I can remember just 3 or 4 years ago when you could get a pallet of San Augustine sod for around $65.00 a pallet.  A pallet as you probably already knows covers approximately 450 sq/ft.  Thus, at the time my cost for sod was running me a little under .15¢ a sq/ft for materials.  Today on the other hand, sod is going for as high as $115.00 a pallet depending on where you purchase it from.  That escalates the price per square foot to a whopping .26¢ sq/ft.  Talk about inflation.

The crews that were installing could lay 1 ½ pallets of sod per man per hour if the sod was properly staged.  By staging I mean, you don’t want your sod winding up in the middle of where you are working, but then again you don’t want to  have to walk all the way across the yard to get more sod.  Actually I  had a couple guys that could do 2 pallets an hour, but there was no reason to just overwork  your crew.  Not to mention, when they get in a race, the quality of the installation goes down hill.  And if the weather was hot, like around August down here in Southeast Texas, then it was closer to around a pallet of sod per hour.  You’ve got to take additional rest breaks and have your guys rehydrate frequently.  I’ve had a couple of guys that had gotten close to heat stroke on different occations, and there’s no landscape job that is important enough to risk one of you employees health and well being.

Anyway, if  you put some numbers to the labor cost I would arrive at around .0148¢ per sq/ft.  Obviously the labor here in Southeast Texas was cheap.  Regular crew members were earning $10.00 p/hr wage.  I was charging the customer .12¢ per sq/ft. for labor.  With todays pricing, that would be closer to .15¢ per sq/ft. for labor.

So if you go by todays pricing, I would be pricing sod installation at around $276.75 per man hour installed.  It sounds high when you tell a customer that way.  Thus, the way I would always relay the price to the customer was by telling them we charged .41¢ per sq/ft installed.  It comes out the same, but it just doesn’t sound quite as expensive when you give the customer the price per sq/ft installed.

Again, this is in no way meant to be a pricing suggestions for different parts of the country.  This is just what I would price a sod installation job with todays prices here in Southeast Texas.  I would though be interested in hearing what sod installation is going for in other parts of the country as well if you would like to leave a comment below.

Soil Preparation: 

We recommend prior to starting your sodding project, that you have your soil tested for its pH, are rather how acidic or alkaline you soil is. Turf grows and develops best when the soils pH is between 6.0 and 7.5.  ow soil pH can create a toxic condition known as chlorosis, or a yellowing of the turf.  If left untreated, nectrotic (dead spots) spotting of the grass blade can develop. This leads to stunted growth which can take one or several growing seasons to correct. Having a soil sample taken can prevent these conditions by allowing you to know the soils current pH and make proper adjustments by the addition of lime. Always apply the proper amounts of lime as directed in your soil sample. Additionally, having your soil tested for its levels of phosphorus and potassium will determine if the levels are adequate for good root development. You can have your soil tested by Texas A&M University for a small fee. The following forms should be properly filled out and sent in with your soil sample, and will also instruct you on the proper way to take your soil sample.

Texas A&M Soil Sample Information Form

Taking the time to insure that your soil is properly prepared is probably the most critical step in establishing that healthy lawn. Soil gives your turf a solid base to develop, much like a properly constructed slab for a new home. It should be well prepared and graded prior to applying any seed or sod. Ridding your soil of low spots now will keep water from standing in areas after your sod as been laid, which can lead to fungus development. The use of a tiller will break up heavily compacted soil, and it’s a perfect time to add amendments such as lime, phosphorus, potassium or topsoil if needed. Grades should be set as to gradually slope away from the home or building.

A sod roller can be rented from most home centers or rental companies, and should be used to firm it up. Also, prior to installation of the soil, apply a 13-13-13 fertilizer prior to sod installation, and then moistening your soil by watering it prior to installation.

Sod Roller

Laying your Sod: 

Once the sod has been delivered, you should make sure the sod is laid within 48 hours. Heat is trapped inside the sod from when it was cut, and can burn and kill the grass if not laid with this time frame.

Sod pieces should be laid in a brick like pattern with staggered seams. Avoid leaving gaps between the sections of sod when installing. Excess can be trimmed with a sharp machete or large knife. Once you have the sod installed, tamp or roll the sod to eliminate the gaps between the sod and the soil. A quality turf food may be watered into the soil at the recommended rate, and then followed up with a thorough watering.

Applying your Seed: 

Distribute the grass seed evenly over the soil. One way to do this is to apply half the amount of seed to be applied in crossways pattern, and then the remaining grass seed at a right angle to the first. This helps to ensure an even coverage.

Seed should be applied with a broadcast spreader capable of delivering a measured dispersement rate. Avoid  applying seed by hand as it may result in inconsistent density of the grass. Once seeded, we recommend covering the seed with one or two bales of straw to help retain moisture in the soil. Once the seeds have germinated, which should take place within 10 days to a weeks time, do not attempt to remove the straw. The decaying straw will help to replenish your soils Nitrogen content which is essential for turf growth.

Watering: 

Consistent watering of the sod is critical for proper root development. Deep root development should establish within a growing season, but may take as long as two seasons to fully develop. Water sufficiently enough to keep your soil moist but not soggy. We recommend not letting the sod dry out between watering for at least the first two weeks. This can be checked by lifting up the edges of the sod and checking underneath. Watering should be performed twice daily (early morning & late evening) for the first 3 days, then once per day for the next two weeks. After that, watering may be reduced to every two days for the next two weeks. Weekly watering, insuring water penetration of 3 – 4 inches, should be performed at least once per week thereafter. Our “Watering Tips” section can give you recommendations on proper watering techniques for a healthy lawn.

When to Seed / Sod: 

Seed should be applied in late summer and early fall making sure to allow for proper  germination of the grass seed prior to the colder winter temperatures. Seed can also be applied during the spring months prior to the hot summer temperatures reaching their peaks. Summer seeding can be performed, but a very strict watering regimen should be followed during these times.

Sod can be applied from spring through early fall. Insure that proper root development has taken place prior to the colder weather of late fall and winter. This will insure that your new lawn is properly established prior to the first frost. We do not recommend laying sod during the winter dormant months since the sod may die prior to root development due to the slow growth rate.

Space Planting: 

Space planting or checker boarding is the planting of sprigs or small sections of grass at regular intervals. The proximity of each sprig from one another will determine the amount of sprigs needed. Likewise, the closer the sprigs are planted to one another, the more sprigs will be needed and the faster the lawn will establish and fill in. Sprigs should be planted at 2” depths with a portion of the sprig extending up above the soils surface.

When using sod in space planting, the normal sod pieces can be cut in half or quarters. This, combined wtih the space planting is done for cost savings only. Space planting can reduce the cost involved with sodding, although it can take one or two growing seasons for the sod to fully fill in between the sod pieces to create a completed lawn. There are some pros and cons to space planting, and below is a partial list of each.