganisms in it are properly fed, and UF/IFAS notes that organic matter is the main food source for soil microbes. Florida's sandy soils typically hold just 1 to 3% organic matter, so we build it back with quality compost.
"Healthy lawns and landscapes do not exist without healthy living soil."
Top dressing & lawn leveling in Winter Park → Why compost top dressing works →You can hear the difference a reel makes.
These are our own lawns, filmed on the job in Winter Park and Oviedo: CitraZoy Zoysia under a cylinder reel, and a Hunter MP Rotator irrigation conversion.
Reel mowing · Winter Park 32789Reel-mowed Zoysia sod, cut with a Tru-Cut C27 →
CitraZoy ZoysiaThe stripe, up close →
IrrigationHunter MP Rotator conversion →
How does a Yard Works project work, from walkthrough to establishment?
Six steps. One operator accountable.
Every sod, landscape, irrigation or top dressing job follows the same six steps: an on-site walkthrough by Michael, a grass and plan match, an itemized written proposal, soil prep and grading, installation, and follow-up through the first 30 days.
- 01
Property walkthrough
Michael walks the property personally, measures it, and notes sun by zone, drainage, tree canopy and irrigation coverage. No salespeople and no satellite estimates.
- 02
Grass & plan match
The walkthrough decides the recommendation: Zoysia for full sun, shade-tolerant St. Augustine under oaks, Zone 9b plants for the beds. Never a one-size template.
- 03
Itemized proposal
A written, line-item proposal: price per square foot, any soil, grading or compost work priced separately, the timeline, and the establishment plan.
- 04
Soil prep & grading
Old turf removed and hauled. The bare soil is graded so water drains away from the house, and amended where the soil calls for it. This is the step most companies skip.
- 05
Installation
Sod laid within 24 hours of harvest in tight, staggered seams, then rolled, watered and edged. Plants set at the right depth with the backfill firmed; palms braced for storm season.
- 06
Establishment & follow-up
A final walkthrough with you, a watering schedule in writing, and check-ins through the first 30 days to confirm the roots are taking. If something looks off, we adjust before it becomes a problem.
What do clients say about Michael Geist's Yard Works?
"Michael is the most professional and competent landscape guy I've dealt with over the past 40 years, solved a number of tough challenges with our situation (e.g., tons of oak roots), and delivered a beautiful installation."
"Reel mowing is a crucial part of properly maintaining Zoysia, and the level of knowledge and attention to detail he brings is unmatched."
"He is one of the most knowledgeable landscaping and grass professionals I've come across… taking the time to educate us along the way and not just sell us something."
"Mike and his team did a wonderful job installing beautiful zoysia sod on my Winter Park property. It's beautiful, great to put bare feet on."
"He has gone above and beyond by driving by on a regular basis to check on the sod and ensure it was getting established and staying healthy."
"Yard Works has cared for our lawn for over 10 years! Michael is one of the most knowledgeable in the business and has never led me down the wrong path."
What areas does Yard Works serve?
Yard Works is based in Oviedo and serves Winter Park, Oviedo, Winter Springs, Maitland, Lake Mary, Heathrow, Sanford, College Park and Lake Nona in Seminole and Orange County, Florida. Winter Park and Oviedo are our core markets.
Heritage homes along Park Avenue, Lake Killarney and Lake Maitland. Zoysia installs on open lots, shade-tolerant St. Augustine under mature oaks.
Our home market since 2005. Sod installation, reel-mowed Zoysia and French drains across Alafaya Woods and Live Oak Reserve.
Oviedo services: lawn care, landscaping, paver installation, irrigation repair.
Tuskawilla and the Highlands: sod replacement, irrigation modernization and top dressing.
Lake Sybelia and Dommerich Estates: landscape installation and lawn care under mature oak canopy.
Markham Woods estates: sod installation and landscape renovation.
Golf-course frontage and Magnolia Plantation: HOA-compliant lawn and landscape work.
Historic Sanford and Lake Monroe: sod, landscape installation and drainage.
Edgewater Drive and the bungalow district: small-lot sod and landscape work.
Medical City and Laureate Park: HOA-spec sod installs and irrigation tune-ups.
Drive time from our Oviedo base: Winter Park 16 min · Winter Springs 9 min · Maitland 18 min · Lake Mary 22 min · Sanford 22 min · College Park 22 min · Heathrow 24 min · Lake Nona 28 min. No travel surcharges in any listed city.
All service areas → Project portfolio →What homeowners ask first.
Short answers to the questions we hear on every walkthrough. Our full FAQ covers 237 more, answered first-hand by Michael.
Read the full FAQ →Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Michael Geist's Yard Works is licensed and insured for work in Seminole and Orange County and has operated since 2005. For HOA neighborhoods such as Baldwin Park, Windsong and Winter Park Pines, we prepare documentation for Architectural Review Committee submissions when required.
How quickly can I get an estimate?
Usually within 24 to 48 hours. Call (407) 687-3322 or use the contact form. Michael walks the property, measures it and sends a written, itemized proposal. Estimates are free.
Which Winter Park neighborhoods do you work in?
All of 32789 and 32792, including Park Avenue, Baldwin Park, Windsong, Via Tuscany, Hannibal Square, Winter Park Pines, and lakefront homes on Lake Killarney, Lake Maitland, Lake Virginia, Lake Osceola and Lake Sue.
Do you reel-mow St. Augustine?
No. Reel mowing is for fine-bladed Zoysia such as CitraZoy, Empire, Zeon and Trinity. St. Augustine (Floratam, ProVista, Palmetto, CitraBlue) is mowed taller with a sharp rotary, at the heights UF/IFAS recommends. We say this up front so there are no surprises.
How often should a Zoysia lawn be mowed in Central Florida?
About weekly during active growth from March through October, and every 2 to 3 weeks in the cooler months. Never remove more than one-third of the blade in a single mowing.
What plants hold up in Zone 9b?
Podocarpus, Viburnum, Firebush, Plumbago, Muhly grass, Asiatic Jasmine, Loropetalum, flax lily, saw palmetto, coontie, Southern magnolia, crape myrtle, and Florida-hardy palms such as Sabal and Pindo all handle Central Florida heat and the occasional January freeze.
Ready to walk your property? Free, no-pressure estimate.
Michael runs every walkthrough himself. Bring your questions about grass, sod cost, irrigation, drainage, top dressing or landscape design. You'll leave with a real plan, not a sales pitch.
2200 Eugenia Ct
Oviedo, FL 32765
Serving Seminole & Orange County
Open daily
7:00 AM – 8:00 PM