Sod Installation in Lakeland, FL — Remove Old, Regrade, Lay St. Augustine (or the Variety You Prefer)

Yard Restoration

The most common call. Years of Central Florida sun, drought, disease, and mower stress leave the lawn dying in patches or entirely. Polk Services removes the dead sod, regrades the sub-grade if low spots or ruts have developed, and lays fresh St. Augustine (or your chosen variety) — typically 1 to 2 workdays for a standard residential yard.

Post-Project Sod

When a pool is removed, a shed comes down, or a landscape section is stripped, the footprint needs sod to become lawn again. The crew is already on-site and the sub-grade is already worked, so the sod install is the finishing step — and bundle pricing brings the total below separate contractors.

Landscape Reset

For a landscape refresh, sod is often the final step: clear the old, grade the site, install new plants or hardscape, then sod the lawn portions. Polk Services runs the whole sequence when scope allows, or takes just the sod install standalone. Volume pricing for landscape pros coordinating multiple sites.

St. Augustine Variants — the Default

Other Varieties on Request

Install Types

Site Prep Included

Call, text, or fill out the estimate form

Reach Donny directly at (863) 344-5806. Text a wide shot of the area to be sodded, close-ups of problem spots (bare patches, drainage issues, irregular grade), and any access considerations for pallet delivery.

Free estimate — on-site walk-through is standard

For most sod installs an on-site walk-through beats a photo quote, because sub-grade conditions and irregular terrain are hard to read in pictures. Donny walks the property, identifies the specific fix, and quotes the whole workflow. Always free.

Variety selection — St. Augustine default

During the walk-through, Donny recommends the variety that fits the site — St. Augustine for most Polk County lawns, or another variety if the site or your preference calls for it. Sod cost varies by variety, so the recommendation ties into the budget conversation.

Written quote by text — sod, prep & install line items

Every install is priced twice. The written quote spells out sod cost (by variety and square footage), site prep labor, fill dirt if needed, and installation labor as separate line items, so you see exactly what each part costs.

Old sod removal, sub-grade prep & delivery timing

The first workday: old sod strips out with the skid steer, the sub-grade is regraded and cleared of root remnants, and the drainage slope is set. Sod delivery is timed so fresh sod arrives when the site is ready — sod that sits on pallets in Central Florida heat loses viability fast.

Sod install, rolling & first-watering guidance

Sod goes down in staggered joints (like brick) to minimize seams, then gets rolled to eliminate air pockets so roots make soil contact. The last step is a walk-through plus first-watering guidance for the critical 2–3 week rooting window.

Standard Project Pricing

Standard residential installs are quoted per project with a written all-inclusive number. Full-yard, front-yard-only, and section-patch installs are quoted separately by scope. Larger scope (commercial, HOA common areas, multi-acre rural) is quoted per project with a projected timeline.

Variety Affects the Total

Sod cost per pallet varies by variety — Bahia runs lower for larger cost-focused installs, St. Augustine variants sit mid-range for standard residential, and Zoysia and specialty varieties run higher. The variety cost is shown as a separate line item so you see exactly how the choice affects the total.

Site Prep & Fill Dirt

Old sod removal, sub-grade regrading, and root remnant clearing are all included in the workflow. Fill dirt is a separate line item because it varies by volume — and on sites where the sub-grade is already sound and level, no fill is needed and the install runs cheaper.

Bundle Pricing

Sod pairs naturally with follow-on land work — sod after pool demo, shed removal, landscape rip-out, grading, or a gravel driveway side-yard restoration. Bundle pricing brings the total below what separate contractors would charge.

Payment Terms

Cash, check, credit/debit, Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App (3.7% fee on card/electronic; cash and check free). Installs typically require 20–50% down to cover sod pallet delivery, with the balance due on completion.