Planting sod is an excellent way to attain a beautiful lawn
and enhance your property's curb appeal and value. However, with different
types of sod in the market, you may not be sure which is right for your lawn or
corporate landscape.
The right sod can be the difference between a gorgeous lawn
that offers long-lasting beauty and an unattractive lawn that barely grows.
Consider these two factors to choose the best sod for your project.
Local Climate
Sod comes in two categories: warm season and cold season.
Warm-season sod thrives in hot, humid climates. It is perennial, going into
dormancy in winter and thriving in spring. If you live in Southwest Georgia,
this sod is an excellent choice. The most popular types of warm-season sod are:
- Zoysia:
This sod is renowned for its hardiness and can withstand heat, drought,
and heavy traffic. It is low maintenance, making it ideal for people who
don't have much time to care for their lawn. Zoysia sod has good root
systems that lower your water bill and grows laterally so you don't have
to mow frequently.
- Bermuda:
This is a popular choice for homeowners due to its curb appeal and
remarkable drought and heat tolerance. Its ability to withstand heavy traffic
makes it ideal for golf courses and sports fields. Bermuda grass has a
fast growth rate and requires more maintenance than Zoysia.
Cool-season grass is suitable for geographical regions with
cold and temperate climates. It grows well in the Northern parts of the US.
Common cool-season grass includes:
- Kentucky
bluegrass: This grass stands out with its lush, emerald blue-green
color, good winter hardiness, and high disease resistance. However, this
sod is sensitive to heat and drought and grows slower than other
cool-season sod. Also, it requires higher maintenance than other grasses.
- Tall
fescue: This has good heat and drought tolerance and wear and tear
recovery and requires minimal maintenance. It also withstands stressors
like insects and diseases. However, this sod exhibits bunch-like growth
and may require re-seeding every year.
Do research into your local climate and into different grass
types that will be best for your location.
Unique Features
When choosing sod for your lawn, you should consider your
lawn's unique features, such as soil make-up, intended use, sunlight exposure,
and lawn size. Your lawn's soil type will affect the sod you settle for.
Your lawn's intended use will have a tremendous impact on
your sod as well. If kids and pets will play in your yard, or you will
entertain outdoors, choose sod that withstands heavy foot traffic like Zoysia,
Bermuda, and St. Augustine. Centipede and Kentucky bluegrass do not stand up to
heavy traffic and are better for show lawns.
The amount of sunlight your yard receives also determines
your sod choice. Depending on your climate, Bermuda is ideal for lawns with
full sun exposure while Tall Fescue is good for heavily shaded lawns.
Consider your lawn's size when selecting sod, too. For
example, if you have a large yard, you may want to choose inexpensive and
low-maintenance sod. A big yard requires more sod, so costly sods like Zoysia
can be too expensive.
Look at your schedule as well. Do you have a lot of time to
maintain your yard? People who do not have much time and resources to devote to
their yards should opt for low-maintenance sod variants.
Contact Wright Turf
Farms
for all your turf needs in Southwest Georgia. We are a reliable and
experienced turf provider delivering quality sod to both businesses and
residential clients. Come to us to get a beautiful lawn for your home or
office.
