Some sod jobs fit on one truck. This one needed a calendar.
A Fort Myers landscaper we work with again and again called with a big one: a St. Augustine Floratam install around a group of condo towers on Fort Myers Beach. The property sits right on the beach, so the lawn meets the sand at a low seawall, with a pool deck, palms, and the Gulf a few steps away.
The landscaper was installing the irrigation and grading the site, so we didn't lay the whole lawn in one push. We worked in phases. Each time an area was ready, Sunshine Sod grew the Floratam, delivered fresh pallets, and laid that section. By the end of fall 2026 we had made several trips and installed 100+ pallets, more than 40,000 square feet of Floratam for one of our favorite landscapers and customers.
These photos were taken from the air after the work was done. They show what more than 100 pallets of Floratam looks like at a beachfront condo.
Photos from this Sunshine Sod project
Start at the seawall. On one side there's sand, and on the other the grass runs all the way to the building. The low wall and the rock-and-plant bed along it are the only things between the beach and the lawn. That edge is why the install had to be planned so carefully. The sod meets a fixed hardscape line here, so it has to be cut and fitted neatly, and the grade behind it has to drain water away the right way. The landscaper's grading set that surface. Our job was to supply and lay sod that sat tight against it.
A big lawn installed in phases
Not every section was flat. The side yard rises from the beach toward the property line, and it got the same full coverage as the open lawn out front. Phasing helps on a job like this. The landscaper finishes the irrigation and grading in one area, we sod it, and the crews move on. Nobody walks pallets across finished turf or new irrigation lines that aren't ready yet.
Large jobs for a landscaper usually work this way. The landscaper runs the property and the overall landscape plan, and Sunshine Sod grows the sod, delivers it, and installs it, timed to their schedule. Our sod installation support for landscapers and contractors page explains how that split of work usually goes.
From the beach, the size of the job is easy to see. The lawn fills the whole gap between buildings, broken only by new palms and beds. On a commercial or multi-building property like this, the turf is the first thing residents and guests see when they step off the sand. For more about larger properties, see our commercial sod installation in Florida page.
Look closer and you can see the details that make a fit-out job slow: palm trunks, bed edges, and the walk out to the pool. Every one of those spots needs cut pieces fitted by hand. Big open areas go quickly. The edges are what make a lawn look finished.
Why St. Augustine Floratam on a barrier-island lawn
Floratam is the most widely produced and used St. Augustinegrass in Florida, according to UF/IFAS. A few of its traits suit a property like this one:
- Sun. UF/IFAS notes that Floratam doesn't persist well with less than about six hours of direct sun a day. A wide-open beachfront lawn gets plenty. Lawn areas tucked tight against tall buildings are the spots to watch over time.
- Salt air. UF/IFAS describes St. Augustinegrass as having relatively good salt tolerance and says it can handle some salt spray. It can't be irrigated with salt water, and it doesn't hold up to the salt levels that seashore paspalum is bred for. For properties with flooding or brackish-water problems, see our SeaScape seashore paspalum project in Bokeelia.
- Sandy soil. Island soil drains fast, which is good during summer storms but hard on young roots. The prep matters, and the landscaper's grading and irrigation did that work here. Our guide to prepping sandy soil for sod in Southwest Florida covers the basics.
- Mowing and care. Standard Floratam is usually mowed at 3.5–4 inches. UF/IFAS also notes it's prone to chinch bugs and gray leaf spot, so the maintenance crew should know exactly what they're cutting.
Want to compare it with other options? See our St. Augustine sod page or Florida sod varieties compared.
The first weeks after the sod goes down
New sod on sandy island soil needs steady moisture until the roots grip, not a soaking. The usual pattern is short, frequent watering in the first week or so to keep the sod and the top few inches of soil moist. Watering then tapers off as the roots take hold, which you can check by giving a corner a gentle tug and feeling it resist. Phasing adds a wrinkle. Each section was laid on a different day, so each one is at a different stage of rooting, and the irrigation schedule should follow that.
Lee County properties fall under South Florida Water Management District rules and any local ordinances, so check the current watering allowances for new lawns before setting the timers. Our article Do you need to water every day after laying sod in Florida? walks through the establishment stages.
A repeat landscaper, a repeat call
Our favorite part of this job isn't in any photo. The landscaper who called us has hired us many times before. When a Fort Myers landscaper with a big beachfront job picks up the phone and calls Sunshine Sod again, that says more than any brochure could.
Planning a similar Fort Myers Beach or Fort Myers project?
Whether you're a landscaper with a phased job or a property manager with a big lawn to replace, call Sunshine Sod at (239) 451-4930 or send your project details. Tell us the property location, the approximate area, your turf requirements, access, and the timeline you're working with. See our Fort Myers sod services page for more.
FAQ
What is the best sod for a Fort Myers Beach property?
It depends on sun, salt exposure, traffic, and how much maintenance you want. St. Augustinegrass is the most common lawn grass in Florida, and Floratam is its most widely used cultivar. It works well on sunny, open coastal lawns like this condo property. Seashore paspalum is the specialist pick for heavy salt exposure, and some zoysias are worth looking at for shadier or high-traffic areas. Tell us about the site and we'll help match the grass to it.
Is St. Augustine Floratam salt tolerant?
Fairly. UF/IFAS describes St. Augustinegrass as having relatively good salt tolerance, enough to handle some salt spray. It shouldn't be irrigated with salt water, and areas that flood with salt or brackish water may need a more salt-tolerant grass like seashore paspalum.
How much sun does Floratam need?
UF/IFAS notes that Floratam doesn't persist well in spots that get less than about six hours of sunlight a day. Lawn areas shaded by buildings or dense trees may need a more shade-tolerant cultivar.
How long does new sod take to root in Southwest Florida?
In warm weather, St. Augustine roots in fairly quickly. Rooting time depends on the season, the soil, and the watering, so check with a gentle tug instead of going by the calendar. When the sod resists, you can start cutting back on watering.
What affects the cost of a large sod installation?
The grass type, the total area, site access, how many trips or phases the job needs, and how much prep (removal, grading, irrigation) is involved. Call us with your project details for current pricing.
Does Sunshine Sod work with landscapers and contractors?
Yes. On this job the landscaper handled the irrigation and grading, and Sunshine Sod grew, delivered, and installed the sod in phases to match their schedule. We do this often for landscapers across Southwest Florida.
Related services
- Sod installation for landscapers and contractors
- Commercial sod installation in Florida
- St. Augustine sod
- Fort Myers sod services
- Sod delivery in Florida
- Florida topsoil and grading
Similar projects
- Floratam sod replacement at Bay Isles, Longboat Key (another barrier island, also Floratam)
- SeaScape seashore paspalum in Bokeelia (a coastal Lee County lawn with salt exposure)
- Waterfront sod installation at Morningside Park, Miami (a large, phased waterfront install)
- Empire Zoysia for a landscaper near Naples Airport (repeat landscaper work)
- Shadow Wood Preserve sod replacement, Fort Myers
- All Sunshine Sod projects
