Author: onpageseo

Buying new sod is a major investment that will dramatically alter your home’s curb appeal, so it’s important to approach this purchase carefully. Ask all the right questions so that you can make the best decisions for your yard.  Where Will Your Sod Come From? Some sod “farms” don’t follow best sod practices. They’ll charge you a steep price for low-quality sod that they install improperly. This is why it’s critical to purchase your sod from a local, trusted sod farm like Council Growers. Our commitment to the customer is to bring you specialty turf grasses beyond what is commonly available. Our farms are located near the Tampa Bay area, allowing us to generally have lower freight charges and provide better service to our customers.

Many people think of spring and summer as the best time to plant sod. But in reality, one of the best times to plant sod is in the cooler months of October and beyond. The cooler months give sod a lot of advantages in taking root and growth. If you are from the North, you might think that it is much too late to plant sod. But in central Florida, it is an ideal time.Cooler TemperaturesThe cooler temperatures in October and later mean that your sod is less prone to disease and rot. The high heat of summer and early fall is really too hot for new sod because the heat will stress the turf. The few cold fronts that are coming in now and during the next few months make it the ideal time to plant sod.

You may think that summer is the time to take care of yard work and lawn projects. But in reality, fall that is more suitable for installing new turf grass. There are several reasons that you should wait until fall to start your lawn projects. The cooler temperatures, the lower humidity, and other factors make fall the best time to install turf grass.Lower HumidityThe lower humidity in fall will help your new sod from developing fungus, mold, or other conditions that can come about from too much moisture. Although it is important to keep sod moist while you are waiting for it to grow its root system, it is also vital that you do not let the sod get too moist to prevent disease and rot. In the fall, it is much easier to regulate moisture because you will be dealing with much lower humidity, even though you will still have occasional rainfall.

The weather during this time of year in Florida can be unpredictable. You might have rain for days and then none for over a week. While it is important to make sure that your turf stays moist and healthy, you also want to make sure that you don’t overwater it. There are several things that can happen if your turf is overwatered.Root System HealthThe root system of the turf is what draws in water and oxygen into the grass. When a lawn is overwatered, the root system will drown and be unable to draw the oxygen the grass needs to thrive. The roots can shrivel and begin to die off if the problem is not quickly addressed.

We are pleased to announce that we are now offering the new Provista St Augustine turf grass from Scott. This amazing new turf has a lot of advantages over other types of grass or turf. Learn more here about this new offering and how it can benefit residential and commercial locations alike.Weed ControlProvista St Augustine is a specially bred grass turf that is resistant to weeds. It grows very dense so that weeds do not have room to take root. It is also designed to tolerate a larger number of weed control products without damaging the health of the grass. This means that the sod you receive will be completely weed free, and it will be easy to maintain weed-free grass for years to come.

As summer turns to fall, plants and grasses in northern states are busy preparing for their winter hibernation as temperatures start to cool, making sod installation a difficult task beyond September. But that’s not the case in Florida! Florida’s unique climate makes it possible to install sod nearly all year long, and growth can take place any time. In fact, the autumn and early winter are the perfect times to install new sod in your Florida yard. Less Vulnerability to Insects and Diseases Florida has its fair share of plant diseases, pests, and insects. From fungal diseases and brown patches to cutworms and chinch bugs, turf grass can become vulnerable to a variety of problems. Sod installation is ideal during the autumn and early winter because the majority of those bugs and illnesses pose less of a threat to new grass.   

How long have you been fighting an uphill battle to grow healthy, green grass on the shaded parts of your property? Sod naturally loves the sun and thrives in its heat, so sustaining sod in the shade requires diligence and strategy. What Does the Shade Scale Say? The Shade Scale helps you visualize which types of sod might best match the levels of sun and shade on your property each day. Bahia sod demands the most sun and simply cannot grow without full sun exposure every morning and afternoon. Ivy, on the other hand, can be used as a ground cover that thrives in near total shade. In between Bahia and Ivy are a variety of sods that have shade-tolerant characteristics:St. Augustine Zoysia Bermuda Native Seashore Paspalum

Florida’s summers are long and hot, so when your sod starts to look dry, it’s an instinctive reaction to water it more… and more… and more. Unfortunately, too much water is just as dangerous as too little water. Learn to identify the signs so you can nourish your sod with the best amount of water and help it survive Florida’s harsh summer weather. Why Is Overwatering Dangerous? Too much water drowns grass roots and causes the soil to become waterlogged. The roots slowly drown and rot, causing blades of grass to wilt and die. This isn’t the effect you want to see! Even if you don’t drown the grass roots entirely, you will unknowingly create a shallow root system that lacks the resilience of deeply rooted systems. Ironically, overwatering your lawn can even make your sod more vulnerable to drought, insects, weeds, and disease.

If your yard’s natural grass doesn’t offer the attractive curb appeal you’ve always wanted, you aren’t stuck living with it as a fact of life. Instead, you can use sod to customize the appearance of your lawn and enjoy healthier, long-lasting ground cover.  Most Florida lawns are exposed to at least eight hours of strong sunshine per day, but if your property receives more shade than usual, certain shade tolerant sod types can still meet your needs. The Best Shade Tolerant Sods For Your Lawn