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Workers laying fresh St. Augustine sod strips on a sandy Florida lawn

Sod installation in Spring Hill

Sod installation in Spring Hill for a lawn that lasts

Lawn replacement from clearing the old grass to the first watering. Pick a grass that fits your sun, shade and sandy soil.

  • Grass matched to sun, shade and HOA rules
  • Soil and grade work before the first roll
  • Watering and mowing notes for the first weeks

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What do you need?

What does sod installation and lawn replacement involve?

Sod is grass grown on a farm, cut in strips and laid on your soil so you get a lawn right away. Sod installation in Spring Hill is faster than seeding, and it holds sandy soil in place before summer rain can wash it away. It is also the standard route for St. Augustine, which is rarely grown from seed.

A lawn replacement usually follows these steps:

  1. Remove or kill the old grass and weeds.
  2. Grade the area so water runs away from the house and does not pond.
  3. Work in compost or topsoil where the sand is very thin.
  4. Fix any broken sprinkler heads or coverage gaps before the new grass goes down.
  5. Lay the sod with tight, staggered seams, roll it, and water right away.

The preparation is the hard part. Sod laid on bad ground will fail, however good the grass is.

Which grass fits Spring Hill lawns?

Four warm-season grasses show up most often in Hernando County.

  • St. Augustine is the common choice for homes. It is thick, handles heat and is the most shade-tolerant of the group, especially varieties such as Palmetto and Seville. Floratam prefers full sun.
  • Bahia is a lower-cost, tough grass that copes with poor sandy soil and dry spells. It has a coarser look and throws seed stalks.
  • Zoysia makes a dense, fine lawn, but it is slower to establish and wants more care.
  • Centipede likes acidic sandy soil and light feeding, but it is touchy about heavy traffic and too much fertilizer.

Pick by how much sun the yard gets, how much you want to mow, and whether your HOA names a grass. Under heavy oak shade, no turf grass is happy, and a mulched bed can be the better answer.

When should sod go down, and how do you keep it alive?

Sod can go in most months here, but the warm months from spring to early fall give the fastest rooting. Cold snaps in winter slow roots, and dormant grass looks brown for a while. Fresh sod needs water right away and every day for the first couple of weeks, then less often as roots grab the sand.

Watering rules matter. Florida water districts set days and times for lawn watering, and many allow extra watering for a limited time after new sod goes in. The days and lengths change, so check the current Southwest Florida Water Management District and Hernando County rules before you start.

  • Keep foot traffic off for the first couple of weeks.
  • Wait to mow until the sod resists a gentle tug.
  • Mow St. Augustine on a tall setting, since cutting it short stresses it.
  • Follow local fertilizer rules, including any summer limits.

Sod is sold by the pallet or the square foot, and the grass type changes the cost. Beyond that, these things move the total:

  • The size and shape of the lawn, and how much waste comes from cutting around beds.
  • Whether the old lawn must be stripped, sprayed or tilled in.
  • Soil and grade work, including compost for thin sand.
  • Access for pallets and equipment, such as gates, pool cages and long hauls.
  • Repairs to sprinkler heads or lines before the sod goes down.
  • Tree roots, stumps and shade that call for a different plan.

Ask for a written quote that names the grass variety, the area in square feet and what is included, such as removal, soil, hauling and cleanup. If the lawn problem started with drainage, fix that first, since new sod will also drown in a low spot. Our drainage work covers that. Always ask to see a contractor's license and insurance.

How long does it take, and when should you call?

Most lawns can be prepped and laid in a day or two, though a large yard or heavy removal can take longer. Sod is perishable, so the crew lays it quickly after delivery. Rain can delay the start, because wet sand is hard to work.

What to expect on the day

You will see pallets of sod in the driveway, old turf coming out, grading with hand tools and machines, then the new strips going down. Keep pets off the lawn while it is open. Water starts the same day.

When should you call?

Call when more than half the lawn is bare or weeds, when brown patches keep spreading after treatment, or when you are changing the yard in other ways. A new lawn goes in well after a bed refresh from our landscape design work. If you are still deciding what the yard needs, read the Spring Hill landscaping overview.

One caution for sandy lots here: if you find a gopher tortoise burrow, do not fill or dig it. Tell us before we start so we can plan around it.

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Questions about landscaping in Spring Hill

Can I lay new sod right over my old lawn?

It is not a good idea. Sod needs to touch soil to root, and old grass, thatch and weeds block that contact. Remove or kill the old turf, rake the surface smooth and then lay the new strips. Skipping this step often leads to patchy rooting and weeds coming through the seams.

How long does sod take to root?

Roots usually start to grip within a couple of weeks in warm weather, and the lawn firms up over the next month or two. Cooler months are slower. You can test by lifting a corner gently. If it resists, the roots are taking hold. Keep watering on schedule until then.

Why do I get yellow and brown patches in St. Augustine?

Common causes in our area include chinch bugs, drought stress, fungus in wet weather and too much shade. The patterns look similar, so identify the cause before treating. The UF/IFAS Hernando County Extension office can help. Replacing sod without fixing the cause often leads to the same patches again.

Will sod grow under my oak trees?

Only up to a point. Most turf grasses want several hours of direct sun. St. Augustine is the most shade-tolerant, but dense oak canopy can still thin it out. In deep shade, a bed with mulch, ground cover or shade plants usually looks better and needs less water than turf.

Do I need a sprinkler system for new sod?

You need a way to water it, and an automatic system makes that far easier, especially when water rules limit days and times. A hose and a timer can work on a small lawn. If you plan to add a system, install it before the sod goes down so lines are not dug through new grass.

How it works

  1. Tell us about the yard

    Size, goals and any photos.

  2. Site visit and quote

    We walk the property and put the price in writing.

  3. We do the work

    Scheduled crew, cleanup included.

Request sod installation

Tell us what you need and we call you back.

Step 1 of 3

What do you need?

No obligation.

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