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The short answer is no. The long answer depends on your vehicle’s payload, but even though it still may be best not to. “But it’s just some grass…how heavy can it be?” An average pallet of sod can weigh anywhere from 3,000 to 4,000 pounds, and if it has rained recently, it can weigh even more! This is why it is so important to plan how you intend to transport your newly purchased sod ahead of time. A car or SUV, no matter the size, is simply not equipped to haul anything of this weight. Many pickup trucks cannot handle this much weight either. “I’m not convinced….” Still, think your Explorer can handle it? First, check out its payload rating. That’s what tells you how much weight your vehicle can carry, including all passengers and cargo. This is different from your vehicle’s towing capacity, which is how much weight your vehicle can pull behind it.

If you could describe Florida (or the entire Southeast US) in two words, they would be hot and humid. Lawns are under constant assault by harsh weather conditions, ranging from mildly droughty to moist, oppressive heat. So when you’re spending thousands on landscaping to have the nicest yard on the block, you want to make sure the grass types you choose will stand up to the elements. Here are our top 5 types of grass that thrive in the blistering hot Florida sun.  St. Augustine Grass St. Augustine grass is the gold standard for grass in Florida and flourishes in many Floridian yards, near the coast and further inland. With origins in the Gulf of Mexico, this native grass blossoms under both extreme heat and milder temps. This coarse-leaf grass comes in colors from medium green to blue-green.  It is the most shade tolerant of all the warm-season turfgrass and holds up well to moderate traffic. It will even stay green through the winter months with minimal water, but it needs good air circulation to prevent disease. 

Pros and Cons of Artificial Turf Pros: No need to mow– We all love our weekends, and this gives us that time back.  Artificial will require raking and regularly blowing. No allergy issues– Those of us plagued with allergy concerns may be able to avoid this issue, at least with grass allergies. Works well in the shade– In that super shady spot in the yard, this grass will do much better than traditional turf.

The Florida climate presents unique benefits and challenges when installing and nurturing sod.  It’s important to understand how the Florida environment impacts sod so that you can take the right measures to protect your sod and encourage lasting growth.  Protect Your New Sod from Disease Even in a well-established lawn, humidity and heat can be a breeding ground for fungal disease. New sod is especially susceptible because it does not have established roots. There isn’t anything you can do about the level of humidity in the Tampa area, but there are some things you can do to try to protect your grass. First, remove large tree branches or other unnecessary landscaping elements. This will allow more airflow to get to the grass. This airflow keeps the grass drier, which prevents the formation of fungal diseases. You should also avoid extra watering of your sod during this time of year.

It’s not just residential homes that need sod; it’s sports fields and stadiums as well. Many professional and collegiate stadiums have made headlines by investing in sod over grass seed or artificial turf.  Choosing the right blends of grass can greatly affect the results you achieve in your fields. For example, while blends that include Kentucky Bluegrass and ryegrass are often preferred in cool-season zones, these kinds of sod blends aren’t generally considered to be appropriate in hot or humid climates like Florida.  For this reason, many stadiums and sports fields prefer to take advantage of the unique benefits of Bermudagrass.  Bermudagrass Bermudagrass is a fan favorite for outdoor sports because it has the beautiful appearance of golf course grass. Bermudagrass is perhaps most famously used on the field at Bucks’ stadium. This type of sod offers many important benefits that make it perfect for outdoor sports, including golf, baseball, football, and more, especially in hot, humid southern states like Florida. 

Buying 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.