Pine Island • Lee County
Sod Installation in Pine Island, FL
Sod choice on Pine Island depends on how close the lawn sits to salt water and how much care you want to give it. UF/IFAS describes St. Augustinegrass as having relatively good salt tolerance, which makes it a reasonable fit for many canal-side yards in St. James City and Matlacha. Seashore paspalum tolerates salt even better, but UF/IFAS does not recommend it for home lawns because of the maintenance it demands. On larger inland lots around Pine Island Center and Bokeelia, bahiagrass is a lower-input option for owners who would rather not irrigate heavily. Hodges strips the old turf, grades the surface so water flows away from the house and off the septic drain field, and rolls the new sod so seams close tight. Timing matters. With once-a-week watering in unincorporated Lee County through the spring of 2026, a lawn started near the beginning of the rainy season needs far less hand watering to root in.
or call (239) 301-9455
Where it comes up in Pine Island
Matlacha
Pine Island Center
Bokeelia
Plants and materials that suit it in Pine Island
Questions
Is seashore paspalum worth it for my waterfront lawn?
Probably not for most homeowners. It has excellent salt tolerance, but UF/IFAS does not recommend it for home lawns because it needs so much maintenance. A St. Augustine cultivar with salt-tolerant beds along the seawall is usually easier to live with.
Can new sod go over my septic drain field?
Grass is a common cover over drain fields. The risk is in the installation: heavy machines compact the field and deep cutting can disturb it. We work light over the field and keep grading there to a minimum.
Will Floratam hold up out here?
It does well in full sun with steady irrigation, but UF/IFAS notes chinch bugs are now a major pest of Floratam and its shade tolerance is poor. Large unirrigated lots may be better off in bahiagrass.