How to Pick the Right Sod
- 1). Pay a visit to the county extension office. Gather information from the horticulturist on the best sod grasses for your location as well as advice on what sod type is most likely to grow successfully on the soil in your yard.
- 2). Analyze the type of soil that you have in your yard. Soil is usually sandy, loam or clay. In some instances, it's a combination of two soil types. If you aren't sure what type soil you have, you can take a sample with you in a paper bag or plastic container to the nursery. For best results, dig up samples from different locations. Choose Bermuda grasses if you have sandy or clay type soils. Pick fescue or Zoysia grasses for loamy soils.
- 3). Consider whether the sod grasses are going to have full, partial or limited exposure to the sun. Bermuda grasses and Zoysia grasses do better in full sun, while St. Augustine and fescue tolerate shady conditions well.
- 4). Select sod types that perform well in the climate you live in. Plant Kentucky bluegrass, fescue and perennial ryegrass in cool climate zones. Pick warm-weather grasses such as Centipede, St. Augustine, Bermuda and Zoysia if you live in a warmer zone that has a mild winter. Some grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass, grow well in both zones.
- 5). Visit other homes that have sodded yards. Analyze what you expect your grass to look like. If you're looking for grasses that stand upright yet develop a root system that allows them to spread out to cover any thin spots, consider Bermuda and St. Augustine grasses. Centipede grass stays closer to the ground.
- 6). Assess how much time you want to spend mowing the grass and fertilizing it. Centipede grass grows slowly and doesn't take much fertilizer. Bermuda grass needs frequent fertilizing and grows quickly. Fescue grasses grow at a moderate speed and take moderate amounts of fertilizer.
- 7). Compare the sod selection available at different nurseries, as well as the costs. Remember to include the cost of installation if the nursery is doing it.
