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Sod Types: Choosing the Lawn For You

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One of the best summertime feelings that immediately brings you back to your childhood is blades of grass tickling your bare feet and slipping between your toes (and if you happen to be eating a popsicle at the same time, so much the better). A grassy area provides a swath of vibrant green that adds a beautiful dimension to your landscape while providing many sod, grass types, cool climate grass, warm climate grass, sod types, grass sod, bermuda sod, zoysia sod, centipede sodbenefits, including replenishing ground water, preventing soil erosion, and absorbing carbon dioxide while releasing oxygen and cooling surrounding areas. It does all this as it adds to the value of your home.

There are many different types of grass and to be sure your yard is healthy and alive, it helps to consider the characteristics of where the grass will grow. Is the area sunny or mostly in the shade? What kind of soil will it grow in; clay, sandy, robust topsoil? Do you have a lot of kids playing on it so that it will need to support a lot of traffic? Are weeds or irrigation a concern? A professional sod contractor can help you navigate through these decisions. 

Once you’ve determined the type of area where you want your grass, you can pick from a large variety according to the characteristics you want for your lawn. There are three basic climates that categorized different grasses, Cool, Warm, and Transitional.


Cool Climates Grass

Grasses that thrive in cool climates experience the majority of their growth in the Spring and Fall. They withstand hot summers, cold winters, and the occasional drought. Some grasses that do well in this climate include Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and a variety of fescues. They wear well, are more tolerant of temperature extremes, and are effective at crowding out weeds.


Warm Climate Grass

The main growing season for these grasses is during the summer. They require more attention to the proper soil and irrigation as well as how they are planted. In cooler temperatures they will turn brown as they go dormant but when in season, they can provide a velvety carpet. Some warmer climate grasses include Bermuda (Tifton Bermuda 419 is used on golf courses), Zoysia, Centipede, and St Augustine. Their characteristics vary (Bermuda does poorly in shade but Zoysia thrives, Centipede is fairly easy to maintain but Zoysia requires moderate maintenance and dethatching) so check to see which grass is best for your situation.


Transition zones

These areas are the buffer between the Cool and Warm climates where some, but not all, grasses from each climate grow well. The grasses that work best for you depend on what part of the Transition zone you are in and generally follow the division of cooler and warmer climates grasses (i.e., the farther North, the more a Cool Climate grass will be successful; the farther South, Warm Climate grasses work best).

Whatever grass you choose, a green carpet throughout your garden provides a place to play and relax. Visit the sod and hydro-seed contractor at EnhanceScape for help in deciding which option is best for you.