Types of Sod Lawns

Sod farmers cut a fully established lawn along with ½ inch of soil so that you can plant it in another location where it will rapidly re-establish its root system and grow. Grass seed growers classify grass as either a cool or warm season grass. Cool season grasses grow better in the north while warm season grasses grow better in the south. The type of sod you choose will depend predominantly on the region in which you live.

Warm Season or Cool Season?

Warm season grasses can handle the excessive heat of the south while cool season grasses grow well in cooler climates. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, cool season grasses do well when "evening summer temperatures are in the 50- and 60-degree Fahrenheit range." Warm season grasses thrive in temperatures in excess of this.

Bermuda Grass

Bermuda is a warm season grass that does well in the southern United States, as it is heat tolerant. The bermuda sod will take root in most soil types and can provide you with a beautiful lush lawn. It is prone to weeds and needs direct sunlight to thrive. If you have a shady lawn area, you should try other warm season grasses, such as zoysia or centipede.

Zoysia Grass

Zoysia grows well in the shade and like bermuda grass, it performs well in the heat. It is also a warm season grass typically grown in the southern regions of the United States. The grass does well in soil that may be sandy or covered with clay, and is moderately weed resistant.

Centipede Grass

If you want to be free of lawn maintenance, or at least somewhat free, and you live in the south, then this warm season grass may be for you. According to Thompson's Sod, a Florida sod vendor, centipede grass is "known as the lazy man's grass" due to its low maintenance requirements. It handles shade the best out of the warm season grasses and requires less mowing then the others as well.

Kentucky Blue Grass

Kentucky blue grass is a cool season grass that sod farms grow for lawns in the northern part of the United States. It is draught tolerant but prefers moderate heat and plenty of moisture. It likes direct sunlight and is tolerant to high-traffic areas. Kentucky blue grass provides a beautiful low maintenance grass that is easy to take care of. If you have an area that is shady, however, you may want to consider tall fescue, as it is more tolerant to shade.

Tall Fescue

Tall fescue is a cool season grass that does not mind a little extra heat or the shade. The grass takes longer to establish itself and has a finer texture than Kentucky blue grass, giving it a slightly less desirable look. Due to this, some sod farms use a combination of blue grass and fescue seed, giving the lawn the shade tolerance of fescue and the beauty of the Kentucky blue grass.

References

• United States Department of Agriculture
• Thompson's Sod
• University of Rhode Island Horticulture Program

Resources

• How to Choose Your Turf