Friday, July 15, 2016

You poor sod



 

     It really is hard to believe that someone would lay sod at this time of the year, but it does happen. Judging by the dead and dying newly sodded lawns I've seen over the past few weeks, it happens a lot.

The same principal applies to seeding and that is why we don't recommend it once the summer heat hits. It is simply too tough a sale to ask grass to germinate in these drought conditions.

Now it's not that I am anti-sod, but there are things you should be aware of before you decide to replace your existing lawn.

Cost is #1. To replace an average size lawn of...let's say 3000 square feet you can easily pay 3 grand.

Take into consideration that 90% of sod is Kentucky Blue grass and you compound the issue further. Not exactly the deepest root system and unless you are pounding the lawn with biblical proportions of water your turf will suffer.

Also there are insects to consider, although endophytes are being introduced to Blue Grass there hasn't been as much success as in strains of fescues and rye gasses, so you are still ringing the dinner bell for grubs, chinch, sod webworm, army cutworm...etc.

Also understand: the sod that looks so wonderful in front of your new home has been treated with chemicals. No....not the organics we in the lawn care industry use...I'm talking the goooood stuff that all exempt businesses like sod growers use to maintain their product so they can deliver a pristine rolls of green to you, the consumer weed-free...at least until it's laid in temperatures like this and dies anyway.

So ask yourself, "who is the poor sod" --- the dying grass, or you, for shelling out three plus G's on new turf?

 It sure isn't the grower, merchant, or landscaper.