Knowledge comes with experience and yet if we don’t have the knowledge how are we going to get good experiences that don’t turn us completely away from the knowledge-gaining opportunities. Instead of wandering around blindly, you seek out others who already have the knowledge. And we are going to give what you so desperately need—some knowledge to get you started.
If you are looking for sod you want to know you have the best quality sod for your yard or business. So how will you know if it’s sitting right in front of you or if you need to continue looking? Here are some key signs to know if you are looking at quality sod or not:
• Consistency
• Fertilization
• Maturity
• Time of Harvest
Consistency
When it comes to the consistency of the soil you have to also take into account how much of that sod is soil. The sod you are getting needs to have no more than an inch of soil. If you have more soil you are getting too much in between the grass’ roots and the soil of your yard. If you have less soil you won’t have enough to support the grass until it is fully established and the roots have had a chance to grow into the soil below the sod.
The consistency of the soil in the sod is important to the survival of your sod. If the soil looks like it is falling apart, the consistency is not right. Think about it, if the soil is falling apart it will fall apart when you need it to stay together. When you are laying the sod, the soil is an important key to the whole process because it is the only thing that is keeping the grass alive, it is the only source of nutrients for the sod. The soil is what has to sustain the sod until it can get access to the new soil and adapt to it.
Now, on the other hand if the soil is so packed down that there is no chance of it falling apart you are faced with another problem. Those small meshy roots of the grass need to get through in order to take root in the yard base soil. If the soil is too hard packed your grass will run out of nutrients and die before it can battle its way past that wall of soil.
Fertilization
Make sure you know that the sod you are looking at has been fertilized properly. With proper fertilization your sod can be more drought resistant as well as less apt to become diseased. Fertilizer also influences the color of your grass and helps it recover from stress, such as the stress of being uprooted and transplanted somewhere else. Well fertilized sod will further you along towards a happy, healthy green lawn.
Also, when buying sod, it is important to know how long its been since the last time it was fertilized. You don’t want to over fertilize your lawn almost as much as you don’t want to under fertilize it. Both extremes could lead to problems such as crabgrass, wilting, or a disease called Brown Patch.
Maturity
Mature grass should be a given qualification for what makes quality sod. You definitely don’t want sod that has grass that’s still trying to make its claim in the world. So what does it mean in terms of sod, to be mature. How can you tell if it is mature or not? There are a few things such as how dense it is or the uniformity of the color that will make it easier to figure out its maturity.
One very important sign of maturity is the roots. All the roots should like a dense spider web of tangled, intertwined mess of roots. When they are all knit together like that they will be able to survive the handling that goes on between being cut, transported, inspected, sold, transported again, and installation. That thick mesh of roots should also be somewhat visible so that you know it will starting establishing itself in the soil once its laid.
The grass itself should be the same color throughout, no patches of a different shade of green. If its not all the same that is a sign of immature, unhealthy, or diseased grass. That same grass should be very dense, thick, and about 2 inches long at the very least. When it is dense you know that it won’t look sparse when it comes time to lay it down.
Time of Harvest
There is about an 8 hour time frame to work in from the time the sod is cut at the sod farm to when it is replanted. If the sod is not replanted within that window of time it starts to become stressed from all the moisture loss.
Three of the simplest things to look for in order to tell if the sod has been harvested for too long are discoloration, warmth, and moisture.
Discoloration is the easiest because you don’t even have to touch it to be able to tell. If the grass isn’t all the same shade of green then there is a high probability that its probably been out too long.
Warmth is important to check for because it reveals more than the eye can see. Feel into the middle of the pallet of sod you are looking at. If the center is warm it means it has been out if the sun far too long and it has started decomposition. This also reveals the beginnings of thatch or dead grass. Your new yard has no place for dead or decomposing grass, especially since you are paying for it.
Moisture has two parts to it really. Good, fresh sod will have moisture around the roots. Without that moisture it will start to wither from heat. The second part of moisture is around the edges. If the edges of the sod are dry or cracked there isn’t enough moisture in the entire pallet to keep the sod alive enough to get it to the planting location. Moisture is what keeps that sod going until it can get the other nutrients it needs from the soil. With moisture loss your sod not only becomes stressed but it also becomes more vulnerable to disease that it otherwise would have been.
Hi! I just had sod installed by someone I hired. I am in Stockton Ca where the weather has been in the 70’s, not quite 80’s. Anyhow, I picked a dwarf fescue and blue grass mix that is very popular around here.
The guy who installed laid sod on only half my yard on Thursday @ 5pm left over from a job he was doing all that day. He then came about 2pm the next day with sod he just picked up and laid the other half of my yard. Although he reassures me its the same type of grass, they look different. The sod he laid last looks thicker and nicer and the one he laid from left over is not so thick. They are also different shades of green. one looks darker than the other. Should I be worried and have him replace it? Thanks
We had some new lots put in by our house a while back and we helped the neighbors lay their sod. I didn’t really know what it was, but I could tell when the sod was good, and when it wasn’t. I didn’t realize that sod had to be laid so quickly. I realize that it makes sense that you don’t want to take your time, but I think about some of the sod I laid, and it was definitely older than 8 hours. Good stuff to know, thanks!
If the turf was laid on different days it is likely that it was cut from different parts of the field. This would probably account for the difference in color and texture. If it is the same seed blend the color will likely even out over a season. Apply a little extra fertilizer to the sod laid the first day to speed up the evening out process.
My friend just moved into a new house, and we were thinking about getting his lawn done over the weekend. I had no idea that you should look at the maturity of the sod when buying. Until now, I never really knew that you could look at that sort of thing.
If the pallets of sod have been rolled up just sitting in the lot next to us for at least two weeks and brown what do you think???
Hi. I hired a contractor to do major landscaping in my yard. He did landscaping on 2 of my neighbor’s yards with amazing results. So when it came time to lay my sod (Zeon Zoysia) I was excited. It was a large project so the sod was delivered on a large flatbed truck. The sod was installed late in day. I noticed several “brown or dead” patches but my husband and I thought it may perk up. Now, 3 weeks later, I have several areas of dead sod and many, many weeds. I almost feel silly to ask if weeds are normal in new sod?? – But I struggle to believe the same man who did the neighbor’s projects would screw up mine. So my questions to anyone who may know enough to answer are:
– Could stacking the sod on the flatbed truck cause damage to the bottom layers of sod.
– Are weeds normal in sod?? (not apparent in neighbor’s sod)
Sorry for the delay in response. The dead spots are caused by heating in the rolls or pallets. If the sod is cut during the heat of the day the center of the pallet or roll will retain that heat and cause it to multiply. If you can see green sprigs within the brown spots it will likely grow out just fine, but if there are no green blades you will probably need to replace the dead areas.
As for weeds, there are some annual grasses, like watergrass, that can sprout when the new sod is laid in high temperatures but their roots are shallow and should die off with the first frost as long as you are watering your lawn properly. Other broad leaf weeds may be present in the top soil and poke through newly planted sod. The best defense against weeds is a healthy lawn, so use a post emergent herbicide or hand weed once the roots of the new sod is socked down into the soil and then refer to our Lawn Care Guide for further maintenance tips.
Good luck with your new lawn.
If the sod is brown the roots are likely burnt and it will not grow once planted. Also, if there is a musty smell that is a clear indication of mold or heating in the pallet and it should be recycled.