A soft landing control system for a screeding device is operable to automatically lower a vibrating member relative to a grade setting device after the grade setting device is lowered to the desired grade. The control may be operable to delay lowering the vibrating member relative to the grade setting device at least until the control receives an input indicative of at least a portion of the screed head assembly being moved to a position generally over a newly placed concrete area. Optionally, the control may delay lowering of the vibrating member relative to the grade setting device until a period of time has elapsed after an activating event. Optionally, the control may automatically stop vibration of the vibrating member when the screed head assembly is not moving in the screeding direction and may automatically vibrate the vibrating member when the screed head assembly moves in the screeding direction.