Asked by homeowners across Atlantic County
Your Sod Questions Answered
Short, honest answers on price, timing, water and care, from Brigantine on the bay to Hammonton in the pines.
30 Days of Aftercare Included
9-Month Farm-Grown Sod
Licensed & Insured
Atlantic County has two kinds of ground. The islands and the bay towns sit on loose beach sand that catches salt spray. The inland towns sit on Pinelands sand that drains in minutes after a rain. Both dry out fast, so most of what follows comes back to soil prep and water. Every answer here matches how our crew works: one standard rate, sod only, and a month of aftercare once the lawn is down. If your question is about your own yard, the quickest path is a free written quote.
How much is sod installation in Atlantic County?
Most installs run $2.00 to $5.00 per square foot. Our standard rate is $2.85 for an average yard. Large, open properties come in lower, and rocks or gravel to remove push it higher. That rate pays for tearing out the old lawn, the soil work, the sod and the crew. Every project has a $2,000 minimum.
What would a 1,000 square foot lawn cost me?
At our standard $2.85 rate, a 1,000 square foot lawn is $2,850. That number covers the whole job, not only the grass. Old turf comes out, composted topsoil goes in, and fresh sod is laid and rolled.
Is there a smallest job you take on?
Yes. Our project minimum is $2,000. A crew and a truck of fresh sod make the same trip for a small yard as for a big one. If your lawn times $2.85 comes out under $2,000, the price is $2,000. For a tiny patch, a few rolls from a garden center may be the cheaper fix.
What pushes the price up or down?
Size is the big one. Wide, open lawns cost less per foot because the crew moves fast. Stone, gravel or old pavers that must come out cost more. Tight side yards, steep grades and long carries from the truck can add time too. We tell you all of this in writing before you book.
Do I pay it all at once?
No. A 30% deposit holds your install date, and the rest is due when the job is done. If you would like to spread the cost out, 0% financing lets you pay in six easy payments.
Why is new sod more than seed?
With sod you are buying a lawn that is already grown. Ours spends nine months on our farm, getting fed and mowed before it is ever cut. Then the crew rebuilds your soil and lays it in a day. Seed is cheap to buy, but you pay for it in time, water and bare spots while it tries to fill in.
Do you sell seeding?
No. We only install sod. Seed has a hard time on Atlantic County sand. The top layer dries out within hours on a sunny day, and a hard rain or a strong wind can wash or blow it away. We would rather give you a finished lawn on day one.
What kind of grass do you lay?
A tall fescue blend we grow ourselves on our farm in Tabernacle, NJ. It grows for nine months before harvest, and we cut it the morning of your install. It sends roots deep, handles dry spells well and stays green through most of the year.
Will that grass hold up near the ocean?
Tall fescue copes well with the sun, wind and salt spray you get on Brigantine, Ventnor, Margate and Longport. The bigger risk on the islands is the sand under it. That is why we build a layer of composted topsoil before any sod goes down.
What about the sandy soil out in the Pinelands?
Towns like Hammonton, Mays Landing and Egg Harbor City sit on fast-draining Pinelands sand. It is also on the sour side. We spread lime to fix the pH and add composted topsoil so the ground can hold water. Then the roots have something to grab.
What month is best to lay sod here?
September through mid October is our favorite stretch. The ground is still warm from summer, which pushes roots, and the cooler air means less watering. Late April through early June is the next best window. Sod can go down in summer too, but it needs more water.
Can I get sod laid in October?
Yes. Early and mid October are strong months for sod in South Jersey. The soil is warm and the weeds are slowing down. Later in the fall the grass still roots, but slower, so plan on steady watering until the cold sets in.
How late in the year can sod go in?
We suggest mid October as the target for the best rooting. Sod can still go down after that, as long as the ground is not frozen. A very late lawn will rest for the winter and finish rooting in the spring.
How should I get the ground ready?
If we do the job, you do nothing. We pull the old turf, loosen and grade the ground, add composted topsoil, and spread lime and starter fertilizer. If you are laying sod on your own, aim for a firm, level bed that sits about an inch below your walks, so the finished lawn ends up flush.
Can sod go right on top of bare sand?
It will look fine for a couple of weeks and then struggle. Plain sand holds almost no water or food, so the roots stall and the grass browns in the first hot spell. A layer of good topsoil or compost under the sod is what keeps it alive.
How often do I water new sod?
For the first two weeks, keep the soil under the sod damp all the time. That often means a few short runs a day. After that, cut back to fewer and longer soaks. Water early in the morning. Sand dries fast, so check by lifting a corner. The soil should feel moist, not soggy and not dusty.
Who waters the lawn after install day?
You do. We set you up with a written watering plan that fits your soil and the season. On lawns over about 1,500 square feet we install the sod with a sprinkler system, since a hose cannot keep that much new grass wet.
Do I really need sprinklers?
On lawns larger than about 1,500 square feet, yes. Atlantic County sand drains fast, and a new lawn that dries out in its first few weeks may not come back. A new zoned system usually costs $2,850 to $3,950. If you already have one, we check that it works first.
What does the 30 days of aftercare include?
We do not lay the lawn and leave. We come back for the first cut and the second feeding. Any piece that fails to root in that first month gets replaced at no charge, as long as the watering plan was followed.
When can I walk on new sod?
Stay off it for the first two weeks while the roots grab hold. After that, light walking is fine. Try a gentle tug on a corner. If it does not lift, the roots are in. Keep heavy play and dogs off until about a month in.
When is the first mow?
Usually around three to four weeks after install, once the roots are holding. We come back for that first cut as part of your aftercare. Never take more than a third of the blade off at once.
How long does the install take?
Most lawns are done in a single day. The crew strips the old grass, preps the soil, lays the rolls and rolls them flat with a 300 lb roller before they leave. When sprinklers are part of the job, those go in first.
Can I just buy sod delivered and lay it myself?
Yes. Delivered sod is about $0.55 to $0.80 a square foot, with a $250 minimum order. We do not offer pickups. Plan to lay it the same day it arrives, because cut grass loses freshness fast.
Which towns do you cover?
All of Atlantic County. That includes Atlantic City, Brigantine, Ventnor City, Margate City and Longport on the islands, the bay towns from Absecon to Somers Point, and inland towns like Galloway, Egg Harbor Township, Hammonton, Mays Landing, Buena Vista and Estell Manor.
Does a quote cost anything?
No. Quotes are free and you are never locked in. Send your address through our quote page and we will measure the lawn from aerial photos and text you a written price.
Still wondering about something?
Send us a call or a text. Someone from our crew will write back to you.