Sod vs. Seed

[fool32696]

I just priced out a sod job for a customer yesterday. The lawn is a little over 3000 sq ft and I quoted around $2000 for sod. I received an email today saying that they're looking to save money and want to look into seed rather than sod. I have a number of companies that I buy sod from but where would I get seed? Also their lawn has some slope to it and I think erosion would cause problems with seed. They want Argentine Bahiagrass

[JNyz]

Talk them into sodding it.

[fool32696]

I've been thinking about this all day and I've decided against seeding for them. If I can find someone locally to hydroseed, I'll keep that as an option to maybe save them a little.

[JNyz]

Get out there and sell them that sod job. If you don't have too much grading to do you got it priced right. At 80 bucks a pallet you have 1500.00 for labor. Less then a day you will walk with 1000.00. I would try to get that job.

[Smallaxe]

I just priced out a sod job for a customer yesterday. The lawn is a little over 3000 sq ft and I quoted around $2000 for sod. I received an email today saying that they're looking to save money and want to look into seed rather than sod. I have a number of companies that I buy sod from but where would I get seed? Also their lawn has some slope to it and I think erosion would cause problems with seed. They want Argentine Bahiagrass

Why are you afraid of dealing with slopes and erosion? As long as the client understands they will have to pay for any additional problems after you seed.
Do they have enough sense to understand about watering seed?

[fool32696]

In my experience here in Florida, the downpours we get will move the seed around and you end up with bare spots and clumps.

[JNyz]

Use an erosion barrier.

[Rcgm]

Get out there and sell them that sod job. If you don't have too much grading to do you got it priced right. At 80 bucks a pallet you have 1500.00 for labor. Less then a day you will walk with 1000.00. I would try to get that job.

I AGREE. Sell that job boy.:)

Just think about it for a few minutes. How many people you know make 1000.00 a day ? In my case not very many. If it was my job I would figure out how much I would walk with and if it was 1000 dollars I would say you don't want to seed. Because by the time you get this yard as thick as sod by overseeding it and aerating it you would have spent more on seed than sod. See what they say then. If they still said no I would then say I really like you and want to help you out and want your future business and I can come down 100 dollars. If they still said no I would then say well thank you for your time and letting me estimate the job but that is th ebest I can do.

RCGM
brad

[Smallaxe]

Are you laying carpet or building a landscape? Sod is a high price which cuts into your profit margin - only to be used when nothing else works.

If you seed in the fall - rake the slope into position for new growth in the spring. If the whole thing washes out , you are back to sod. With proper irrigation and seeding you can blend into established turf (or sod) inside a month.

Let me 'qualify' that statement , by saying, 'This is true of cool season grasses in the midwest and may not be the experience of grasses grown elsewhere.'

[Sunstate Lawn]

We gents from Florida barely know what seeding is. Lately with the drought you could probably make it work. Make sure you understand how to seed. Most of us don't. A seed job is better than sitting at home all day.

Are you getting pallets for $80 bucks?

[JNyz]

In PA. pallets picked up were about 80.00 last fall.

[JNyz]

[QUOTE=Smallaxe;2223601]Are you laying carpet or building a landscape? Sod is a high price which cuts into your profit margin - only to be used when nothing else works.

I don't agree with that. You can have a beautiful lawn in just a few hours. We just did a 17,000 sq ft job[no grading] in one day. The client called twice to thank
us. I would not have gotten that call if we seeded.

[Smallaxe]

[QUOTE=Smallaxe;2223601]Are you laying carpet or building a landscape? Sod is a high price which cuts into your profit margin - only to be used when nothing else works.

I don't agree with that. You can have a beautiful lawn in just a few hours. We just did a 17,000 sq ft job[no grading] in one day. The client called twice to thank
us. I would not have gotten that call if we seeded.

I thought low cost and high return were the requisites here. Sorry.

[Atlantic Lawn]

We did a seed job with Pensacola Bahia, used Excelsior mat. Had water on it and did great.

[Sunscaper]

I do hydroseed in florida first off. Bahia seed needs 85% to germinate and ALOT of water due to the sandy soils and perklation rates. The water then wahses out the seed sausing alot of spotty seeding. Avoid seeding in Florida. you can sub the job out the a sod company for $.19 per s.f. and make good money. Go down to $1500.00 pocket roughly $500.00 difference and call it a day. Don't listen to northern guys about seed. I used to hydroseed in PA COMPLETE different pricing and ballgame there.

[ken0564]

stupid of the day...how do you guys price these sod jobs? I have a small area (2000sf) that will need minimal raking and I'll bring in soil mix to top it off prior to laying the sod. I know how to cover my cost of all materials but I'm curious as to how long I should anticiapte this taking. I think I can prep in a day and lay sod the next. I know there are a million variables but just looking for something in general so flame away. Thanks.

I should add that it will be myself with two others. Install is not my usual gig but this longtime client insists that we do it. I am also debating on subing this out.

[JNyz]

What's your day rate, multiply by two days and mark up your material 35%.

[Turboguy]

There are a lot of good posts here and a lot of good thoughts. I would like to throw out my two cents worth.

First, everyones ideas are good. Those who suggest selling the sod have a good point but I think they have overlooked one thing in the original question. That is the part I have highlighted.

I just priced out a sod job for a customer yesterday. The lawn is a little over 3000 sq ft and I quoted around $2000 for sod. I received an email today saying that they're looking to save money and want to look into seed rather than sod. I have a number of companies that I buy sod from but where would I get seed? Also their lawn has some slope to it and I think erosion would cause problems with seed. They want Argentine Bahiagrass

I always believe in giving the customer what he wants and not what will make me the most money. The exception is if what he wants is not in his best interest.

The customer is looking for a cheaper alternative to Sod.

The next question becomes is hydro seeding a viable alternative to sod to save the customer some money.

I will agree totally with those who say seeding in Florida is a world of difference vs seeding in the north. Most of my hydro seeding has been in PA but I have hydro seeded in Florida, Georgia, the Caribbean and as far away as Baku Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea south of Russia. I have seeded with Bahia, Bermuda, Centipede and most of the southern grasses.

A decade ago Hydro Seeding was not popular in Florida. That is not the case any more. The Hydro Seeding Association is planning one of it's 4 regional meetings for Pensacola because Florida is now one of the top states for it's membership. Hydro Seeding will work in Florida. I see nothing wrong with the idea of subing out the hydro seeding and making the customer happy. The slopes won't be a problem. That is where hydro seeding began as a way to seed slopes.

If you need help finding a good hydro seeding contractor if you visit the hydroseeding association website at www.hydroseeding.org and look on the top right of the home page you will find a link to locate local contractors in your area. Click that link and you will find many to choose from in your region.

[DeereHauler]

i would rather see sod. great results, in less time. the customer sees a nice green lawn instantly, and i can make good money installing it. whoever said the crap about using it as a last resort needs to look into it better.

if a customer wants to save money seed may not be any better alternative. think of all the care, fertilizing, weed control, watering, and overseeding it takes to get anything close to looking like sod. and if you get run off, or erosion that needs to be repaired, and if you use erosion control products that costs extra, where sod is the erosion control.

[KanAg]

Seems like maybe a job for FlexTerra or some simular product.

[PlatinumLandCon]

Sell the sod. Tell them the screwing around they'll do to make the seed job look as good as the sodding won't be worth it and won't even end up saving them much money. Watering is a PITA, grass takes weeks to grow, never gets as thick as sod, etc etc. I would sell a sod job until I was blue in the face because of how much better it looks.

[fool32696]

I couldn't find anyone willing to drive to Gainesville to do a 3000ft hydroseeding job. These customers don't like talking in person or on the phone and had me email them quotes of all of the work that they wanted done. I'll let you guys know what happens as soon as I hear from them.