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

Why We Only Buy from Certain Sod Farms: Pro Tips for the Orlando & Apopka, FL Area

Written by Joe Mouad | Jul 14, 2021 2:21:58 PM

Sometimes being picky is a pain, like when your dinner guest will only eat tofu, bean sprouts, and imported water.

But sometimes being picky is a good thing, like when your landscaping company will only do business with the best, high-quality sod farms.

We admit it — we’re really picky about where we get our sod.

What do we look for in a reputable sod farm?

Here’s a look:

A Sod Farm That Invests in Good Products

Quality sod starts early, including the use of the right insecticides and fungicides to keep bugs and diseases from attacking.

We’re especially concerned about sod webworms, ground-dwelling caterpillars that love feasting on grass. They can really destroy your lawn.

We only buy from sod farms that use an expensive webworm preventative, to keep the sod free of those summer-time damaging pests.

Sod Farms That Fertilize

Proper fertilization early on means your sod will be healthier, more drought and disease resistant.

Fertilizer also improves the color of your grass and helps it recover from stress — like the stress of being uprooted and transplanted to your yard.

Sod Farms That Grow Grass with Healthy Roots

We look for sod with sturdy, healthy roots, mature enough so the sod won’t fall apart.

The roots should look tangled and intertwined, sturdy enough to survive the handling that goes on between being the sod farm and your yard.

Nearly Weed Free, Please

We look for sod that’s 99.5 percent weed free.

We have zero tolerance for torpedo grass or Bermuda grass weeds, aggressive grassy weeds that are tough to control.

We Hit the Road for Quality Sod

The sod farms we buy from aren’t exactly in our back yard. They’re 100 and 120 miles away.

We drive about an hour farther than we need to and pay about 12 percent more in order to get sod that’s consistently high quality and holds up great, even in the more challenging installation months of June through September.

What Should Healthy Sod Look Like?

Here’s what we look for — and you should look for these qualities in your sod, too:

  • Dense, with nice, even color
  • Moist soil near the roots
  • Roots should be intertwined close together
  • The attached soil should be about one inch deep.
  • There shouldn’t be any thatch. That’s a sign that it's old sod, not recently harvested.


Speaking of Recently Harvested...

We pick up fresh-cut sod from the sod farm and bring it directly to your property.
But that’s not always the case with other suppliers.

Some sod installers might store the sod overnight, or over the weekend, and water it to keep the top pieces green. When temperatures heat up the grass will become hot and diseased.

Fresh from the Sod Farm to Your Yard: Trust Ground Source

You want the healthiest sod from the very beginning, for a successful start in your yard.

Trust us to find the best quality sod, then bring it quickly from the sod farm to your soil.

We’re sod experts, but our skills don’t stop there. We’re with you every step of the way as you plan your perfect outdoor space.

Sod, irrigation, landscape design: Let us transform your yard from an embarrassing eyesore to a place you spend every spare minute.

Are you ready to enjoy the vibrant, impressive yard you've always wanted? Request a quote today! We’ll help you review your options and then transform your property.