Service · Tampa, FL
Sod Removal & Lawn Replacement in Tampa
When a lawn is too far gone to save, we cut it out with a sod cutter, haul it away, regrade the sand and lay fresh sod, usually within the same visit.
Replacing a failing Tampa lawn the right way
Most lawn replacements in Tampa start the same way. A sunny Floratam yard develops yellow patches along the driveway in May, the patches turn straw-brown and spread, and by July half the lawn is gone. Chinch bugs are the usual cause, but large patch fungus after a wet fall, years of dollarweed and torpedograss in low spots, or simply putting St. Augustine under a growing oak canopy can get you to the same place. Once more than a third of the lawn is dead or weeds, patching it piece by piece usually costs more than starting over.
Starting over properly means getting the old lawn out. Laying new sod on top of dead thatch and weed roots is the most common shortcut in this business, and it is why so many “new” lawns look tired a year later. The old layer stays spongy, dries out fast on sand, and weeds come right back through the seams. We remove it.
How we remove old sod
For most yards we use a walk-behind sod cutter, which slices under the root mat at an even depth and lifts the old turf in strips that can be rolled and loaded. On weedy lawns, especially those with torpedograss or other aggressive spreading weeds, we usually spray a non-selective herbicide first and wait for it to work before cutting. Otherwise the roots left in the sand can push up through the new sod. Strips go onto the truck and off your property. We do not bury them or pile them behind the shed.
What a full lawn replacement includes
- A walk-through to find the real cause, such as chinch bugs, fungus, shade, drainage or irrigation gaps, so the new lawn does not fail the same way.
- Weed kill where needed, followed by sod cutting at an even depth.
- Loading and hauling off all old turf, thatch and debris.
- Regrading the exposed sand, filling low spots and sloping water away from the house.
- Sprinkler check and head adjustment, since old heads are often buried or tilted.
- New sod laid in staggered rows, rolled and soaked, plus a written watering plan for the first 60 days.
Lawn replacement pricing
Full replacement with Floratam is priced as one per-square-foot number that covers removal, haul-off, light grading and the new sod. Other grasses cost more because the sod itself costs more. For the full picture, see our Tampa sod cost breakdown.
| Job | Typical range | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Full tear-out & Floratam replacement | $1.05 – $1.65/sq ft | Weed load, access, grading needed |
| Old sod removal & haul-off only | $0.25 – $0.50/sq ft | Thatch depth, haul distance |
| Bed prep & leveling | $0.30 – $0.75/sq ft | Low spots, weed kill, slope |
| Fill / leveling sand, spread | $45 – $65/cubic yard | Depth of low areas |
| Spot repair (patch replacement) | $450 minimum | Number and size of patches |
Why full removal pays off
A replaced lawn should look even from day one. When the old turf is fully removed, the new sod sits flat against clean sand instead of riding over lumps of dead thatch. Regrading during the tear-out also fixes the dips where water ponded every afternoon in August, which is often where dollarweed took over in the first place. On older lots in Seminole Heights or Temple Terrace we often find sprinkler heads buried an inch or two below grade. Raising them now is far easier than digging through new sod later.
Choosing the replacement grass
Do not assume the replacement has to match what was there before. A yard that keeps losing Floratam to oak shade may do better with CitraBlue, Palmetto or Empire Zoysia. A big back lot in Lutz that never gets watered may be better off with Argentine Bahia. If you are in an HOA, check the approved list first, because Westchase, New Tampa and many Riverview communities have rules on grass type. Our best sod for Tampa guide covers the trade-offs.
Where we replace lawns
We handle tear-outs and replacements in Seminole Heights, Hyde Park, South Tampa, Carrollwood, Town ’n’ Country, Westchase, Riverview and Brandon. If your lawn is mostly healthy and only needs new turf over prepared ground, see sod installation. For grading-heavy jobs, bed prep & leveling covers the details.
Questions
Lawn Replacement FAQs
A full tear-out and Floratam replacement typically runs $1.05 to $1.65 per square foot, which covers removal, haul-off, light grading and new sod. A 3,000 square foot yard usually lands between $3,150 and $4,950. Shade-tolerant St. Augustine or Zoysia costs more because the sod costs more.
Yes. New sod laid over dead thatch and weed roots sits on a spongy layer that dries out quickly on Tampa sand and never roots well. Weeds such as torpedograss also grow right back through. Cutting the old lawn out gives the new sod clean contact with the soil.
If less than about a third of the lawn is dead and the cause is under control, targeted patching and treatment usually make sense. If more than that is gone, or the lawn is mostly weeds, replacement is often cheaper over a couple of years. We will tell you honestly which side of that line you are on.
In sunny Tampa yards, chinch bugs are the most common cause. Look for yellow-to-brown patches that start near driveways and sidewalks during dry, hot weather. Large patch fungus shows up as tan rings in cooler, wet months. Heavy oak shade causes slow thinning. We look at the pattern and the timing before we recommend a fix.
Most yards are done in one to two days. If torpedograss or other tough weeds need to be sprayed first, there is a waiting period of about one to two weeks before cutting so the herbicide can reach the roots.
We load it onto our truck and haul it off-site. We do not bury old sod on your property or leave it in a pile.
Yes. Regrading is part of a full replacement. Once the old turf is off, we fill dips with leveling sand and slope the surface away from the house so afternoon storms drain instead of ponding.
Yes, and it is often a good idea. Shaded yards may do better with CitraBlue, Palmetto or Empire Zoysia, and large, rarely watered lots may suit Argentine Bahia. Check your HOA’s approved list first, because many Tampa communities require St. Augustine.
New lawns usually qualify for an establishment period, typically any-day watering in the first 30 days and a limited schedule in days 31 to 60, within allowed hours. Confirm the details with your utility and keep the invoice as proof of the install date.
If a section fails because of our workmanship, we come back and fix it. Results also depend on following the written watering plan, so we go through it with you before we leave.
Related
Other yard work we do
Ready to replace that tired lawn?
We will walk the yard, tell you what killed the old grass and give you a flat written price for tear-out, haul-off and new sod.
Mon–Sat 7:00am–7:00pm · Licensed & insured · Serving Tampa, Brandon, Riverview & all of Hillsborough County