St. Augustine sod is a popular choice for lawns in warm, humid climates, prized for its vigorous growth and attractive, broad leaf blades. This warm-season turfgrass exhibits excellent heat tolerance and can thrive in partial shade, making it well-suited for many southern landscapes. The investment required for a new St. Augustine lawn involves looking beyond the raw material price, as costs are influenced by the quantity needed, the specific cultivar chosen, location, and necessary installation services.
Determining the Quantity of Sod Required
Calculating the project’s total cost begins with accurately measuring the area designated for sod. Measure the length and width of the space in feet and multiply these figures to determine the total square footage needed. St. Augustine sod is typically sold by the pallet, which is the standard unit of purchase from suppliers, covering approximately 450 square feet. It is recommended to increase your calculated square footage by 5 to 10 percent. This slight over-ordering accounts for necessary cutting, trimming around obstacles, and potential waste, ensuring you have enough material without needing a costly, last-minute delivery.
Current Pricing for St. Augustine Sod Material
The price for St. Augustine sod material, excluding delivery or installation services, typically ranges from $0.30 to $0.90 per square foot. This translates to a common retail cost of $200 to $405 for a standard pallet. Pricing depends highly on the quality of the sod, the specific cultivar, and the supplier’s proximity to the farm. While pallets are the most common unit of sale, some suppliers sell individual pieces for smaller patch jobs. For example, the widely used Floratam variety, known for its heat tolerance, often falls in the lower to middle price range. Conversely, premium cultivars like Palmetto approach the upper end of the spectrum, reflecting specialized characteristics such as superior shade tolerance and enhanced cold hardiness.
Key Factors That Influence the Total Project Cost
The specific cultivar of St. Augustine grass chosen significantly influences the final material price due to genetic and production differences. Varieties like Floratam, Palmetto, or Seville each possess different tolerances for shade, cold, and salt, which impacts their market value. Palmetto, a patented variety, often commands a higher price because of its excellent shade tolerance and dense growth habit.
Geographical location and local market demand also cause substantial price variation across regions. A pallet of Raleigh St. Augustine, a popular, cold-hardy choice in North Texas, may have a different cost than the same variety sold in a market near a Florida sod farm. The expense of transporting the heavy, perishable product over long distances from the farm to the final location is factored into the regional price.
Seasonality is another factor, with prices often spiking during the peak growing and installation seasons, typically late spring and early summer, when demand is highest. Purchasing sod during the off-season or in cooler months can sometimes result in modest cost savings. Furthermore, suppliers often offer volume discounts, where the cost per pallet decreases noticeably when purchasing multiple pallets, making larger projects more cost-effective on a per-square-foot basis.
Understanding Delivery and Installation Fees
Delivery fees are a separate logistical cost, often structured as a flat rate per load or a tiered fee based on distance from the supplier. These charges can range from approximately $50 to over $200 per delivery, depending on the distance and the quantity of pallets transported. Some suppliers offer free or reduced-cost delivery if a minimum number of pallets is ordered.
The cost for professional installation labor is calculated separately from the material and delivery charges. Labor for laying the sod can range from roughly $0.35 to $0.80 per square foot, though all-inclusive quotes typically fall between $1.25 and $2.50 per square foot. This professional service ensures proper placement and immediate contact between the sod and the prepared soil, which is crucial for root establishment.
The project may also include fees for site preparation, which is necessary before new sod can be installed. This preparatory work involves removing the old lawn, grading the soil for proper drainage, and amending the soil. These preparation services can add an additional $0.25 to $2.00 per square foot to the total project cost, depending on the complexity of the existing ground.