Planting
grass is a better option for your yard than leaving it bare. Grass
protects the soil from erosion and provides comfort underfoot while
you're enjoying your yard. While any method of planting a lawn is
better than none, sod is an especially advantageous method because
you can use your lawn sooner and irrigate it less often.
When
you choose to seed your lawn, you have a dizzying array of grass
seeds from which to choose. However, sod is made from only a few
varieties, thus narrowing down your choice. Below are some of the
most common grasses used for sod.
Bermuda
Grass
One
of the most common sod varieties is Bermuda grass. It features small
blades of deeply green grass that grow fast. Bermuda grass needs full
sun to grow lushly, so this sod isn't ideal for shady areas. That
said, it features superior drought resistance, so Bermuda grass is an
ideal sod for hot spots. What's more, it tolerates heavy foot traffic
very well.
Kentucky
Bluegrass
Another
sod that tolerates full sun is that sewn with Kentucky bluegrass,
though it can also tolerate some shade. This sod is a cool-season
grass, so it doesn't tolerate as much hot sun as Bermuda grass. That
said, it does tolerate foot traffic pretty well. If you have a hot
yard, opt for the Bermuda grass. If your yard is cooler with
intermittent shade and sun, consider bluegrass.
Ryegrass
Ryegrass
is as popular as Bermuda and bluegrass. Like bluegrass, ryegrass is a
cool-season variety that grows exceptionally fast. So, if you want a
lush lawn quickly, sod sewn with ryegrass might be a good option. It
tolerates foot traffic well and doesn't mind some dry weather, which
just sends it into a brief dormant state. Ryegrass is especially
popular because of its fine texture and rich color.
St.
Augustine Grass
St.
Augustine sod grass features broad grass blades in a blue-green
color. It grows moderately fast and tolerates drought well. Its dense
formation allows this sod to tolerate moderate foot traffic. What's
more, St. Augustine grows well in the shade, making this sod ideal if
you have a lot of trees. If you choose this sod, though, be aware
that chemical weed killers can harm your grass.
Centipedegrass
Centipedegrass
originated in China and Southeast Asia, so it's specially adapted to
hot, humid climates. Indeed, this warm-season grass grows well in
full sun and can tolerate even high temperatures. However, it is
sensitive to cool temperatures and drought. The coarse-textured grass
requires little mowing and resists enough foot traffic to make it
ideal for regular lawn usage.
Carpetgrass
Carpetgrass
is another variety that originated in tropical climates, though in
this case the southern United States. This warm season grass features
two-edged blades with rounded tops. An advantage of this sod is it
requires little maintenance, though mowing keeps the seedstalks from
growing through. Choose this sod variety if you have warm, wet
growing conditions.
Bentgrass
Bentgrass
is on the opposite end of the spectrum. A cool-season grass, it
originated in the cooler parts of Asia and Europe, so it grows well
in the Pacific Northwest and New England. Bentgrass produces a
bluish-green carpet with a dense mat, making it tolerant of foot
traffic. The sod establishes quickly and grows well. Bentgrass does
require a lot of water, but it tolerates shade.
Tall
Fescue
Sod
sewn with tall fescue is a mid-range option. Though technically a
cool-season grass, it tolerates both hot and cool weather. Tall
fescue requires only moderate watering and tolerates drought pretty
well. Like bentgrass, tall fescue sod establishes and grows quickly.
Though it doesn't tolerate heavy foot traffic, it's a good option for
lawns that see moderate usage.
Take
inventory of the growing conditions and usage of your yard. When
you're ready to discuss your sod options, visit Novasack
Turf Farms
armed
with that information.
