Landscaping, Irrigation, & Lawn Care Advice | Ground Source Blog

Basic Facts About Sod: Advantages and Disadvantages

Written by Joe Mouad | Oct 22, 2019 5:11:40 PM

Here are some basic things about sod and sod benefits in Orlando you should know before preparing for the installation.

Sod is living turf grass that has already been planted by seed on a professional farm devoted to this type of crop and then harvested 10 to 18 months by slicing a very thin layer of topsoil, an inch or so. Farmers sow various lawn types or combinations of grasses, such as Kentucky Bluegrass or perennial rye grass in large amounts. Sod plants are healthier, as they have been professionally grown. To get strong roots, sod grass has been planted in the best soil, has been regularly fertilized and has enjoyed enough water. The sod with grass and their roots that have the moist soil still on them is further rolled or stacked on the farm and sent for sale to get to the new owner, who will install it.

The main advantages of sod, and here we are talking about a properly installed one, are eliminating many problems related to erosion, mud and dust control, less risk of failure to install it, very fast stabilization and no trouble with weeds, minimizing the future need to use herbicides.

Also, sod can be laid practically any time of the year. Because its roots are developed, sod grass is able to establish itself in prepared soil in almost any season, with the exception that the land is not frozen. And if you are also interested in aesthetics, and you should be, then you need to know that sod makes a denser lawn, as grass plants are sown close together so there are no bare spots.

As for disadvantages, there are also some for sod. For example, the cost, which is higher than seeding, but sometimes the money is worth to pay, or the necessity for irrigation in the early weeks. Also, the need to install it immediately after buying might be a drawback. Never purchase a few squares of sod from a large home and garden store, because there is a great chance that it has been sitting for more than a day, and may not root well.

What should you use it for? Sod prevents the erosion of precious topsoil in lawn areas that are sloppy or hilly, but it's also useful for the people who want to eliminate mud on new properties. For the owners that already have a lawn, maybe they are considering renovating it, as the grass became thin and it has lots of weeds, or they just need to patch the bare spots in the lawn. For any of these reasons, the sod can prove itself helpful for its rapidity, solid grass and nice aspect. Call us to find out more about sod benefits.