Growing the Most Beautiful Lawn in the NeighborhoodPart One

Selection

Factors to Consider Seed Hydroseed Turf Grass Sod

Advantages to Using Turf Grass Sod

Time of year to install Possible spring, best in fall for most areas Year-round installation

Soil Preparation Same for all types of lawn installation: Till soil, add amendments and fertilizers, grade and level, remove all debris, lightly pack and moisten.

Water Requirements Highest Moderate to High Lowest

Seed Quality Extremely variable. Generally lower than used in cultivated turf production.

Typically highest available turf quality, certified, elite seed. Mixtures & blends used to suit area needs.

Weed Control Multiple applications of chemicals usually required to combat competitive weed invasions until turf is well established.

Minimal, if any, chemical control required.

Uniformity of Coverage Some Spottiness 99% - 100% uniformity

Runoff / Erosion Highest Moderately High No runoff or erosion

Visual Impact Rough Texture and open soil

Colored mulches camouflage soil

Immediate beauty of mature landscape

Usability Low traffic use 2 to 4 months after seeding with faster germinating seed. Normal to high use only after first year.

Low traffic immediately. Normal to high traffic levels within 2 to 3 weeks.

Cost vs. Value Highest management and maintenance costs, compounded by increased water and chemical applications. Delay of use, poor uniformity and visually unappealing are trade offs for lower initials cost.

Laying turf grass sod means no weeds to fight, an immediate change in the appearance of your property and an increase of 7-15% in real estate value. Compared to seeding, you’ll have less expense watering and fertilizing and will realize a fully established , useable lawn in 2-3 weeks. Today we expect convenience, efficiency and quality in our products. Homes are being built in record time and attractive landscape is installed in hours. Why wait 1 or 2 years for a new lawn to struggle to maturity when you can have a beautiful turf grass sodded lawn complimenting your home right now. A high quality turf grass sodded lawn can be conveniently installed in hours with the end result being a total transformation of your property.

Installation Costs offset by added values of timing, real estate value, usability, uniformity & visual appeal. Reduced maintenance, chemical & water costs.

What Kind of Turf to Select

What Kind of Turf to Select Continued...

Consider the type of soil, amount of sunlight, susceptibility to disease or insects from nearby property. Determine the intended use of your area: ornamental, high traffic, sports, etc.

In the Intermountain West, several types of turf grass sod are available for ornamental and commercial purposes. Kentucky Bluegrass has long been a recognized species. In the last 25 years, turf grass scientists have developed additional species of grasses, namely, fine leaf perennial ryegrass and turf-type tall fescues. These were all developed from forage-type grasses, carrying forward the durability, drought tolerance and disease and insect resistance of those species while exhibiting characteristics of ornamental turf grass. Because of this, tall fescue has become a very popular species in the Intermountain West. When watered deeply and infrequently, established tall fescue needs fully one third less irrigating and fertilization to stay green compared to conventional Kentucky Bluegrass lawns. Its inherited heat tolerance keeps it from browning in the summer. Turf type tall fescue is a non-thatch former and will not spread into flower beds and borders. To adequately compare turf type tall fescue with Kentucky Bluegrass refer to the chart below.

Turf Type Kentucky Bluegrass / Tall Fescue Bluegrass Ryegrass MixCharacteristics Enduraturf® Teton Blue® 4Ever Blue® Xerilawn®Growth Rate Low to Moderate Medium Medium LowInsect Resistance High* Moderate High* HighDisease Resistance High* Fair to Good High* HighWater Requirements Medium High High Ultra LowDrought Tolerance High Fair to Good Fair to Good Very HighSummer Heat Tolerance High Fair to Good Fair to Good Very HighFertilizer Requirements Medium High High LowShade Tolerance Good Fair Fair to Good Medium to HighTraffic Tolerance High Medium High HighLeaf Texture Fine to Moderate Fine Fine with high luster FineCold Tolerance Medium to High High Medium to High HighRooting Depth Very Deep Shallow Moderate Deep

Weaknesses of Bluegrass Strengths of Ryegrass

Moderate disease and insect resistance High disease and insect resistant*Moderate traffic tolerance High traffic toleranceFair shade tolerance Moderate shade toleranceModerate drought tolerance Moderate drought toleranceTendency to thatch Non-thatch forming

* When endophytes are present. Endophytes are a type of fungus which live naturally within the ryegrass and turf type tall fescue plant. They live together symbiotically. The endophytes derive their nutrients from the plant and at the same time produce chemicals the grass needs to fight pests. Endophytes are recent turf industry development that has a dramatic difference in the quality, beauty and longevity of ornamental turf grass cultures.

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