A Houston standard
Raleigh St. Augustine
Wide blades
- Sun and shade
- Handles shade under oaks and pines.
- Care and wear
- Needs regular watering.
- Where it fits
- Memorial lots and any front yard with a big tree.
Sod by the pallet · Houston
Sod Installation in Houston & Katy: St. Augustine, Bermuda & Zoysia
New sod laid tight on a leveled yard, with a watering plan in writing.
$425
from · St. Augustine sod, installed · per pallet (about 450 sq ft)
We install St. Augustine, Bermuda and Zoysia sod across West Houston, Memorial Villages, Katy and Fulshear (77024, 77079, 77494, 77450, 77441) from $425 per pallet installed, and one pallet covers about 450 square feet. The best times to lay it are March to May and September to October. A front yard takes one day, and a whole yard takes two.
Prep, leveling and drainage are priced separately, so you see what your yard needs before the sod goes down. We answer within 1 hour · free quote today.
Grass types
Which grass fits your yard
Tifway 419 Bermuda
Fine blades
- Sun and shade
- Full sun only.
- Care and wear
- Takes heat, kids and dogs, and bounces back from wear.
- Where it fits
- New Katy backyards and around pools.
Zoysia (Palisades, Emerald)
Thick and slow-growing
- Sun and shade
- Part sun.
- Care and wear
- Once it fills in, you mow less and see fewer weeds. It takes longer to root.
- Where it fits
- It costs more per pallet, but it's worth it if you want a lawn that looks like carpet.
Starting prices
Sod prices in Houston: material, prep and labor
Priced per pallet and per square foot, so you can compare. For examples by yard size, see our Houston landscaping cost guide.
| Service | Priced | From | Typical range | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material, deliveredper pallet (about 450 sq ft) | ||||
| St. Augustine sod, material | per pallet (about 450 sq ft) | from $215 | Typical range$215 to $245 | IncludesFresh-cut pallet of Raleigh St. Augustine, delivered to your house |
| Bermuda sod, material | per pallet (about 450 sq ft) | from $230 | Typical range$230 to $260 | IncludesPallet of Tifway 419 Bermuda, delivered |
| Zoysia sod, material | per pallet (about 450 sq ft) | from $310 | Typical range$310 to $345 | IncludesPallet of Zoysia (Palisades or Emerald), delivered |
| Laying labor and installed sod | ||||
| Sod laying, labor only | per pallet | from $210 | IncludesLaying the sod tight, rolling it flat, the first deep watering and a written 3-week watering plan | |
| St. Augustine sod, installedHandles shade under oaks and pines | per pallet | from $425 | Typical range$425 to $480 | IncludesRaleigh St. Augustine, sod plus installation, on a yard that's already leveled |
| Sod installed, by the square foot | per sq ft | from $0.95 | Typical range$0.95 to $1.35 | IncludesSod plus installation by the square foot, based on St. Augustine, leveled yard |
| Prep, priced separately | ||||
| Old grass removal, prep and grading | per sq ft | from $0.65 | Typical range$0.65 to $1.10 | IncludesOld grass and weeds pulled out, yard sloped toward the street, low spots filled, soil loosened |
| Example: 2,000 sq ft front yard | total | from $3,200 | Typical range$3,200 to $4,400 | IncludesA typical 2,000 sq ft front yard: old grass out, prep and 5 pallets of St. Augustine installed |
Starting prices for planning. Final price after a free on-site estimate.
Prep and install
How we get your yard ready for sod
01. Remove the old grass
We cut out the old grass and weeds with a sod cutter, or kill them off first, so the new sod doesn't have to compete. We haul off the debris.
02. Slope it toward the street
Houston clay drains slowly. We slope the yard gently away from the house and fill the low spots where water sits after a storm.
03. Loosen and level the soil
We loosen the top layer, rake it level and pack it down lightly, so the roots grow into soil, not a hard crust.
04. Lay tight, roll, water deep
We push the pieces tight together with staggered seams, roll them flat and water until the soil underneath is soaked.
After the install
Watering the first three weeks
New sod roots in about three weeks.
- Week one
- Water every morning so the soil under the pieces stays damp.
- Week two
- Every other day.
- Week three
- Twice a week and deeper.
- After that
- Once a week in summer is enough for St. Augustine.
If you have sprinklers, we set the timer with you before we leave and give you a printed schedule.
Stay off the new grass until a gentle tug doesn't lift it.
New construction and builders: sod 24 to 72 hours after final grade
For custom builders and remodelers in Katy and Memorial, we lay sod 24 to 72 hours after your final grade, so the inspection and the homeowner walk-through stay on schedule. Builders also get pallet counts, lead times and front-yard packages priced per lot.
landscape subcontractor for buildersCommon questions
What people ask us about sod
01When is the best time to lay sod in Houston?
March through May, and September through October. Spring sod roots before the summer heat, and fall sod roots before the first cold snap, usually in late November. We install in summer too, but the watering is stricter and you'll need to keep a close eye on it. We avoid the two weeks around a hard freeze.
02How many pallets does my yard need?
One pallet covers about 450 square feet. A typical 2,000 square foot front yard in Katy takes five pallets, and a full 5,000 square foot lawn takes eleven or twelve. We measure on site, order a little extra for cuts around beds and walkways, and put the pallet count on your quote.
03Do I have to remove the old grass first?
Yes, or the new sod sits on a layer that keeps it from rooting. We cut it out with a sod cutter or kill it off a week ahead, then level and loosen the soil. That prep is priced separately on your quote, by the square foot, so if your yard only needs leveling, you pay less.
04Can you do just the backyard, or patch a bare spot?
Yes to both. We can bring half pallets or loose pieces to fix the grass around a new pool, a dog run or a spot where a tree came down. We fit small jobs around bigger installs in the same area, which is why we ask for your address up front.
05What if the sod turns brown after a week?
A little browning along the seams the first week is normal while roots take hold. If whole pieces turn brown, water usually isn't reaching the soil underneath; lift a corner to check. Send us a photo as soon as you see it, and we come back, check the grade and the schedule, and fix what is ours to fix.
06Do you install sprinklers too?
No. We set the timer on your existing system with you and leave a printed schedule, but we don't sell or build sprinkler systems. If yours needs a repair before the sod goes down, we'll tell you during the visit so you can get it fixed first.