Sod pallets are set down on your driveway, or on another hard surface the truck can reach, on your scheduled delivery date. The truck unloads with its own equipment, so you do not need a forklift or extra hands. You point the driver to the spot. A backyard through a gate is usually not reachable by that equipment, so if that is where you want it, ask when you order.
"Do you drop it at the curb, or bring it to the backyard?" is one of the first questions people ask once the order is placed. Here is what actually happens when the truck pulls up.
The short answer
The driveway, or the nearest hard surface the truck can get to. The driver unloads the pallets with the truck's own equipment and sets them where you point. Pick a spot that is flat, firm, close to the lawn, and out of the way of your car.
Why the driveway
A pallet of sod is heavy. How much does a pallet of sod weigh? has the numbers, but the short version is that it is more than a person can move and more than a soft surface can hold. The truck's equipment needs a firm, level place to set it, and it needs a clear path to get there.
Driveways, wide concrete walks and hard-packed gravel usually work. A curbside spot can work if the driveway is not usable. A lawn that has just been watered, a flower bed or a soft shoulder does not.
Can they put it in the backyard?
Usually not, and it is worth understanding why before you ask. The equipment that lifts the pallet off the truck usually does not fit through a standard gate, cannot climb steps, and should not cross soft ground. Most backyards fail one of those three tests.
If your backyard has a wide, hard-surfaced side entry, mention it when you order and the team can tell you whether it is workable for your address. Otherwise plan on the pallet landing out front and moving the pieces by wheelbarrow or by hand. A pallet of sod breaks down into pieces that one person can carry, so this is normal, not a problem.
Before the truck arrives
Do these the day before:
- Clear the spot. Move cars out of the driveway. Move trash cans, hoses, kids' toys and anything else that is in the way.
- Check for low branches and wires. The truck's equipment needs headroom. A low limb over the driveway can stop a delivery.
- Leave a clear path from the street. Parked cars along the curb, a narrow gate or a tight turn can keep the truck from reaching the spot.
- Do not block your own garage. You still need to get out, and the pallet might sit there for a few hours while you work.
- Finish the ground prep. The old grass out, the soil graded, the hoses laid. How to remove old grass before laying sod covers that step. The sod goes down the day it arrives, so the yard has to be ready first.
Where not to put it, and how long it can sit
A few spots cause trouble every season:
- On the lawn you are about to replace. The pallet sinks, the ground gets rutted, and you are laying sod around a pallet.
- In the sun on a hot day, if you can help it. Shade the pallet or work fast. Heat builds inside a stacked pallet and that is what kills sod.
- Anywhere it has to sit overnight. Sod is a living plant with its roots exposed. Lay it the same day, every time.
How long can it sit? Hours, not days. The Shipping and Delivery page says it plainly: have your site prepared before the sod arrives, because heat builds inside a stacked pallet and can damage or kill the grass surprisingly quickly. Start laying as soon as the truck leaves, and water each section as you go.
What if it rains, or nobody is home?
Rain. Light rain is fine. The sod is happier wet than dry, and you can lay it in a drizzle. Heavy rain or a soaked yard is a different story, since the ground turns to mud and the pallet cannot be set on it. If bad weather stops the farm from cutting, your delivery can move by up to a week and the team will let you know. If the weather turns on your end, call as early as you can.
Nobody home. Someone should be there. The driver needs to be told where the pallets go, and you want to inspect the sod while the truck is still in the street. That is the moment to flag a problem, and What if your sod arrives dead? explains why the timing matters.
If you truly cannot be there, ask the team about it when you schedule. The delivery date is set with you after checkout, so that is the time to sort out who receives it and where it goes. If you need a Saturday, Can you deliver sod on a weekend? covers how that works, and How fast can you get sod delivered? covers how the date is set.
What to have ready
- A cleared, firm spot for the pallet
- A clear path from the street to that spot
- Prepared soil, ready to lay on
- Hoses and sprinklers set up and tested
- A wheelbarrow or a helper if the lawn is far from the driveway
- Your phone, with 1-866-886-2763 handy
The bottom line
The sod lands on your driveway or the nearest hard surface the truck can reach. You choose the spot, the driver sets it down, and you carry the pieces from there. Clear the space, finish the prep, be home, and lay it the same day.
Check your ZIP code to see varieties and pricing for your area, or call 1-866-886-2763 if your driveway or access is unusual and you want to talk it through before you order.
