Jacksonville, FL · Sod Installation
St. Augustine grass sod installation in Jacksonville — done right the first time.
Full-service St. Augustine sod replacement for Jacksonville and Northeast Florida lawns. Old turf removal, sandy-soil prep, fresh-cut sod, and the watering schedule that actually keeps it alive through the first 30 days.
Why Jacksonville sod installs fail
Most failed St. Augustine sod jobs in Jacksonville come down to three things: skipping soil prep, picking the wrong cultivar for the sun exposure, and missing the first week of watering. We treat all three as part of the install — not extras.
Sandy soil needs prep, not faith
Jacksonville's Mandarin–Leon sand drains in minutes. Without grading and topsoil, fresh sod dries between waterings and rooting stalls. Prep is where 90% of installs succeed or fail.
Watering decides whether sod takes
Even premium St. Augustine sod will fail on a missed irrigation schedule in week one. We set timers, check head coverage, and walk every zone before leaving the job.
Cultivar choice is local
Sun exposure, irrigation reliability, chinch bug pressure, and shade from established oaks all change which St. Augustine cultivar makes sense. There is no one 'best' for every Jacksonville yard.
Our sod installation process
Four steps, each tuned for Jacksonville's sandy soil and warm-season climate.
1 · Old lawn removal & site prep
We sod-cutter strip the failed turf, haul it off, then till and grade the bare soil. On Jacksonville's sandy Mandarin–Leon series we mix in screened topsoil to fix low spots and improve early water retention.
2 · Cultivar selection
Floratam for full-sun front yards, Palmetto for filtered shade under oaks, CitraBlue for better disease and shade tolerance. We help you pick based on your specific yard, not what's cheapest on the pallet.
3 · Fresh-cut sod laid same day
Sod is laid the same day it's harvested — staggered seams, tight joints, and rolled for full soil contact. No gaps for weeds, no air pockets that dry the roots before they take.
4 · Watering schedule & follow-up
You leave with a printed 30-day watering schedule and irrigation timing. We come back at 2 and 4 weeks to check rooting, address any slipped seams, and tune the watering as roots peg in.
The first-30-days watering schedule
Days 1–7
Water 2–3 times per day, ~15 min per zone. Soil beneath every slab must stay wet — if you can lift a corner and the soil is dry, you're under-watering.
Days 8–14
Drop to twice daily, ~20 min. Roots are starting to peg down; you want the top 2 inches consistently moist, not saturated.
Days 15–21
Once daily, ~25 min. Sod should resist gentle tugging — that's roots taking hold in the sand.
Days 22–30
Taper to 2–3 deep waterings per week, ~30 min. Begin your first mow on day 14–21 once roots are set — sharp blades, no more than 1/3 of the leaf removed.
What's included with every install
- Old lawn removal and haul-off
- Site grading and topsoil amendment for Jacksonville's sandy soil
- Cultivar recommendation (Floratam, Palmetto, or CitraBlue)
- Same-day fresh-cut St. Augustine sod
- Staggered, tight-seam installation with roller pass
- Printed 30-day watering schedule + irrigation walk-through
- Two follow-up rooting checks at week 2 and week 4
FAQs about sod installation
- When is the best time to install St. Augustine sod in Jacksonville?
- April through September. Warm soil drives fast rooting. We avoid mid-winter installs in Jacksonville — slabs sit instead of pegging down and are prone to rot.
- Floratam, Palmetto, or CitraBlue?
- Floratam for full sun, Palmetto for filtered shade under oaks, CitraBlue for improved disease and shade tolerance. We walk the yard before recommending.
- Do I need to fix my irrigation first?
- Yes — sod will not survive missed coverage in week one. We check head spacing and run times before delivery and flag any zones that need a repair.
- How long until I can walk and mow on new sod?
- Light foot traffic after day 7. First mow at day 14–21 once you can tug a corner and feel resistance from roots. Sharp blades, high deck — never scalp new sod.
Sod installation across Jacksonville & Northeast Florida
Arlington, Southside, Mandarin, San Marco, Riverside, the Beaches, and Orange Park.