Most homeowners want one number before anything else. Here it is, plus what it pays for and what can change it.
The short answer
For most yards in Cape May County, a full sod install costs $2.85 per square foot. That price is the whole job, not just the grass. Every project has a $2,000 minimum. Lawns over about 1,500 square feet also need in-ground irrigation. A new zoned sprinkler system typically runs $2,850 to $3,950, depending on the number of zones and the size of the yard.
That is the full picture for most jobs. The rest of this guide explains each piece.
What $2.85 a square foot pays for
The grass itself is a small part of the bill. Most of the price is the prep and labor that make the grass live. On a normal install, the rate covers:
- Removing the old lawn. Weeds and worn-out turf come out and get hauled away.
- Composted topsoil. We spread it in layers over the sand so roots have something to hold.
- Lime and starter fertilizer. These go down before the sod, where the new roots will reach them.
- Tall fescue grown 9 months on our farm. It is cut the morning of your install, so it does not sit on a pallet for days.
- A 300 lb roller. Rolling presses the sod onto the soil and closes the seams.
- 30 days of aftercare. We come back for the first cut and the second feeding, and we replace any piece that fails to root.
If you compare quotes, check each line. A low number often means one of these steps is missing.
What common lawn sizes cost
The math is simple. Multiply your square footage by $2.85.
| Lawn size | Sod install at $2.85 |
|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $2,850 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $4,275 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $7,125 |
| 4,000 sq ft | $11,400 |
These figures are for the lawn only. Over about 1,500 square feet, a sprinkler system is part of the plan too. More on that below.
Want to run your own numbers? Try the pricing calculator.
The $2,000 project minimum
A lot of yards on the islands are small. Think of a side strip in Wildwood or a front yard on a tight lot in Sea Isle City.
Small jobs still need a crew, a truck, a soil delivery and sod cut that morning. Those costs do not shrink much with the yard. So every project has a $2,000 minimum. If your square footage times $2.85 comes to less than $2,000, your price is $2,000.
Why bigger lawns need a sprinkler system
New sod has short roots. For the first weeks it needs steady water, every day, on every square foot. Sand makes that harder because it drains fast and dries out fast.
A hose can keep up on a small patch. It cannot keep up on a big lawn. So on lawns over about 1,500 square feet, we install the sod with in-ground irrigation. If you already have a system, we check that it works and covers the whole lawn first.
A new zoned system typically costs $2,850 to $3,950. The exact number depends on how many zones your yard needs. We use Toro parts. You can read how we lay out a system on our irrigation systems page.
Why soil prep matters more in Cape May County
Much of the county sits on sand. On the barrier islands it is often sand and fill with very little organic matter. Sand drains well, but it holds almost no water or food for grass.
Laying sod straight on sand is the most common reason a new lawn browns out. That is why composted topsoil, lime and starter fertilizer are part of every install, not add-ons. The prep is what you are really paying for.
Sod only, no seed
We do not sell seeding. Seed costs less up front, but on loose shore sand it is a slow and risky way to start a lawn. It needs constant water at the surface for weeks, and wind and heavy rain can move it. Sod gives you a full lawn the day it goes down.
How to get your exact price
Text us your address through our quote page. We measure your yard from above and send back a written price. The price holds for 30 days, so you have time to think it over.
Quick answers
Does the price include taking out my old lawn? Yes. Removal and haul-away are part of the $2.85 rate on a normal install.
Is the 30 days of aftercare extra? No. It is included. We return for the first cut and the second feeding, and we replace any piece that does not root.
What if my yard is very small? Every project has a $2,000 minimum. Small yards are priced at that minimum.
Can I skip the sprinkler system on a big lawn? Not on a lawn over about 1,500 square feet. Hand watering cannot keep that much new sod alive. If you already have a working system, we check it and use it.
What kind of grass do you use? Tall fescue, grown 9 months on our New Jersey farm and cut the morning of your install.