Blade & Mow Height
Blade: Medium blade, 6 to 8 mm
Mow: 3 to 4 inches
St. Augustine Sod Variety
Raleigh Sod in Louisiana
Raleigh is the St. Augustine cultivar bred for cold tolerance. The right pick for Shreveport, Bossier City, Monroe, Alexandria, and any north Louisiana yard that sees hard winter freezes.
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What Is It?
Raleigh Sod Explained
Raleigh St. Augustine was released by North Carolina State University in 1980. It was bred specifically for improved cold tolerance and to handle the slightly more alkaline clay soils common across the upper South.
Best fit: north and central Louisiana yards. Caddo, Bossier, Ouachita, Rapides, and the upper Florida Parishes see harder winter freezes than the Gulf Coast, and Raleigh holds its color and recovers from frost better than Floratam or Palmetto. Mixed-sun residential is the sweet spot.
Where Raleigh does not fit: south Louisiana yards where Floratam is the proven default and the cold tolerance advantage is irrelevant, or deep oak shade (Palmetto wins there). Raleigh is the right call when winter freezes are a real concern.
At a Glance
Raleigh Specs
Quick-reference card. Blade, mow height, sun, shade, drought, traffic, salt, pH, and USDA zone.
Sun & Shade
Sun: 5+ hours of direct sun
Shade: Moderate shade tolerance
Drought & Traffic
Drought: Moderate
Traffic: Moderate
USDA Zone
Zones 7-10 (cold-tolerant for north LA)
Salt Tolerance
Low
Soil pH
5.5 to 8.0 (alkaline tolerant)
Louisiana Fit
Where Raleigh Fits Best in Louisiana
Raleigh is the right St. Augustine for the northern third of Louisiana. Shreveport, Bossier City, Monroe, West Monroe, Alexandria, Pineville, and the rural piney woods all benefit from its cold tolerance. The harder winter freezes that hit Caddo and Ouachita parishes can damage Floratam in a bad year, but Raleigh recovers faster and holds its color longer through cool weather.
Common in: Highland and South Highlands (Shreveport), Bossier City growth corridor, Monroe Garden District, West Monroe, Alexandria Garden District, Pineville, the rural piney woods of Central LA
The LSU AgCenter turfgrass guide backs the regional fit data above. Send us your zip and we will tell you straight whether Raleigh fits your specific yard.
Pricing
Raleigh Sod Pricing & Pallet Coverage
Pallet Coverage
A standard pallet covers approximately 450 square feet, cut as 16x24 inch slabs (typical, varies slightly by farm). Most yards in Louisiana run 1 to 4 pallets.
Half Pallets
Half pallets available for small repairs and patch jobs (approximately 225 square feet). Minimum order applies for delivery, not pickup.
Contractor Pricing
Contractor and builder pricing kicks in at five or more pallets per order. NET 30 terms for qualified accounts. Recurring delivery scheduling for ongoing jobs.
Care Schedule
How to Care for Raleigh Sod
- Watering during establishment: Water twice a day for the first 10 days. Then daily for week 2. Established Raleigh needs about 1 inch per week. North Louisiana sees more pronounced summer drought stretches than the coast, so consistent watering through July-August matters.
- Mow height range: Maintain at 3 to 4 inches. Sharp blades, weekly mowing in peak season. Cut higher going into fall to insulate the crown against winter freezes.
- Fertilizer schedule: 3 applications per year. Spring, early summer, late summer. Skip the late fall feed (October) in north LA because it can push growth right before a freeze.
- Pre-emergent timing: Apply in early March in north LA (about 2-3 weeks later than south LA). Second application 8-10 weeks later.
Honest Comparison
Raleigh vs The Closest Alternatives
Two side-by-side reads so you can pick straight, not guess.
Raleigh vs. Floratam
Raleigh wins for cold tolerance in north Louisiana. Floratam wins for chinch bug resistance and full-sun south LA. If you live in the southern half of Louisiana, Floratam is the smarter pick. If you live in Caddo, Bossier, Ouachita, or any parish that sees hard freezes, Raleigh is worth the slight premium.
Raleigh vs. Palmetto
Both handle cooler weather better than Floratam. Palmetto wins for deep shade tolerance. Raleigh wins for full-sun cold tolerance and slightly better alkaline soil performance. North Louisiana yards with mature oak shade can use either, but Raleigh is the safer pick when freezes are the bigger concern.
Common Questions
Raleigh Sod FAQ
Raleigh tolerates harder winter freezes and recovers faster from cold damage. Caddo, Bossier, Ouachita, and Rapides parishes see colder winters than the Gulf Coast, and Raleigh holds its color and root system through those cold snaps better than Floratam or Palmetto.
Yes. Raleigh is a warm-season grass like all St. Augustine. It thrives in north Louisiana summer heat with consistent watering. The cold tolerance is a bonus, not a tradeoff.
Raleigh typically costs a small premium over Floratam in north Louisiana markets where it is the standard. In south LA where Floratam dominates, Raleigh may cost more due to lower volume. Contractor pricing kicks in at five or more pallets. Call for current pricing.
Yes. Raleigh tolerates pH up to 8.0, which covers most alkaline clay yards across Louisiana. It performs well in the heavier soils common across the Capital Region, Acadiana, and the NOLA Metro, in addition to its north LA stronghold.
Ready to Order Raleigh Sod?
Fresh Raleigh sod cut from our family of Louisiana sod farms and delivered direct to your driveway. Same-week delivery. Contractor pricing on volume.
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 7 AM to 6 PM · Statewide delivery · Contractor pricing on volume