Sod Installation in Austin, TX
Fresh St. Augustine, Zoysia, Bermuda, and Buffalo grass sod, installed right for Central Texas clay and caliche soils. Veteran-owned, 5.0-star rated, with over 20 years of design-build work across the greater Austin area. Most lawns run about $1 to $3 per square foot installed.
A new sod lawn turns a bare, patchy, or newly built yard into a green, finished space in a single day. Whether you are landscaping new construction, replacing a lawn lost to drought, or boosting curb appeal before a sale, fresh sod gives you an instant lawn instead of months of waiting on seed. Thrive Landscape and Design is a veteran-owned, design-build landscaper with over 20 years installing sod across Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties, and we hold a 5.0 Google rating from 70+ reviews. We install St. Augustine, Zoysia, Bermuda, and Buffalo grass, and we get the part you do not see right: stripping the old turf, grading for drainage, and prepping Blackland clay or caliche soil so the new sod roots. Most residential sod installation runs roughly $1 to $3 per square foot installed, and every estimate is itemized and free. To install sod the right way under current drought rules, we follow Austin Water watering guidance and grass-selection advice from Texas A&M AgriLife horticulture.
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- 500+ Projects Completed
- 20+ Years Experience
- 5.0 Google Rating
Explore Our Full Landscaping Lineup
Planting Installation
Trees, shrubs, perennials, and beds chosen for Central Texas soil and planted to thrive.
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Xeriscaping
Low-water designs with native plants, gravel, and rock that cut watering and still look lush.
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Artificial Turf
Synthetic turf for low-water, no-mow yards, pet areas, and deep shade where grass struggles.
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All Landscaping Services
See the full range of sod, planting, xeriscaping, and turf we install across Austin.
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Our Process
Free On-Site Consultation & Grass Selection
We walk the yard with you, measure the square footage, and check sun, shade, slope, and how water moves during a storm. Then we help you pick the right grass: St. Augustine for shade, Bermuda for full sun, Zoysia for a premium low-water lawn, or Buffalo grass for a xeric, native yard. You get honest options and a clear, itemized written estimate, with no pressure to decide on the spot.
Soil Prep & Grading
This is where lawns are won or lost. We strip the old grass and weeds, then grade so water runs away from the house. On Blackland clay we loosen the soil and work in compost and expanded shale to open it up, never sand. Over caliche and limestone we add quality topsoil for root depth. Then we firm and level the bed so every piece of sod meets full soil contact.
Sod Delivery & Installation
We schedule the sod to arrive fresh and lay it the same day so it never dries out on the pallet. Each piece goes down tight against the next, with seams staggered like brickwork and edges cut clean around beds, walkways, and trees. Then we roll the lawn to press the roots into the soil and remove air pockets. You get an even, seamless lawn from the first day.
Establishment Watering & Variance
New sod needs daily water to root, which can clash with Austin's once-a-week irrigation limits. New landscape is not automatically exempt, so we help you file a new-planting variance with Austin Water for daily watering during the roughly 30-day establishment window. We hand you a day-by-day watering schedule so the sod roots without wasting water or breaking the rules.
Cleanup & Follow-Up
We haul off the old turf, pallets, and debris and leave the site clean. Roots grab in 7 to 10 days, hold firm by 2 to 3 weeks, and the lawn is ready for normal mowing and watering by about week four. We check in during establishment and tell you when to take the first mow and ease off the water. You end with a healthy, rooted lawn, not just sod on dirt.
Professional Sod Installation
Travis, Luis and the crew did an amazing job on our front yard landscaping. Travis had a vision that we could've never come up with on our own. They were communicative, hard working and had incredible attention to detail. We were really impressed with our experience and will… Read more
We’ve been very impressed with Travis and his team at Thrive Landscaping. From the initial design consultation through revisions and installation, the entire process was smooth, thorough, and high quality. We needed an HOA-compliant design that improved drainage and reduced… Read more
Travis was very responsive on the pricing . Luis and the crew did an amazing job and fixed a lot of problems that the prior firm had created. Very pleasant group and seem to want to please clients.
Great people providing outstanding service. Our yard has never looked better. And best of all, they stand behind their work. If something needs attention after the job is finished, they’re right on it.
After interviewing several companies, we chose Thrive Landscape to create some hardscaping for our back yard. They installed stone paving for our patio and pool area, a gravel area for our fire ring, and a raised gravel pad for a greenhouse. Everything looks great! We had a good… Read more
Thrive replaced some dying plants in a white rock bed and left it clean and beautiful. You would never know they had been in the rock bed at all - no dirt, no disruption - they left it better than they found it!
Our neighbor a few houses down had Thrive do his property and we liked how it looked, so we decided to contact them to see what it would cost to do our house. Wanted to get rid of the sand burrs and decided to do stone, rock and mulch for the whole yard in front of the house. I… Read more
We have used Thrive landscape for several projects over the past two years. They have delivered outstanding service, careful attention to detail, and impeccable service and care after the project was complete. Travis Odom is outstanding, and his vision helped us transform our… Read more
We were very pleased with Thrive from the initial bid to the completion of the project. We had our front yard and backyard landscaped. Communication was excellent and when a couple issues occurred they were quickly resolved. The onsite crew was great to work with and were… Read more
Excellent service and advice. Knowledgeable, on time, communicative owner, and crew. This is the place you want to call for your landscaping needs! We are extremely satisfied with the outcome and will use the service again. Thank you Travis and crew.
I was really pleased with Thrive. Travis arrived exactly on time for the quote, had a great design, and was able to start quickly once the plans were approved by my HOA. The crew was polite and worked quickly. They left the whole worksite very neat, and my front yard now looks… Read more
Had grass that was dead, Travis and his team transformed my backyard in a few days!
I am a repeat customer of Travis's. He recently transformed my front yard. The design was perfect for what we wanted to accomplish and the crew did high quality work which included clean-up. I will keep coming back to him in the future.
Thrive is a very professional and excellent business - they did a wonderful job on my project and I couldn't be more pleased with the end results. Will definitely use them again!
I had an outstanding experience with Thrive. Quality, honesty, value and customer service were phenomenal! Exceeded my expectations!
Swapped out black stone that were killing my plants with mulch. Added a bunch of plants and sod. Also got my irrigation and stone walkway complete. I say it is all looking great.
I don't know where to begin. Travis and his team provided an amazing landscape design, strategy, and results on our backyard for my 50th birthday celebration. Travis was patient and very detailed with his quote and made sure he covered every detail with me. Once we decided to… Read more
I’ve done two projects with these guys to include a landscaping project where I added sod, metal planters, and plants. The second was a fence repair and both turned out great. They were fairly priced, scheduled quickly, executed on time, and worked through my lunch list at the… Read more
We chose Thrive Landscaping after a friend of ours used them for their own backyard and we could not be happier with our decision. Travis and team were incredibly professional, thorough and communicative the entire time. They added new grass, flowers, gravel and lights to our… Read more
Travis with Thrive Landscape & Design did an amazing job redesigning our backyard! They were hard-working, timely, responsive and appreciated their craftsmanship they put into the project. The space looks better than we imagined — highly recommend!
Wow! Travis and his team did an amazing job refreshing our back yard! They were professional, prompt, respectful and above all had an eye for detail! It was an absolute pleasure working with them to create our dream back yard! I highly recommend Thrive Landscape and DESIGN… Read more
Our project was the tear-out, re-design and rebuild of a fairly substantial deck. Great experience with Travis Odom and Thrive Landscape. Travis is congenial, professional and great to work with. The guys on site did excellent work. We’re very happy with the finished product and… Read more
Mr Travis Odom made an excellent, unique, and original cedar fence design that we ended up using.
Great design and construction for my landscaping project. Travis and his crew were very attentive and detailed. They also took on board our feedback and we’re very willing to evolve their designs.
Travis did a great job fixing the drainage along the side of my house! Was very responsive, timely, and reasonably priced. Would reach out to again for any future landscaping needs.
Travis was very responsive and did an excellent job designing our difficult yard. We LOVE the end result and can’t wait to do phase two. Can’t say enough how happy we are with the design!
The Best Grass For Your Austin Lawn
Matched To Your Sun, Shade & Water
The right grass depends on how much sun and shade your yard gets and how much you want to water. Here is how the four sod grasses we install most often compare for an Austin lawn. We help you pick during a free site visit.
Request A QuoteSt. Augustine is the go-to for shaded and part-shade yards and stands up to Austin heat with its thick, carpet-like blade. It is the most shade-tolerant common grass we install, but it needs more water than the others, so it fits homes that can keep up with watering.
Bermuda loves full sun and is drought-tolerant, which makes it a strong value for open, sunny lawns. It grows in fast and wears well, so it suits play areas and high-traffic yards. Bermuda does not do well in shade, so it is best where the yard gets sun most of the day.
Zoysia is a premium grass with a dense, soft feel and deep roots that make it nearly as drought-tolerant as Bermuda while handling some shade. It costs more per pallet, but it gives you a lower-water, lower-maintenance lawn that looks great. It is a popular pick for HOA neighborhoods that want a tidy, uniform yard.
Buffalo grass is a Texas native and the most drought-tolerant sod we install, surviving on little water once rooted. It fits low-water, full-sun lots and does well on the rocky limestone soils west of Austin. It is the natural choice for a xeric lawn that still feels like real grass.
Why Choose Thrive Landscape and Design?
Soil Prep Done Right
Most failed lawns fail at the soil. We loosen Blackland clay with compost and expanded shale, add topsoil over caliche, and grade for drainage so your new sod roots and stays.
The Right Grass For Your Yard
St. Augustine for shade, Bermuda for sun, Zoysia for a premium low-water lawn, or Buffalo grass for a xeric yard. We match the grass to your sun, shade, and HOA rules.
Watering Variance Handled
Austin's watering rules limit irrigation days, and new sod is not automatically exempt. We help you file a new-planting variance with Austin Water and give you a clear establishment schedule.
Veteran-Owned, 20+ Years
We are a veteran-owned, design-build landscaper with over 20 years in Central Texas and a 5.0 Google rating from 70+ reviews. You work with the team that preps and installs your lawn.
Austin’s Go-To Sod Installation Company
We install sod across Austin and the surrounding Hill Country, from new-construction yards in Round Rock and Leander to drought-recovery lawns in Dripping Springs and Wimberley, with full attention to local soil, drainage, watering rules, and HOA grass requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most residential sod installation in Austin runs roughly $1 to $3 per square foot installed, which covers the sod, delivery, and labor. The price moves with the grass type, the size of the yard, and how much your soil needs. A flat lot with good soil sits at the low end. A yard that needs old turf removed, heavy soil prep for Blackland clay, or rock work over caliche costs more. Premium grasses like Zoysia cost more than Bermuda or common St. Augustine. We give itemized, on-site estimates for free.
It depends on sun, shade, and how much you want to water. St. Augustine is the top pick for shade and handles Austin heat, but it needs more water. Bermuda thrives in full sun and is drought-tolerant. Zoysia is a premium grass with deep roots, low water needs, and some shade tolerance. Buffalo grass is a Texas native and the most drought-tolerant choice, which makes it a strong fit for low-water, west-side lots on limestone soil. We match the grass to your yard during a free site visit.
Good prep is most of the job. We kill and strip the old grass and weeds, then grade the soil so water runs away from the house. Blackland clay compacts hard and drains slowly, so we loosen it and work in compost and expanded shale rather than sand, which would set the clay like concrete. Over caliche and limestone we add quality topsoil to give roots enough depth. Then we firm and level the bed so each piece of sod meets full soil contact. Sod laid on bad prep never roots well.
New sod needs daily water for the first couple of weeks to root, which can conflict with Austin Water drought restrictions. Austin runs a year-round, once-a-week schedule for automatic irrigation and can return to tighter Stage 2 limits during drought. New landscape is not automatically exempt, so before we install we help you apply for a new-planting variance that allows daily establishment watering for about the first 30 days. Roots grab in 7 to 10 days, hold strong by 2 to 3 weeks, and your lawn can move to the normal schedule by about week four.
Spring and early fall are the best windows in Central Texas. From roughly February through April, and again from September through October, the temperatures are mild and the sod roots before it faces stress. Spring through early summer works well because warm-season grasses are growing fast. We can install in the heat of July and August, but it takes more water and care, since new sod can dry out in a few hours on a hot day. We avoid the deep winter dormancy window and help you time the install for the healthiest start.
Yes, with the right prep. East and central Austin sit on Blackland clay, which is heavy, compacts easily, and drains slowly, so we loosen it and blend in compost and expanded shale to open it up. We never add sand to clay, because the two bind together and harden. West of town, over caliche and limestone, the issue is shallow, rocky, alkaline soil, so we bring in quality topsoil for root depth. Both soils grow a great lawn once the bed is built right.
New sod starts rooting within 7 to 10 days and holds firmly to the soil by 2 to 3 weeks if it is watered right. Most lawns are ready for a normal mowing and watering routine by about week four. Heat speeds the grass up but also dries the sod fast, so summer installs need more frequent water in the first weeks. Cooler spring and fall installs are gentler on the new lawn. We give you a day-by-day watering schedule and check in after the install so your sod gets a strong start.
Deer mostly graze tender new growth, and in Hill Country areas like Dripping Springs, Wimberley, and Driftwood they will sample almost anything when food is scarce in drought or winter. They rarely destroy an established lawn, but fresh, soft sod can tempt them. If deer pressure on your lot is heavy, we suggest a deer repellent on the new lawn, reapplied after rain or heavy watering, until the grass roots and toughens up. We will talk through what works for your property during the estimate.
