Sod is grass that has already begun the growing process, and is preferred over grass seeds because of this fact. Growing a lawn from grass seeds takes a lot more time for grass to grow and mature into a lush lawn. Sod is generally more expensive than grass seeds, but is worth the extra money because of the fast results. It is grown on a sod farm, cut into squares to make it easier to lay, and then sold to consumers or lawn care contractors. Sod is comprised of grass and topsoil that grow into the soil where it is placed and creates a healthy lawn in up to 30 days.
Much like seeds, each type of grass has its own type of sod for the growing process. Some of the types grow better in certain climates than other ones, and therefore require different maintenance routines. Sod can be separated into two types: warm season and cool season.
Warm Season
Warm season grass, as the name suggests, thrives best during hot weather seasons and are ideal for areas in the south.
Bahia
This type grows best in Florida and the Southern Atlantic coastlines. It is extremely drought, bug, and disease resistant; therefore it is perfect for high-traffic areas. It is a very thick and coarse grass, needs to be cut every 5-7 days, but rarely needs to be watered.
Bermuda
It is very common in the south and requires full sun for proper growth. Bermuda grass is very drought-resistant, good for high-traffic areas, coarse, and must be cut at a height of 1-2 inches. During the winter, this grass turns brown and becomes quiescent, but when the weather warms up, the grass turns green again.
Zoysia
Zoysia is a slow-growing grass that grows wells in the southern and transitional zone. It requires full sun, and must be watered if there is a drought that lasts longer than one week.
Centipede
Centipede grows at a very slow rate but is a very low-maintenance grass. It can grow in full sun or partial sun, and thrives well in acidic soil levels. This type has very shallow roots, and therefore can be infected with bugs easily.
St. Augustine
One of the most popular types of grass in the south, it provides a thick and green lawn that does not handle cold weather very well at all. It is not for high-traffic areas, and grows the best in sunny and warm areas.
Cool Season
Cool season grasses are mostly grown in the northern areas that have a cooler climate year-round. When these grasses are exposed to extreme heat or drought, they become dormant and must be kept moist during whilst planting the sod.
Kentucky Bluegrass
It is most often mixed with other types of grass to ensure the best growth results. This type grows the best in loose soil and with shady conditions. One problem with Kentucky Bluegrass is that it sometimes needs to be treated with a fungicide due to it being prone to leafspot disease.
Perennial Ryegrass
It doesn't need to be exposed to full sun to survive, and is also mixed with bluegrass or fescue grasses to make it look uniform because it grows in bunches. This type is often used to seed grasses in the south that go dormant during cold seasons.
Fine Fescue
There are three different types: creeping red, hard, and chewings. Fescues grow the absolute best in cool and shady climates, so high temperatures will require more water and maintenance.
Tall Fescue
This type of fescue is used mostly in mixes due to the fact that it grows in bunches instead of in a uniform pattern. It is low maintenance and handles high traffic very well, which is why it is the grass of choice on sports fields.
