Guide to Sod in Atlanta: Prices, Installation & Varieties

When it comes to sodding your new lawn in Atlanta, Georgia, there are two options to consider:

Hiring a Landscaping Company

Opting for a professional landscaping service offers an all-inclusive, effortless experience. Their expert teams handle all aspects, from acquiring top-notch sod to ground preparation, ensuring the delivery of sod to your location, and executing the turf installation.

Cost: This option is ideal if you prefer a full-service, hassle-free approach. The cost encompasses not only the sod but also skilled labor, project coordination, and typically, a guarantee of service. Prices start at around $300 per pallet for the sod, with installation costs often doubling that amount.

DIY: Purchasing from Sod Farms or Brokers

Looking to cut costs? Consider sod farms as your go-to choice. Opting for this do-it-yourself method can be challenging, yet it offers considerable savings for homeowners.

Cost: By purchasing directly from sod farms, especially those near Atlanta, you can find prices as low as $200 per pallet when buying in bulk. However, be prepared to handle the pickup of the sod yourself.

DIY: The flip side of this cost-effective option is the hands-on work required for self-installation. Bear in mind that many sod farms require a minimum order, usually several pallets, which typically cover a space of over 1000 square feet.

Poor Online Support: Expect a no-frills online experience when dealing with most sod farms. Their websites are often rudimentary, so getting information about availability and prices might require a direct phone call or initiating an email inquiry.

Sod Supplier & Delivery Distance

Atlanta has a population of roughly 490,270, which can be a double-edged sword when it comes to landscaping pricing. This means that sod companies in Atlanta may charge more to cover the cost of living in a larger city. But at the same time you will have more options to choose from, so make sure to get multiple quotes. Prices can vary wildly!

Preparation Work

The following factors can make a huge difference in the cost and either save you or cost you big time:

• Regrading: Need to flatten your yard? This can vary pricing wise but expect to pay roughly $0.55 per square foot extra on average.
• Soil needs: If it's new construction or you have poor soil, you may need to add topsoil. Expect to pay somewhere in the ballpark of $0.25 per square foot for this.
• Removal of existing sod: If you have existing grass that needs to go, this can cost an additional $0.45 per square foot.
• Removal of other debris: Let's just say you have lot's of pebbles and rocks in your soil. It's going to cost extra to remove those.

Installation Labor Costs

The next thing to consider pricing wise is the cost of labor. Here are some of the factors that can influence labor costs:

• Ease of access to your yard: Is it in a back yard that's hard to access? Up on a hill that laborers have to walk up? This will add to your cost.
• Random objects: Best case scenario: it's wide open grass. If there are lots of trees, irrigation systems, or other objects this can add to labor cost.
• Time of year: Since it's a seasonal business, and there's less demand for sod in Atlanta in the winter, you can sometimes get deals in the off-season.