"Sod Equals Instant Gratification"

For many homeowners, the gratification felt in having an instant lawn is not to be competed with.  When one seeds a lawn it can take quite a while to grow, whereas laying sod is an excellent way to get a green and lush lawn...now.

Sod is harvested turf, roots and all, cut into assorted sizes, then stacked or rolled on a pallet.  Research shows that sodded lawns are fifteen times more effective in controlling runoff than seeded lawns, even after three years.  Warm season grasses, such as Bermuda and Zoysia, thrive in the South's summer heat.  Overall, warm season grasses are more drought tolerant than cool season grasses. 

Successfull sodding should be done at the appropriate time of the year.  April through July are ideal planting months for warm season grasses assuming you have adequate rainfall or supply supplemental irrigation.  There needs to be at least two months allowed for warm season grasses to become established before winter.  Dormant sodding of warm season grasses is often done, but the chances for winter-kill is sometimes greater, depending on the weather, since the roots have not penetrated the soil enough for protection.

You should water your new lawn everyday for the first week (except of course, on rainy days) and more than once a day if the weather is especially hot and dry.  After the first week, gradually begin to stretch the times between waterings as this will encourage the roots to grow more deeply, seeking moisture in the soil.  Deep watering is always better than shallow surface watering for the health of the sod. 

Sod Facts at a Glance:

• Individual grass plants are 70 to 80 percent water. 
• Grass clippings contain 4 percent nitrogen, 2 percent potassium, and 0.5 percent phosphorous. 
• A 10,000 square foot lawn will contain; 6 grass plants per sqaure inch, 864 plants per square foot, and over 8.6 million plants total.  (Amazed?  Yeah, me too.)
• 90 percent of the weight of the grass is in its root system. 
• Turfgrass traps and removes dust and dirt from the air, as well as controlling polution and reducing soil erosion.  It also helps to purify and replenish our water supply. 

Be sure to visit Sartin Services Lawncare & Nursery today and let one of our knowledgeable sales associates help you with your next sod project.  We have the finest quality Bermuda and Zoysia sod available by the piece, the pallet, or the truckload. And for the customers who do not have the time to do their own project, let Sartin Services do the job for you.  Call today for details on availability!

Happy Gardening! 

Larry Vickers