How to Pick Sod for Your Yard

How to Pick Sod for Your Yard
By Jay T

What kind of sod should you pick for your yard?

One of the most important factors to consider is the climate of where you live. The two main categories are cool season grasses and warm season grasses. One must also consider the function of the grass; will it have a lot of foot traffic? Will it be in sunlight or shade? What kind of soil do you have? How much grass do you need? All of these things must be accounted for when picking your grass.

Cool Season Grasses

If you live in a region with cold winters and hot summers and has regular periods of rain. Three of the most common cool season grasses are Kentucky bluegrass, Ryegrass, and Bentgrass.These grasses can go dormant during times of droughts and experience two periods of shoot growth annually, once in mid-spring and again in early fall.

Warm Season Grasses

If you live in the hot and humid climates found in places like the southern United States, one should choose warm season grasses. Warm season grasses only have a single expanded shoot growth during the summer. Many kinds of warm season grasses require special care during the winter months when blades tend to turn brown and may require reseeding in areas damaged by the cold. Popular warm season grasses include St. Augustine, Bermuda, and Centipede.

What Will Your Grass Be Used For?

If your lawn will be heavily used by kids who play on it or you have frequent outdoor get togethers or BBQ's. Then consider grass that can withstand a lot of foot traffic. Two options would be Bermuda or Zoysia. Both of these withstand heavy use better than most other types.

If your yard has little sunlight or is heavily shaded both St. Augustine and Centipede mixtures are excellent choices. If you get plenty of bright sunlight Bermuda is a great choice.

For large yards, Centipede is not only a popular choice in warm regions because it requires no liming to remove acidity but it also requires infrequent mowing. More expensive sods however, like Zoysia, as beautiful as it is, might be more expensive than ones budget allows.

All grass will do well in with rich topsoil. But homeowners who live in places with little rain and desert-like regions have limited options when choosing their sod. Bahia is popular because it can grow in infertile and sandy ground. Where as Centipede grass, also known as the "lazy man's" grass, can withstand acidic soil.

With these things being said. First determine your climate so you know your options. Then take into consider the function, how much sunlight, and how much you will need as to whittle down your choices until you find the perfect sod for your needs.

If you would like to learn more about grass sod and landscaping, visit my website: Landscaping at Home Guide.

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