What does CT Outdoor Pros do?

CT Outdoor Pros is Christopher Trejo’s Raleigh-based outdoor company. We help with sod, drainage, grading, planting, mulch, stone, stumps, patios, walkways, and low-voltage landscape lighting.

What areas do you serve?

East Raleigh is our home base. We regularly serve Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Apex, Garner, Knightdale, Wake Forest, Wendell, Clayton, Holly Springs, Morrisville, and nearby communities. Send your city or ZIP and we will confirm the route before quoting.

How do I get a project estimate?

Text your address, city, a few photos, and what you want to change to (919) 454-7678. We will talk through the likely scope, then confirm the details during a walk-through. The final price depends on access, grade, materials, and whether drainage comes first.

Do I need to be home for the walk-through?

Not always. If the gate is unlocked and pets are secured, we can often look at the property, text you with questions, and schedule the next step without you staying home.

What grass is best for a Raleigh lawn?

Tall fescue is a strong fit for many partly shaded yards. Bermuda and Zoysia are better for sunny areas and summer heat. We look at the light, drainage, and how the lawn will be used before recommending one.

Can you fix drainage before installing sod or a patio?

Yes—and that is often the right order. We trace where water is coming from, improve the grade where possible, and add drainage when it is needed before installing new lawn or hardscape.

How long does new sod need before I can use it?

Plan on light foot traffic while it roots, usually around two to three weeks depending on the season and watering. We leave you with a simple watering and mowing plan for the first few weeks.

Can you remove a stump before a new lawn or patio?

Yes. We grind below grade and backfill the area so new sod, planting, or a compacted hardscape base is not sitting on a leftover stump or root mass.

What should I send before we talk?

A street address, your city, a few photos from different angles, and a sentence about what is not working. Include the gate location, slope, standing water, or anything else that changes access.

Info hub · Stumps · Updated 2026-09-03

When a stump has to go before the rest of the yard

If you plan to mow, sod, or build, grinding below grade is cheaper than working around a mound.

A stump left at grade is a trip hazard and a mower scar. Left high, it sends suckers through the lawn. If you want sod, a patio, or a clean bed, grind it below the surrounding soil and backfill. Decorating around it only delays the work.

We confirm underground utilities and access for the grinder. Tight side yards and steep banks change the method. Depth depends on the next step: a lawn wants the chips down and soil on top; a patio wants the organic mass gone so the base does not settle.

Chips are not topsoil. We do not leave a sponge of wood under new turf. After the grind, we compact, add soil as needed, and either seed, sod, or leave it ready for hardscape.

If the tree just came down after a storm, wait until you know the grade and the plan. Removing the stump is one visit. Doing it in the right order with drainage and sod is how the yard looks finished.

Talk through your yard