Abstract: A sod harvesting machine comprising a wheeled frame with single or dual cutterheads at the forward end and a sod-receiving wind-up saddle at the rear end. An endless conveyor with a single flight spans the length of the machine and cut sod which is received at the forward end is advanced rearwardly for elevation and transport to the wind-up saddle and discharge at the rear end. The wind-up saddle comprises an expandable frame with pivotally attached supporting arms which commence the wind-up operation in a generally closed “U” configuration, but are controllably adjustably expandable outwardly to open the saddle for continuously accommodating the increase in diameter of the sod roll being helically wound therewithin. When the sod roll reaches its maximum and completed size, the saddle arms are pivoted rearwardly to the horizontal for direct discharge from the harvesting machine onto the ground surface.