FAQ’s
Frequently Asked Questions
Stores
5: Bradenton, Palmetto, Sarasota, Tampa, and Lakewood Ranch
Yes. We load material using a forklift or tractor with bucket. Please note: Big Earth Supply and its associates do not claim any responsibility for damage to customer property; loading material is solely at the risk of the consumer which is assumed upon entering Big Earth Supply stores.
Delivery
Yes.
Varies on location. . . Starts at $100 and increases based on location.
Usually 48 hours.
No. Our stores price the materials. If you want delivery, there is an additional fee based on location. Each store can quote a delivery price for your area
Depends on the material. Our sales reps will be happy to assist you with an accurate quote for volume orders. Contact us, here.
Material will be dumped at the discretion of the property owner. Please note: Big Earth claims no responsibility for damage to property which includes, but is not limited to curbs, sidewalks, gutters, driveways, irrigation lines, privacy gates and more. Customer is to assume all responsibility when ordering material to be delivered via Big Earth Landscape Supply or any other form of contracted transportation.
Trucks
Big. We have our own fleet that can tackle any job you have.
Our trucks can hold 1 yard to 100+ yards.
A mini-wheeler of fill dirt holds approximately 18-22 yards.
Sod
Sod is not an investment to take lightly. We highly suggest you hire a professional lawn and pest control company to help protect your investment.
Sod Piece Size: 16”x 24” or 2.66 Sq Ft.
18 plugs per tray.
Sand base
Some sod is shade tolerant but no sod can grow in direct shade. We recommend Seville, Bitter Blue, Palmetto for shade.
Most turf varieties and landscape plants do not like their “feet” to stay wet. When you improve your soil by adding topsoil or compost this helps drainage and reduces the level of fungal pathogens. It also improves root development and nutrient availability in a healthy aerobic environment from fertilizer. Is this a drainage pattern that happens every summer? If so, you need to get to the root of the problem.
- Identify if your lawn is not graded properly. Do you have low lying areas that tend to stay wet after a heavy rain? Low lying areas can be easily fixed by adding topsoil then leveled. If you feel you have more severe drainage issues, installing a French drain system may be an option.
- If you have a particular area that does not drain well; instead of fighting it, you can add ground cover or plants that are more compatible to poor draining soils. Please feel free to visit one of our Big Earth locations and we would be happy to discuss your concerns and offer possible solutions.
All of our sod is cut, palletized, and delivered fresh to our stores within 24 hours by Bethel Farms. Bethel is one of the most innovative turf farms in the state and produces several varieties of high quality product. There are times bad sod will get through quality control we want to know. Please do not hesitate to call us.
Not all turf varieties grow well in shady areas; in fact all sod is grown in full sun and some doing better than others. Appropriate light along with water are two of the biggest factors that will determine long term success for your lawn. Not all shade is the same either. Some areas can be densely shaded whereas other areas have no direct sun but very bright light.
If you are considering making renovations to your lawn, we invite you to visit one of our locations so that we can aid you in your sod variety choice. Again, we do have varieties available for sale that are better suited for lower light areas. Sometimes quality of soil may be the main issue and adding a layer of compost or topsoil when laying the sod can help. We have experts on hand to help you identify the best sod for your lawn.
Not all bugs are bad bags. But for those that are harmful to turf and landscape; plant identification is key to control. If you have any pest control questions stop by any of our four locations so our staff can help you identify the problem and offer a solution.
We cut our sod fresh to order. Please call 24-48 hours in advance for sod orders. On occasion we have extra sod pallets, call the store for availability.
No problem, we sell sod by the plug, piece or pallet.
Floratam, Empire Zoysia, Sapphire, Seville, Palmetto, Bitter Blue, Bahia, Bermuda 419 and Bermuda Celebration.
On the west coast of Florida there is no month that you cannot plant sod. Every season has its pros and cons but rarely (if ever) will sod fail because of when it was planted. The best time of year to plant sod is in the wet warm summer months and the least optimal time would be in cold dry winter months.
Big Earth offers sod for a convenience and a service to those that understand the nature of grass; a living and breathing organism. We are taking grass, cutting the roots off, putting it on a pallet and shipping to you. Sod in this state is incredibly vulnerable and if you are not prepared to take care of your new lawn like you would a new puppy, then please do not order sod from us. Maintaining a new lawn for best results requires education, knowledge and patience.
We may have. In Florida, the high humidity and tropical weather, guarantee millions of spores in the air at all times. The sod is treated frequently with fungicide, but that is not a guarantee that fungus will not be present. Your sod travels over 100 miles to you in 80+ percent humidity and 90+ degree temperatures. Once your sod is installed and no longer cooking on the pallet, you must water your lawn more than usual. The combination of high temperatures and excess water can cause more fungus to develop. In Florida, fungus control on your lawn is a full time investment and never a job to be taken lightly. Fungus can take over your lawn in less than 24 hours, causing brown patches or the appearance of dead grass. Your new lawn is a great incubator for fungus problems. In fact, you can bet on a 100% guarantee of having fungus in the air where you live; the spores will settle on your new lawn and devour it if not managed.
It is possible. Webworms and insects in general like to attack plants that are stressed. If you have one moth in your neighborhood, it is possible that you will have an infestation within weeks, because your grass is stressed and weak. You will continuously fight insects in your Florida lawn. A young lawn is more prone to infestation than an established lawn.
If your turf (other than bahia) is dead when you receive the sod, do not install it; it will not grow back and you do not want it. Please take pictures and call us immediately. If the grass is green and healthy when you received it, then we shipped you good grass. How it is maintained and the environment in which it is installed, is not a liability we can absorb. In regards to bahia, it is hard to believe that the brown, falling apart grass you get will green up and come back fast once installed, but it will—trust us. As soon as you receive your sod, get it off the pallet and installed; do not wait.
Please take pictures and call us immediately. You do not want dead grass; although bahia is the exception, as it will go dormant. However, any other turf should not arrive dead. If you accept the sod and install it, we will not entertain any complaints. New grass that is neglected, sitting on pallets or unwatered can and will die very fast. Your new turf does not have roots to water and feed the blades.
If your turf is bahia, that is fine and normal. Bahia is harvested in cow pastures and grown in an uncontrolled environment, which results in grass looking dead or falling apart. We do not stand behind our bahia; it is only provided as a service to those that need bahia and understand the nature of the turf. If you received any other grass like St. Augustine, Zoysia or Bermuda and it is falling apart to an excessive degree, please stop putting it down and call us immediately. If you choose to install the sod in clumps, we will not entertain any complaints.
This list is not exhaustive. There are many more reasons why your sod may die or you may fail at installing a new lawn. There are no guarantees that your new sod will survive the process of harvest from the field, installation and growth in the days or weeks to come. Big Earth and its suppliers have zero control of the environment, in which sod is installed and the level of maintenance expertise. Even professionals of the highest degree struggle with maintaining a “perfect lawn.” For these reasons and more, Big Earth does not guarantee or warranty any sod purchase, including pieces, pallets or plugs.
Mulch
Both. Mulch is sold by the bag or in bulk by the yard
Approximately 100 sq ft at 3 inches deep.
13.5 bags for 2 cu ft sized bags, 9 bags for 3 cu ft sized bag.
Organic Mulch.
Mulch offers many benefits to a garden, such as making the landscape look clean and tidy. It also retains moisture and suppresses weeds so plants can thrive. Mulch itself does not attract bugs to your garden, however, it may provide a hospitable environment for insects that are already around.
Fertilizer
Yes. We have a variety of fertilizers for turf, shrubs, trees, ornamentals, palms and more.
Palm trees nutritional deficiencies are easily prevented by following a yearly fertilization program. Mature palms in the landscape should be fertilized with a complete granular fertilizer formulated for palms, like Florikan 8-2-12. Three to Four applications of palm fertilizer are recommended to provide a constant supply of nutrients during the growing season; end of March through end of October. If you are using controlled release fertilizer, apply it twice a year. Newly planted palms should not be fertilized until after they put out a new spear; approximately 2 months after planting.
Palm fertilizer will contain a combination of nitrogen, phosphate and potash with minor elements including magnesium and manganese. Often palms can display nutrient deficiencies in the form of yellow leaves. Depending on the severity of the deficiency, subsequent applications of palm fertilizer should help the palm green up. If more severe deficiencies exist, additional applications of magnesium and manganese should be made. All of these products are available for sale at each Big Earth location.