Frequently Asked Questions About Turfgrass Sod |
Emerald Sod Farms has been growing top-quality turfgrass for 25 years from our farm located near the Denver International Airport. We regularly serve customers in Denver, Aurora, Boulder, Vail, Castle Rock and Colorado Springs, and we’ve installed our sod as far away as Las Vegas and Big Sky, Montana. If you don’t see the answer to your question in this list or if you’d like more information, please call us at 303-654-0202. Question: Why doesn’t Emerald Sod Farms sell buffalo grass?Answer: We looked at long and hard at growing buffalo grass. It’s a warm season grass — not the cool season grass, like our ESF Kentucky Bluegrass Blend that does well in and around Denver and the Rocky Mountain Region. We spent two years trying to grow buffalo grass at our Commerce City farm, and it never would grow in the Colorado climate. We put it in a protected area to grow and it would send out some stolons but a freeze would hit it and knock it back. Competitors of Emerald Sod Farms have decided to take it on, but as far as we know they’ve never been able to grow a crop. Any buffalo grass sod that comes into Colorado was likely grown in Nebraska or Texas. Buffalo grass has many more restrictions on its use in Colorado than fescue or Kentucky bluegrass. Even its fans have to admit that a full year of attentive maintenance is necessary before best results can be achieved. Buffalo grass is also more easily invaded by weeds and is less tolerant of foot traffic than our other grasses. Question: Is sod an environmentally friendly choice for my home?Answer: Absolutely. In fact, the U.S. Congress reported: “Turfgrass sod in urban areas and communities aids in reducing carbon dioxide emissions, mitigating the heat island effect, reducing energy consumption, and contributing to efforts to reduce global warming…”The average front lawn has a cooling effect equal to 8.5 tons of air conditioning. A typical turfgrass lawn will be 15 degrees cooler than bare soil and 30 degrees cooler than pavement or rock. One hundred ten square feet of turgrass provides enough oxygen for two people for an entire day. A lawn absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen keeping the air cleaner and fresher around your home. Lawn areas in the United States store up to 37 billion tons of carbon. A lawn also filters and muffles noise. Read more about the beneficial aspects of turfgrass in Colorado here. Question: How long does a typical sod installation take?Answer: A high-quality sod lawn can typically be installed in a matter of hours. The key is preparation — make sure your project area is completely ready for the installation before you either pick up or take delivery of your sod. Click this link for more information about preparing for sod installation. Question: How long must I wait after installation before my lawn is ready to be used?Answer: ESF uses only healthy, mature sod, so your sod lawn will be ready for full use within days of installation. For more information about care of your new sod lawn after installation, please click the link. Question: What type of special care will my sod lawn need?Answer: Sod lawns do not require any special care because the grass is at least a year old before it’s delivered to you, unlike seeded lawns that must be nurtured to maturity. However, proper soil preparation and the initial watering are critical. Question: Is a sod lawn appropriate for more than just my home?Answer: Sod is an ideal choice for community parks, golf courses, athletic fields, business boundaries, and roadside rest stops. Please review short descriptions of a few of our sodding projects to understand what we mean. Question: Can a sod lawn impact the resale value of my home?Answer: A well-maintained lawn and landscaping can add up to 15% – 20% to your property value. Question: How does sod compare to seeded lawns when it comes to water consumption?Answer: Sod lawns require less water than seeded lawns, thus reducing water consumption as well as the cost to you once the sod is rooted and established. Question: How long can the sod sit on pallets before it must be installed?Answer: Sod is a live, perishable commodity that needs to be installed immediately and watered thoroughly. It should be left on the pallet no longer than 12 hours. That’s why we want 24 hours notice before you pick up sod at our Commerce City farm or we deliver to your project location — we want to harvest your sod just-in-time to be as fresh as possible for you. Question: How much does sod cost compared to seeded lawns?Answer: Sod is initially more expensive but if you decide to seed your lawn then you will have to invest more time and effort in trying to get your seed to mature and provide uniform coverage. This process could take up to two years for the lawn to be as lush as a lawn that was laid with sod. Also, the cost of fertilizing and tending to the seeded lawn will lead to a higher cost in the long run. Therefore, to save time and money, the best investment for your lawn is to sod it. Question: What is healthy sod and how can I tell the difference?Answer: The sod you purchase should be lush and full but not thatchy no matter what the season. You should inspect the bottom-side of the sod, or the roots, to make sure they are plentiful and white, indicating good health. Question: I’m removing old sod and replacing with new sod. What’s the best way to remove old grass?Answer: If the old sod is thin, first kill the old grass and weeds with Roundup and then rototill and simply remove any clumps of grass that remain. If the sod is thick and more lush, then use a walk-behind sod harvester to lift the old sod. Remove the old sod and begin soil preparation. Question: What should I do for ground preparation before installing sod?Answer: A lush lawn can be only as good as the ground preparation, just like building a good foundation for a house. This process should start days in advance. Remove all weeds and debris, rototilling or working the the soil as deep as possible (4 to 6 inches). Mix in a minimum of 3 to 4 cubic yards of organics, like planters mix, per 1000 square feet of area and establish a smooth and consistent grade for the sod installation. Water the area a few days ahead to allow the soil to settle before installation. Click this link for more information about preparing for sod installation. Question: Do you have any tips for taking care of new sod?Answer: Water is key to healthy and lush sod. You must water your newly-laid sod every day for two weeks to insure it is getting the hydration and nutrition it needs to root and secure itself. Water should penetrate 6 inches below the sod in order for the sod to knit with the soil. We have more advice about care immediately after installation and mowing and watering your new sod lawn. Question: How many pieces of sod are on a pallet and is there a standard size of each piece?Answer: There are a total of 54 rolls on a pallet. Each roll is two feet wide and five feet long equaling 10 square feet, therefore the entire pallet contains 540 square feet of sod. The Colorado industry standard is usually a 10-square-foot roll, however some farms do slabs and smaller and larger rolls. We also harvest big rolls of sod that are two feet wide and 125 feet long for 250 square feet per roll. If you have any other questions or you need some advice, please call Emerald Sod Farms at 303-654-0202. |
