Almost every sod job we quote in Dallas comes down to one question: St. Augustine or Bermuda? Homeowners usually pick based on what a neighbor has. That's a coin flip. The right answer depends on how much direct sun the area gets, how much traffic it takes, and how well the ground drains.
St. Augustine is the shade grass. It has broad blades, spreads by runners, and will hold up under a live oak or pecan canopy where Bermuda simply thins out and dies. If your yard gets four to six hours of direct sun or less — common in older Dallas, Richardson, and Colleyville neighborhoods — St. Augustine is usually the call. The trade-off is that it doesn't handle heavy foot traffic well and it needs consistent water to look its best.
Bermuda is the sun-and-traffic grass. It needs six-plus hours of direct sun, and in return it takes heat, recovers fast from wear, and handles kids and dogs far better. Newer subdivisions in Frisco, Mansfield, and parts of Arlington — where the trees haven't matured yet — are almost always Bermuda yards. It does go dormant and brown in winter, which surprises people the first year.
Here's the part that matters more than the grass type: preparation. We've been called out to re-do more failed sod jobs than we can count, and the cause is nearly always the same — sod laid straight on top of dead turf and compacted clay. It roots for two weeks off the moisture in the pallet, then quits. Real prep means killing the existing turf, tilling, grading so water runs away from the house, and amending the soil before a single piece goes down.
The other half is watering. New sod needs to stay damp for the first two weeks — short, frequent cycles, not one long soak. After it roots, you back off to deeper and less frequent watering. We leave every sod client with a written two-week schedule, because that stretch decides whether the lawn takes.
Not sure which one your yard needs? Call Dallas Garden Services at (214) 780-9654 and we'll walk the property, check sun exposure and drainage, and give you a free written estimate.