Sanibel • Lee County
Sod Installation in Sanibel, FL
New sod on Sanibel runs into three sets of rules. The first is how much lawn a lot can have: the city's code caps non-native sod as a share of the parcel in most zones and prohibits exotic sod and grasses inside it. The second is fertilizer. Sanibel's ordinance bans fertilizer containing nitrogen or phosphorus from July 1 through September 30, which is a month later than Lee County's ban, keeps fertilizer at least 25 feet from lakes, canals, wetlands and the Sanibel Slough all year, and keeps it out of roadside swales. The third is water, covered by the city's own irrigation ordinance, which allows extra watering for new lawns for a set period. For grass type, UF/IFAS rates St. Augustinegrass as having good salt tolerance, which matters on an island that took a heavy surge in Hurricane Ian. Hodges strips the old turf, grades for drainage, and lays new sod within the area the lot allows.
or call (239) 301-9455
Where it comes up in Sanibel
Shell Harbor
Gumbo Limbo
Santiva
Plants and materials that suit it in Sanibel
Questions
Is there a limit on how much lawn I can have on Sanibel?
Yes. The city's code limits non-native sod to a portion of each parcel and prohibits exotic sod and grasses in the Gulf Beach Zone. The exact limit depends on your zone and lot, so check with the city before expanding a lawn.
When can I fertilize new sod on the island?
Not from July 1 through September 30, when Sanibel bans fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorus. The rest of the year, city guidance calls for 2 percent phosphorus or less, half the nitrogen slow-release, and no more than 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per application.
Which grass handles Sanibel's salt?
St. Augustinegrass, including Floratam, and zoysia are the practical choices UF/IFAS points homeowners toward for salt. Seashore paspalum tolerates more salt but needs heavy maintenance. In the Gulf Beach Zone, native groundcovers take the place of turf.