Facts About Turf and Sod

Turfgrass sod is better at slowing water runoff and preventing erosion

Seeded slopes show 10 to 12 times greater runoff than sodded during high rates of irrigation or rain. In tests, water soaked into sod at a rate of 7.6 inches per hour, compared with 2.3 to 2.5 inches per hour into seeded slopes.

When nitrates are found in nearby ground water, turf fertilization is sometimes wrongly accused. In fact, tests show that growing turfgrass sod plants absorb most fertilizer nitrogen almost immediately and very little in the way of applied nutrients escape the grass itself. The small amount of phosphate in turf fertilizers is quickly 'fixed' by the turfgrass and soil, contributing to plant growth that has many ecological benefits.

Microbes in turfgrass sod help break down chemicals

The use of pesticides on turf has caused concern. Yet, tests show that dense turfgrass sod slows runoff velocity and allows water to infiltrate where soil microbes degrade the chemicals.

Pesticides watered in after application stay in the thin layer of thatch in healthy turfgrass. The root zones of the mature grass plants also provide excellent conditions for more complete herbicide degradation.

Sod helps groundwater replacement

An acre of turfgrass sod provides an average of 600,000 gallons of water replacement each year under average rainfall.

A typical 150 acre golf course located in the Northeast, for example, will recharge the water table with 90 million gallons of rainwater and snowmelt a year. This golf course would use about 9 million gallons of water a year for irrigation, providing a net gain of 81 million gallons for water table replenishment.

Do you know your square footage?

We want to ensure your needs are adequately met when it comes to planning your square footage requirements. Not having enough grass to complete a yard can be an inconvenience; too much grass can mean added expenses. Here are a few helpful guidelines for calculating your area:

• Square or rectangle yards: Length X Width = Square footage
• Triangle areas: Width X Height X 0.5 = Square footage
• Oval areas: Length X Width X 0.8 = approximate square footage
• Circular areas: (Diameter /2)2 X 3.14 = approximate square footage

Other helpful guidelines:

• 1 cubic yard of Compost will top dress roughly 1,000 square feet.
• 1 cubic yard of compost will mix into 500 square feet when tilled.
• 1 bushel of sprigs/stolons will cover an area of 100 square feet.
• Plugging uses 10% at minimum of your calculated square footage.
• 1 sheet of sod will plug an 80 square foot area at a 10% ratio.

Plugging is a popular alternative to soding. Plugs are cut from a sod sheet, usually 2-4 inch cubes spaced roughly 8 inches (center to center) apart. Plugging requires a higher consumption of water and fertilizer; it also allows a higher chance of weed infestation. Herbicide is not recommended for controlling weeds when plugging as it hinders the growth of the grass.

Southern Turf Hawaii guarantees that any grass purchased will be delivered in a good, healthy condition. Since we have no control over installation methods, watering, existing soil conditions, insects, weather or storage conditions; Southern Turf’s liability terminates upon acceptance of our product.

We cannot physically measure sites; therefore, the accuracy of the square footage requirements lies solely on the customer. We do not accept returns on sod orders due to the above quality control concerns.

Turfgrass Lawn Color: Can too much green be bad?

The key factors affecting the green color of turfgrass, beyond its natural color, are Nitrogen, Sulfur and Iron (Manganese plays a minor role).

For most turfgrasses, the 'ultimate' dark green color is achieved with Nitrogen fertilizer. Yet, achieving that 'ultimate' green with excessive Nitrogen can carry a heavy price—in added fertilizer costs and potential damage to your lawn.

Water Stress

Excessive Nitrogen causes higher evapotranspiration rates (the rate at which your lawn gives up its moisture to the air). This uses up the water in the roots' vicinity faster and means watering more frequently to keep the grass plants' moisture balance. It also restricts root development, so roots may not be able to reach available water.

Disease

Excessive Nitrogen accentuates the effects of disease and insect injury to grass plants.

Root Dieback

Too much Nitrogen can cause roots to dieback and decrease in size and number.

Reduced recovery from stress

Too much fertilizer exhausts the grassplants' carbohydrate reserves, restricting the turf's power to recuperate, and reducing its ability to endure heat, drought, cold and winter desiccation.

How much fertilizer is too much?

The Nitrogen level at which negative effects occur depends on the turfgrass species and cultivar, soil texture, amount and frequency of rain and irrigation, and whether grass clippings are removed or left on the turfgrass. As a rule-of-thumb, fertilization rates greater than 1 pound of actual Nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. per application exhaust grassplant carbohydrates.