Laying Sod for Spring

A decision between re-seeding a sparse lawn and laying sod in the spring is a dilemma that is not new to property owners. Either option has its advantages and disadvantages.

Make your final choice easier by identifying the role that you want your lawn to play. The types of grasses in seed or established rolls of sod available in your area will play and important role.

Some grass types are more fitting than others for high traffic areas. Others are more fitting if you are attempting to plant a delicate looking lawn as a piece of your beautiful landscaping plan.

The most obvious reason to lay sod in the spring when danger of a frost has passed is the advantage of having a lush lawn in a short amount of time. The sod can be laid as soon as the soil is dry enough to work. As long as proper attention to nutritional needs has been met, the sod will quickly establish itself. This is especially important to homeowners who may face problems of erosion.

A sod lawn discourages the growth of weeds that can plague gardeners who choose to re-seed their lawns rather than laying sod for spring. Weeds flourish during the early planting season and will compete with grass seed for nutrients. The early hindrance of weeds will make maintenance easier during the growing season.

Consider the time available to establish the lawn in the weeks after re-seeding or laying sod for spring. Either option needs a lot of moisture as it starts to grow. Re-seeded areas of grass will dry out more quickly that sodded areas. While sod has to be watered at least twice a day, a newly re-seeded area usually needs to be watered more often to keep the soil moist enough for the grasses to survive.

Selecting the Right Type of Sod for Your Lawn

If you want a beautiful yard, you may be looking at the different types of sod available to plant. There are several factors you should consider when choosing grass for your lawn, including the type of climate you live in, how much traffic your yard gets, and the amount of sun your lawn receives.

Warm Season Grasses

Climates that support warm season grasses typically have very hot, dry summers. Warm season grasses are typically drought resistant as well.

Bahia: Bahia is one type of grass that does best in warm climates; it does not tolerate cold temperatures well. Bahia is somewhat drought resistant, and it can tolerate shade or sun. While this type of grass can tolerate most soil types, it does not fare well in soil with a high pH.

Bermuda: Bermuda is another type of grass that does well in warm climates. Bermuda does not tolerate shade or cold temperatures well. This type of grass is good for homes with children or pets as it is not easily damaged by a lot of traffic.

St. Augustine: Another type of warm season grass is St. Augustine, which is typically recommended for places that do not get a lot of traffic. St. Augustine grass is high-maintenance and requires frequent mowing, fertilizing, and watering. This type of sod prefers to be in the sun, but it can tolerate some shade as well.

Cool Season Grasses

Climates that support cool season grasses best are those with very cold winters and warm summers without extended periods of high temperatures.

Kentucky Bluegrass: Kentucky bluegrass is one of the most popular types of cool weather grasses. Not only does it tolerate cold weather well, it also tolerates high traffic, making it a good choice for homes with children or pets. While this type of sod is hardy, it does not do well in shady areas or in soil high in salt.

Fine Fescue: Fine fescue is another type of grass that can survive in very cold temperatures. It is also drought resistant and can tolerate complete shade. However, this type of grass does not handle traffic well and would not be good for homes with pets or children who regularly use the yard.

The type of sod you decide to plant for your home landscape will depend on factors, such as climate, the amount of traffic your yard receives, and the amount of sun your lawn gets. These are only a few types of warm and cool season grasses you may want to consider for your lawn.

Best Time of the Year to Lay Sod

Farmers or people with serious green thumbs may not always have great luck with having “perfect” grass for planting or harvesting can still do it with sod. Sod is a great substitute that has its own roots and vibrant grass. However, laying sod means doing it at the right time and after the proper soil care has been implemented for a better result.

It is known that it is not practical to have frozen lawn for sod-laying because the sod will become hard and frozen, not allowing the sod to properly survive and flourish. The best time to lay sod is pretty much any time of the year as long as there is no frost or snow on the ground. For an even better result, wait until late summer or early fall to lay sod because the lawn’s soil is cool, which prevents over-watering. Same goes for laying sod in the spring time because of the rain, which again prevents over-watering. If one wants to do the sod-laying during the summer months where the temperatures are high, they can, just make sure to water the sod so the lawn would not dry up, which in turn, can ruin the sod with the dryness.

Not only that, it is also imperative to treat the lawn’s soil in preparation for the sod to be laid beforehand so the roots from the sod can better grow and become blended with everything under and around it. Also, it helps to lay sod as soon as it is received to prevent drying out. If one wants to wait to lay sod after receiving, store it in a cool, moist place, and keep it rolled up.

Caring for St. Augustine Grass in the Winter

Depending upon where you live in the United States, the type of grass in your yard will vary.  Because different parts of the country have different climates, different types of grass need to be used.  In states like Florida where the weather is hot in the summer and not too cold in the winter, grasses like St. Augustine grass tends to be popular.  St. Augustine grass is a fast-growing grass that is best adapted to warm humid areas that are not exposed to periods of cold weather.

Because St. Augustine grass cannot be purchased in seed form, it can only be planted as sod, sprigs or plugs.   During the winter months any newly planted St. Augustine sod should be watered frequently to prevent desiccation.  Although this type of grass does not need to be fertilized, it is important to do a soil sample every couple of years to check its nutrient content.   St. Augustine grass does not grow rapidly in the winter so frequent mowing is not necessary during this time.  During the winter months is it good to apply herbicides to control weeds such as winter annual broadleaf weeds.

If you are interested in getting St. Augustine sod delivered to you, contact RealTree, Inc. at 321-309-9000 to find out more.

Choosing the Right Sod for Your Lawn

When it comes to grass, everyone wants green lawns, easy maintenance, and less watering. Different types of grass have unique visual appeal, thickness, maintenance, and growth habits. The most common forms of lawn grass include: Centipede, Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Zoysia.  Below are a few characteristics you should consider before choosing the best grass for your landscape.

• Bermuda: Bermuda grass is a great all around grass for landscapes with high traffic. It is normally used for soccer and other sports fields. The grass prefers full sun and has a high tolerance for heat and drought conditions, although consistent watering will retain a bright green hue. There are a few pests and diseases you should be aware of including mole crickets, sod web worms, army worms, and dollar spot.

• Centipede: This grass has a higher shade tolerance than Bermuda but lower tolerance compared to St. Augustine and Zoysia. Salt tolerance is fairly low and centipede grass prefers moderately acidic soils. Centipede grows rather slowly in comparison to other grasses, but will overtake a space if not kept in check. Centipede also requires little fertilizer, less mowing, and prefers full sun to moderate shade. This type of grass does not grow well in high traffic areas, phosphorous or compact soils.

• St. Augustine: This is a warm climate grass that grows best in humid and coastal areas. St. Augustine can tolerate moderately shaded areas with moist-fertile soil. Sod or plugs are the most readily available source for installing this grass. St. Augustine grass grows moderately fast and requires consistent watering for optimal establishment.

• Zoysia: A transitional grass that will last throughout yearly warm and cool seasons. Different varieties have a greater cold tolerance than others, Zoysia japonica is one of these. Drought conditions will not affect this grass as much as other types. It also has similar water requirements as Bermuda grass. Deeper roots allow zoysia to collect water from further soil depths. Make sure your yard is graded properly and soils are well-drained before applying pallets of zoysia. Varieties include: Emerald, Belaire, El Toro, and Cashmere zoysia. This grass should not be used in cooler climates as it will spread throughout other gardens and turn brown during the winter.