"SJE" wrote in message
news
I have a new house that has no landscaping in the back. I want to sod
St Augustine, but due to the size (probably 4000 sq ft or so) the cost
concerns me. Would it be okay to checker squares (the full
rectangular piece that comes in the pallets, not plug size) of sod? I
was thinking of just laying it down so the corners meet, maybe some
overlap, so I would need 40-50% less sod. Would this work? I don't
mind if it takes some time to establish, I just don't want the sod to
die and have to start over again. Would there be problems with the
grass not being level?

The ground is soft clay/sand, properly graded.

No. Don't do it. Just lay the sod with no overlap and no gaps. The areas
between your pieces, if you "checkerboard" will never fill correctly.
There's around 500 sq feet of sod on a pallet so you are going to need at
least 8 pallets. If you buy it yourself and lay it yourself you can do it
for as little as $100 per pallet.