How much should sod installation cost?

Depending upon the grade of the turf type, and the size of the area, full sod installation projects will most commonly be in a range of $3.00/per square foot for smaller, higher-end projects, to closer to $1.50/per square foot for larger, more straight forward projects.

How much does it cost to lay a pallet of sod?

Depending upon the grade of the turf type, and the size of the area, full sod installation projects will most commonly be on a range of $1500.00/per pallet installed for smaller, higher-end projects, to closer to $750.00/per pallet installed for larger, more straight forward projects.

How much should I pay to have sod installed?

Measure the size of the area you are wanting sod laid in. Based upon that, you can get ballpark rough numbers with $3.00/per square foot for smaller, higher-end projects, closer to $1.50/per square foot for larger, more straightforward projects based upon your personal preferences for turf type.

What’s the best time of year to lay sod?

For warm-season grasses, the best times of the year will normally be Early Spring through Late Summer due to the warm weather allowing for quicker root development. That said, many sod varieties can be laid year-round with minimal risk.

What’s the hardiest ground cover?

Zoysia is one of the most popular grass types due to its exceptional density. Not only does it look incredible from the thickness and color, but it also boasts some of the best growth habits meaning it can tolerate a wide variety of conditions.

What’s a low-maintenance grass that doesn’t need to be cut often?

While Bermuda may be considered lower maintenance due to its drought tolerance and quick recovery abilities, Zoysia takes the crown with lower maintenance. Zoysia is a slower grower than Bermuda meaning it won’t be quite as aggressive in its growth, allowing for more time in between cuts.

What type of grass do you offer?

The short answer is it depends on the season you choose to request sod installation. We select our local sourcing partners for each season depending on quality-focused criteria. The local sod farms we select are those that show they can consistently deliver to us well-cut rolls of good color and fertilization. Through our extensive inspection and testing process, we can confidently say our sod suppliers are offering the best sod this season. We then choose sod grass varieties that are best for a large majority of our areas’ lawns. This typically includes Zoysia, Fescue, and Bermuda varieties. For an updated list of what is currently offered, please refer to our Sod page.

Do you spray existing and unwanted grass with herbicide before installing new sod?

We do spray existing and unwanted grass and/or weeds before installing sod. We send a technician who applies glyphosate 1-2 weeks before your sod installation. If you do not wish to have this done, please notify us. We then clear the surface of vegetation, cultivate the top layer of soil 1-2″ deep, and apply a layer of 50/50 topsoil/compost mix.

Is it worth it to lay sod?

Very few desirable turfgrasses planted in the greater Raleigh area are available in seed form. Most desirable turfgrasses are sterile hybrids, which means they cannot be grown from seed. These include all fine-bladed zoysias and all desirable Bermuda grasses. The exceptions which can be grown from seed are fescue, centipede, and wide-bladed zoysias. When fescue is seeded, the results are pretty quick – 7-10 days to germination and 3-4 weeks to a lawn. With warm-season grasses, however, the results from seed are very slow. Germination takes 14-21 days, during which time the grass must be kept consistently moist. An established lawn from seed takes 2-3 years. Weed control becomes a huge challenge while you wait for the lawn to fill in. Sod is almost instant gratification! You have full coverage when the new sod is laid, and there is a short period of time (3-4 weeks) when traffic must be minimized while the new sod roots. Weeds may appear in the seams, but once the seams close, weed control becomes much easier.

What is the best grass type for high-traffic yards and full sun?

The best grass type for high-traffic yards and full sun is TifTuf Bermuda. TifTuf is a 2018 hybrid that was produced to withstand traffic, drought, and heat. When damaged, TifTuf recovers more quickly than other grasses. It does grow quickly, so it performs best when mowed every 4-5 days and is kept no taller than 1.5 inches. Tall Bermuda grass shades out its own root system and gets thinner. Short is best for warm-season grasses!

What is a good drought-tolerant grass?

Warm-season grasses are far more drought-tolerant than Fescue. Fescue is a cool-season grass and NC is a warm-season state, so warm-season grasses are the logical choice. The most drought-tolerant grass in the greater Raleigh area is TifTuf Bermuda. Zenith Zoysia is a close second, and Zeon Zoysia is also a good choice, but it does prefer a bit more water than the others. All grasses thrive when they receive an inch or more of water per week. But the warm season grasses can handle drought periods and high temperatures much better than Fescue.

How do you prepare the ground to lay sod?

We always first remove as much of the existing surface vegetation as we can. Once this is complete, we can then spread topsoil evenly throughout the entire area making sure the surface is as even and smooth as possible eliminating any ruts, dips, or humps.

Can you sod a shady area?

While it is not advised to lay sod in areas that never see sunlight, you can most definitely lay sod in areas that might receive minimal sun. It is important to make sure that you are laying the correct type of sod that can handle the shady conditions.

What is the best grass for hot weather?

Any warm-season turf, such as Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede, and St. Augustine are all exceptional grasses for hot and sunny areas. Make sure you consider watering though as not all grass types are as drought tolerant as others!

What’s the best month to lay down sod?

There isn’t any “best month” to lay sod. However, Spring and Fall seasons are optimal with their mild temperatures and great soil conditions.

Is sod better than grass seed?

Sod is by far the most effective way to establish a lawn while also assuming the least amount of risk possible. Seeding a lawn can often take years to truly establish even with proper care and preparation due to unpredictable weather patterns and washout. Seeding also can limit your choices of turf type significantly as some of the most popular and quality turf types are sterile and therefore will not produce seeds that can be regrown.

Does Peak Sodding’s sod come delivered as rolls or slabs? Which is better?

We always request our sod be delivered in rolls. Rolls allow for much quicker and efficient installations meaning less time on the pallet. Especially during growing season, we aim to have our sod laid fresh with 24-48 hours of it being cut from the farm.

How long do sod installation services typically take?

Installation time can always vary based upon the size and scope of the project but the greater majority of Peak Sodding projects are completed within a 1-3 day window!

Do you install grass in Raleigh?

Yes, we solve lawn challenges and install grass for homeowners in Raleigh. We actually offer sod installations across all of the Southern Wake County area. Take a look at some of our completed sod installation projects in Raleigh as well as Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, and Fuquay Varina.

What is best to put under sod?

Soil is food for plants. The more nutritious the soil, the healthier the plants! Think of turfgrass as the athlete of the plant world. It is growing at a high rate of speed, and then getting cut back regularly. To stay this active, turfgrass must eat well, just like an athlete! Our soil in the greater Raleigh area tends to be clay or sand. It does not typically contain much topsoil or humus matter (compost) unless this has been added in significant amounts in the past. That means it is low in nutrition. Therefore, it is crucial to add organic matter, including topsoil and compost, to improve the nutrient content of the soil before sodding.

How do I know if a sod installer has done a good job?

A great sod installer is made up of many things and it can often be hard to identify right away with such a surplus of companies offering this service. Here are some of the biggest things to look for: Thorough soil preparation: Do they remove existing vegetation? Do they cultivate the soil? Do they add a nutrient-rich soil blend? Attention to detail: How smooth is the finished surface? How clean are the cuts around the edges? Do they roll the sod once complete? Attention to YOU: Are they spending time to understand what you would like out of your lawn? Support: Do they provide support AFTER the sod is installed? Do they help guide you on watering and maintenance? Or are you left to do the research yourself? These are all critical factors that are worth considering when hiring a company.

Is there a good grass type for a shady high traffic yard?

This is a complicated question and deserves a thorough answer. First, let’s determine how much shade is present. There is no grass that likes full shade. None. Grass is the athlete of the plant world, growing more quickly than most plants. Therefore, it requires sunlight to do the photosynthesis necessary to maintain that growth. The faster the grass grows, the more direct (not filtered) sunlight it needs per day. Bermuda requires the most sun, 6-8 hours per day, and is not good for shaded areas. Zenith Zoysia needs 5-6 hours of direct sun per day and is fairly traffic tolerant. Zeon Zoysia is the most shade-tolerant warm-season grass, needing 4 or more hours of direct sun per day, and handles moderate traffic but not heavy traffic. Fescue is a cool season grass and performs best in 3-5 hours of direct sun per day but is not traffic tolerant because it is a clumping grass (not a spreading grass like Bermuda or Zoysia) and cannot repair itself when damaged. To make an informed decision for your lawn, Peak Sodding offers free lawn assessments.

What are the best grasses to walk on barefoot?

Zeon Zoysia feels the best under bare feet! It is thick, luxurious, and soft. And because it is kept short (no taller than 1.5 inches, please), it does not hide creepy crawlies as a taller grass can. Fine-bladed Zoysias like Zeon have the densest root structure of all turfgrasses, so they choke out weeds very well and keep that cushiony feel. Children and dogs love to roll in Zeon!

Ask A Lawn Sodding Expert

Owner Ben Schneider, The Sod Installation Guy, and his team answer common questions about how to fix lawns, types of grass for lawns, installation of sod, sod installation costs, and new lawn care in the People Ask: Lawn Sodding Q&A.

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