NewSt. Augustine
Fusion St. Augustine
Bayside Sod’s patent-pending blend of four St. Augustine genotypes, for yards in full sun to moderate shade.
Sod for Sale on Florida’s Gulf Coast
Discover the Best Sod for Sale Florida.
Bayside Sod is a fifth-generation Florida sod farm in Bradenton that grows warm-season grasses and sells them farm-direct across the Gulf Coast, from St. Petersburg and Brandon south through Sarasota to Venice and North Port.
Where We Deliver
Four Gulf Coast Counties, All Within a Truck Run of the Farm
Fresh-cut sod needs to be on the ground within a day, so we deliver where the farm can reach.
Manatee County
Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Parrish, Palmetto, and Ellenton
Home of the farm. Free homeowner delivery in Bradenton.
Sarasota County
Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Venice, and North Port
Free homeowner delivery in Sarasota.
South Pinellas County
St. Petersburg and the south county beaches
Delivered across the Sunshine Skyway; fee quoted with the order.
Hillsborough County
Brandon, Riverview, Ruskin, Apollo Beach, and Sun City Center
Fee quoted with the order; a Ruskin store for pickup.
Florida Grasses
Seven Warm-Season Varieties Grown on Our Bradenton Farm
Cool-season grasses do not survive a Florida summer. These do.
Bahia
Bahia
Drought and heat tolerant, low maintenance, and the only variety that does not need an irrigation system.
Bermuda
Bimini Bermuda
A fine-bladed Bermuda for full sun and heavy traffic, from backyards to sports turf.
St. Augustine
Bitterblue St. Augustine
Shade tolerant for yards with up to 60 percent shade, and holds up to pets and moderate traffic.
Zoysia
CitraZoy Zoysia
A University of Florida zoysia with a finer blade than EMPIRE and improved disease resistance, for a soft lawn.
St. Augustine
Floratam St. Augustine
The most common St. Augustine in the area, best for yards with about 80 percent sun.
Ready to Price Your Order?
Tell us the city, the variety, and the square footage, and we will quote it with delivery or installation.
Florida Conditions
One Watering Day a Week Across the Gulf Coast, and a 60-Day Exception for New Sod
Every county we deliver to is under the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Modified Phase III water shortage order, extended on September 22, 2026 through March 31, 2027 after two dry rainy seasons left the region 15.4 inches short of normal rainfall. You may water an established lawn one day a week, by address, whether you are on city water or a private well. New sod gets a 60-day establishment period, any day for the first 30 days and three days a week for the next 30, and HOAs may not enforce standards that require more water. Register the variance before the install; our Manatee and Sarasota county guides walk through it.
Florida’s other lawn variable is salt. Hurricane Helene’s surge in September 2024 and Milton’s landfall on Siesta Key that October put lawns from St. Pete to Venice under salt water, and a surge-damaged lawn needs the dead turf removed and the soil checked before new sod goes down. Our hurricane soil guide covers the steps.
Why Farm-Direct Matters in Florida Heat
Sod is a living product, and in Florida heat a pallet that sits on a truck or a lot for two days is already stressed before it is laid. We cut ours the day it ships, from fields you can see from the farm store, which is why we can guarantee it: if the quality disappoints you on arrival, we replace it or refund your money.
4.9 out of 5 stars from 253 Google reviews
Compare Varieties
Grass Comparison Based on Key Characteristics
| Variety | Sun and shade | Irrigation | Drought resistance | Foot traffic | Maintenance | Establishment time | Blade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bahia | Good for full sun, limited for shade | Irrigation required only to establish | Good to excellent | Moderate to good wear, moderate foot traffic | Low | Moderate | Medium width and texture |
| Bimini Bermuda | Excellent for full sun, limited for shade | Permanent irrigation recommended | Good | Good wear, moderate to heavy foot traffic | Moderate | Moderate to fast | Fine texture, narrow, and pointed |
| Bitterblue St. Augustine | Good for full sun, moderate for shade | Permanent irrigation required | Moderate | Good wear, moderate foot traffic | Moderate | Moderate | Broad and coarse |
| CitraZoy Zoysia | Good for full sun, limited for shade | Permanent irrigation required | Moderate | Good wear, moderate foot traffic | Moderate | Moderate to slow | Fine to medium texture, narrow leaf blade |
| EMPIRE Zoysia | Good for full sun, limited for shade | Permanent irrigation required | Moderate | Good wear, moderate foot traffic | Moderate | Moderate to slow | Fine to medium texture, narrow leaf blade |
| Floratam St. Augustine | Good for full sun, limited for shade | Permanent irrigation required | Moderate | Good wear, moderate foot traffic | Moderate | Moderate | Broad and coarse |
| Fusion St. Augustine | Thrives in full sun and moderate shade | Permanent irrigation required | Moderate | Good wear, moderate foot traffic | Routine inputs, the same as any St. Augustine lawn | Moderate | Broad and coarse |
Florida Sod Questions
Where We Deliver, Which Grasses, What It Costs, and When to Lay It
Where in Florida does Bayside Sod deliver?
Manatee, Sarasota, South Pinellas, and Hillsborough counties on Florida’s Gulf Coast: Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, Venice, North Port, St. Petersburg, Brandon, and Ruskin, plus the towns between them. We do not ship sod statewide; fresh-cut sod needs to be on the ground within a day, so we stay within a truck run of the farm.
What grasses grow best in Florida?
Warm-season grasses: St. Augustine (Floratam, Bitterblue, ProVista), zoysia (EMPIRE, CitraZoy), Bermuda (Bimini), and Bahia. Cool-season grasses like fescue and bluegrass do not survive a Florida summer. St. Augustine is the most common Florida lawn; Bahia is the one that lives without irrigation.
How much does sod cost in Florida?
At our farm a single piece (16 by 24 inches, 2.67 sq ft) is $3.75. A pallet covers 400 sq ft and is priced by variety; call (941) 702-1746 for today’s price. Installation runs $1.00 to $1.75 per square foot depending on the job.
Can I lay sod in Florida during the water restrictions?
Yes. The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s one-day-per-week order runs through March 31, 2027 across our whole delivery area, but new lawns get a 60-day establishment period: any day for 30 days, then three days a week. Register the variance before installation; our Manatee and Sarasota county guides have the contacts.
When is the best time to lay sod in Florida?
Any month, because warm-season grasses grow year-round here. Sod laid in the rainy season, June through September, needs less hand watering to establish; sod laid in the dry season roots fine with the 60-day establishment watering. We harvest and install year-round.
Do you sell to landscapers and builders?
Yes. Wholesale sod is most of what we cut, by the pallet or the truckload, delivered to the job site. See our small landscaper and large landscaper pages.
Is Turf Care available across your Florida delivery area?
In Manatee and Sarasota counties. Plans start at $79 a month and include soil testing. See Turf Care plans.
Free Quotes
Get Florida Sod Straight From the Farm
Call the farm or send the quote form with your city and square footage, and we will price it with delivery or installation.