Think beautiful lawns are only available in the spring and summer seasons? Think again! Our mild Arizona climate affords us the luxury of enjoying lush green lawns all year long, but that is only possible if you take proper care of your lawn from planning to planting to procuring.

Here are a few great tips to help you along your winter lawn care way:

Know the Best Grasses for Your Region.

Not all grass is created equally. Some sod is more durable than others, and you’ll often do best with the most damage-resistant species because they stand up best to the tough elements that can exist in our area. Here is a run-down of grasses commonly found in Arizona, beginning with those ranking highest in damage recovery. Each of these is an excellent option for our region, but some are a bit more durable and require a little less attention than others:

• Midiron – Excellent Damage Recovery
• Tifway 419 – Very Good Damage Recovery
• Tifgreen 328 – Fair Damage Recovery
• TifGrand – Fair Damage Recovery
• Palmetto St. Augustine – Fair Damage Recovery

Encourage Dormancy

If your lawn is Bermuda grass, it will go dormant in the winter, so encourage it to go peacefully by reducing the frequency of watering and fertilizing. This will slow its growth and allow you to prepare for overseeding more quickly.

Overseed to Ensure a Healthy Winter Lawn

Overseeding your summer lawn with perennial ryegrass in the winter is an excellent way to keep your lawn lush in lower-temperature months. Perennial ryegrass overseeding is a great way to compensate for the time your summer grass is in hibernation mode.

Adjust Your Watering Frequency

Hot Arizona summers require a good amount of watering to keep a lawn lush and green. You don’t have to expend as much energy watering, but your grass still needs moisture to grow. 15 minute watering sessions every 3 to 10 days should be good, but keep an eye on the water penetration. You want the water to reach depths of 4 to 6 inches. If it goes beyond that, the grass won’t be able to utilize the moisture. If your water penetration is less than that, it’s not reaching the roots. To test your water penetration, simply stick a long screwdriver into the ground to see how deeply it will go without too much force.

Learn About Water Conservation

Of course, water is a precious resource everywhere, but here in Arizona, it is particularly important that we pay attention to our water usage in this arid desert climate. You may be surprised to discover the water conservation educational resources that are available around you. Many local, city, and state governments’ water offices offer conservation classes, many of which are free or super affordable. See if you can find classes near you so you can make the most of your lawn watering experience.

Adjust Your Fertilizing Frequency

Although Arizona does not experience the cold and snow that other states do in the winter, our temperatures and climate are still altered during the winter months. You’ll want to adjust your fertilizing frequency, and likely the type of fertilizer you’re using, to account for the change in the elements. Fertilize your winter lawn about every three weeks with a 21-7-14 fertilizer.

These are just a few tips to help you get your winter lawn off to a healthy start. At Evergreen Turf, we are proud to offer a wide variety of sod options, and winter lawns are just one of our many specialties. Take a look at our selection, and let us know what questions we can answer for you.

People who live in southwest Arizona, including Phoenix and Tucson, have the option to keep their lawns green in winter. But many people have questions about this process. One of the most common questions we get asked is, “How long does it take for winter grass to grow?”

We’re here to answer that question for you, and provide other tips to create a beautiful, lush, green lawn in the winter. With just a little effort and proper overseeding, your winter lawn will be the envy of the neighborhood!

How Long Does Winter Grass Take to Grow?

It takes 7-10 days for the seed to germinate. Once the seed has germinated, your winter grass will begin to grow. Then it will take an additional 10-14 days for your grass to grow tall enough to mow.

Now that we’ve answered that popular question, let’s get into a bit more explanation and detail. That answer we just provided is accurate for folks who overseed their lawns. This is the most popular method of keeping a sod lawn green through winter. Typically, people in Arizona have a Bermuda lawn in the summer and overseed it with perennial ryegrass to keep it green through the winter.

Once you’ve spread the winter grass seed on your lawn, it’s extremely important to keep that soil moist for those first 7-10 days. If it’s not kept moist enough, the seeds may not germinate. During this critical time, you will want to water 4 to 5 times per day for very short cycles that leave no puddles and no dry spots. After the seed has germinated and grown to a height of 3/4″ to 1″, you may reduce watering to 2-3 times per day. After ten to fourteen days, you can reduce watering to once per day. Once your winter lawn is established, you will be able to water every other day through the winter.

Time It Right

Fall is generally the right time for overseeding, as it provides some time before the ground gets too cold to promote growth. Because our temperatures are warmer in Arizona than much of the country, late fall and early winter overseeding works perfectly, as the ground maintains much of its heat and provides an optimal germination place for the young grass.

Get Prepared with the Right Tools

You never want to find yourself in the middle of a job only to realize you’re short-handed in the tool department. Before you begin this task, make sure you have the following items available at your disposal:

• Lawn mower with the ability to drop to a height of 1/4″ to a 1/2″ from the ground
• Grass seed
• Rake
• Trash bag (or other vessel for disposal of the extra grass and debris)
• Sprinker (or other watering system)

Know How to Care for Your Overseeded Lawn.

You’ll want to make sure you have some type of irrigation or watering system in place. In Arizona, you’ll need to water your lawn three to four times on average for six to eight minutes per session for the first couple weeks to obtain the best results. Once the grass starts growing, you can reduce the time or frequency of watering, but be careful not to begin neglecting it.

Understand Your Fertilizer Options

If you’re inexperienced in the land of lawn care, you might think that all fertilizers are pretty much created equally. This simply isn’t so, but fertilizer is a vital part of the growth process for your grass. Make sure you read up on the various types of fertilizers, and be sure to speak to an expert if you have any questions. If you purchase the incorrect fertilizer, you may end up doing more harm than good to a lawn that would have otherwise turned out lush and healthy.

Get Our Full Guide to Fall Overseeding & Growing a Winter Lawn

Check out our step-by-step guide to fall overseeding. It will walk you through the whole process on how to transition your lawn from warm season to cool season. Contact us if you have any questions. You can also sign up for our newsletter by entering your email address in the box on the right of this page, and we will email you each spring and fall when it’s time to start getting your lawn ready for the upcoming season.

One of the best tips for keeping your Arizona lawn healthy and green through winter is to over seed with perennial ryegrass. This will ensure your Arizona winter grass stays green through the cooler season, no matter what grass you’ve originally used to create your lawn. The southwest climate can be challenging for gardeners, that includes the winter months. Rest assured, you can establish a healthy, verdant lawn all year round when you overseed with cool season grass into your existing sod lawn during October.

How to Over Seed Your Arizona Sod With Ryegrass

It is possible to create a healthy year-round lawn in the Arizona climate. If you live in warmer climates below elevations of 6,000 feet you’ll probably have warm season sod, such as Bermuda grass. Overseeding your lawn with cool-season perennial ryegrass ensures your lawn is perfect through winter.

Follow the three steps below to overseed your warm season sod and ensure your Arizona winter grass is the healthiest it can be:

1. When night temperatures fall below 65 degrees, overseed your lawn with perennial ryegrass. This is usually during the first weeks of October.

2. Scalp and de-thatch your summer lawn. Drop mower blades to between 1/4″ and 1/2″ and mow until all green tissue is removed. Dispose of all clippings and, if necessary, use a power rake to remove any remaining thatch. The lawn will appear very bare, with short and brownish grass.

3. Seeding: Use a good quality ryegrass seed and spread it in two directions, to minimize any overlaps or skips. Spread seed in one direction and then in a direction perpendicular to the first. This will ensure you don’t have any skipped areas or overlap areas where too much seed has been sown.

How much seed do I need?

Recommended amounts of seed vary based on your needs. If you keep the lawn cut to between 1″ and 2″ then sow 12 pounds of ryegrass seed to every 1,000 square feet of lawn. If you prefer to keep your home lawn cut shorter (1/2″ – 1″), then sow 15 pounds of ryegrass seed per 1,000 square feet of lawn.

Care of Your Newly Seeded Winter Ryegrass Lawn in Arizona

Once your sod has been seeded with ryegrass you’ll need to fertilize. Use a starter fertilizer in a 6-20-20 or 15-15-15 composition for best results and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for best results. Water your lawn well afterwards and keep your ryegrass seedbed well watered for the next seven to ten days. You need to water four to five times a day for short cycles and you should expect your seeds to germinate within this timeframe. If you cannot maintain the schedule for watering the seeded lawn you may wish to mulch instead as this will retain water and heat that’s necessary for your seeds to germinate.

After about 14 days your seeds will have germinated and watering can be reduced to once daily.

You can begin mowing your lawn around 10 to 14 days after seeds have germinated and start to feed the lawn once per month. Fertilizers with iron are ideal for perennial ryegrass, while watering can be cut down to every other day until temperatures begin to rise in spring.

Your Arizona winter grass can be an attractive garden feature if it is overseeded with ryegrass to ensure it remains green and lush through winter. Where you have warm season sod and are situated at elevations below 6,000 feet, adding ryegrass to the lawn is a simple matter that yields stunning results.

Evergreen Turf is your source for the highest quality sod in Arizona. Our friendly, knowledgeable people are committed to answering all of your questions to ensure a stress-free experience with your new Arizona sod lawn. Whether you wish to sod a small play area for the family or an entire golf course, Evergreen Turf can help you make it happen.

Our team serves customers throughout Arizona, including Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and Tucson. Browse our website for information and tips on how to create and maintain a beautiful lawn, or give us a call and talk to one of our sod specialists at 602-626-9959 if you don’t find what you are looking for. Better yet, stop by and meet the team at our convenient Chandler location.

A fire pit is a natural attraction. People are drawn to the crackle of the fire, the dancing flames, and the conversations that take place around the fire. Are you interested in adding a fire pit to your yard? You may be surprised at how simple and affordable this project can be. We’ve gathered some of our favorite fire pit ideas that are perfect for a variety of Arizona yards and will entice your friends and family to join you at the fire!

Concrete Paver Fire Pit

One of the most popular DIY fire pit ideas is to construct the wall surrounding the pit out of concrete landscaping pavers. These pavers are sold at home improvement and garden stores and are incredibly affordable. Because the size and shape of a concrete paver fire pit is easily modified it is perfect for any size yard. Make sure the ground is level and take the time to create a barrier to keep the fire from spreading from the fire pit to the rest of the yard.

Washer Drum Fire Pit

This upcycled fire pit is one of the most creative fire pit ideas we’ve discovered and highly adaptable for any yard. It uses an old metal drum from a clothes washer, 1″ galvanized tubes for the legs, and an old bike rim to stabilize the base. Using self taping screws and M6 nuts and bolts you can attach the legs and base stabilizer with a simple screwdriver. Fill the washer drum with wood, cast a flame, and you are ready to go!

Cement Bowl Fire Pit

Many home improvement or building stores sell large cement bowls that are perfect for a patio fire pit. This bowl can be placed onto a metal base or layers of concrete pavers to elevate it to the perfect height. Using a large cement bowl is ideal for burning small pieces of wood or it can be retrofitted to include a propane burner. For an extra bit of creativity consider purchasing a large wok at a restaurant supply store that can be added to the center of the bowl for visual interest.

Tabletop Fire Pit

If you live in a home with a small yard or if you reside in an apartment building you can still enjoy the serenity and beauty of a fire pit on a much smaller scale. A glass box, a metal planter, and a small metal grate are all you need. The glass box should fit snugly into the metal planter and the metal grate should should be cut to the dimensions of the planter. Once your pit is built you simply need to place the gel fuel under the grate, layer rocks on top, and light the flame.

Rectangular Fire Box

If you are looking for the quickest and easiest route to a fire pit, a rectangular fire box may be your best option. These pre-made fire boxes are sold at home improvement stores and install directly on top of your patio pavers. A fire proof base layer and material to fill the box allow you to burn wither propane or wood.

Regardless of where you live in Arizona, the size of your yard, or your DIY ability you deserve to enjoy the beauty of a fire pit. These fire pit ideas are intended to inspire your creativity and help you envision how a fire pit can bring your yard to life!

Evergreen Turf is your source for the highest quality sod in Arizona. Our friendly, knowledgeable people are committed to answering all of your questions to ensure a stress-free experience with your new Arizona sod lawn. Whether you wish to sod a small play area for the family or an entire golf course, Evergreen Turf can help you make it happen.

Our team serves customers throughout Arizona, including Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and Tucson. Browse our website for information and tips on how to create and maintain a beautiful lawn, or contact us and talk to one of our sod specialists at 602-626-9959 if you don’t find what you are looking for. Better yet, stop by and meet the team at our convenient Chandler location.

If you’ve just recently moved to the southwest, you’re probably learning all sorts of new facts about how to landscape your home in this climate. It may come as a surprise to you that homeowners are actually able to have sod lawns in arid desert climates such as Tucson and Phoenix. What’s even more surprising is that many people choose to have summer lawns and winter lawns, and each season requires a very different type of sod.

Summer vs Winter Sod

Bermuda grass is the most common type of sod in Tucson and Phoenix in the summertime because it’s a very tolerant species that can handle hot temperatures. The only issue is that Bermuda grass is dormant during the winter months. So if you want your lawn to be green all year then you have to use a grass variety that grows in the winter, such as perennial ryegrass. Perennial ryegrass is a good option for winter lawns in Arizona because it’s a beautiful dark green color, low-maintenance, and does well in the climate.

When to Plant Perennial Ryegrass

It’s best to plant Perennial ryegrass around October in Arizona because the climate is typically around 60 degrees which is ideal for this grass. Perennial ryegrass is a bunch-type grass best suited for use in full sun to moderately shaded lawns and is one of the fastest germinating grasses from seed. Once full grown, your ryegrass lawn will have excellent wear tolerance and can also tolerate some of the lowest mowing heights possible (1 to 2.5 inch recommended cutting height).

When you plant ryegrass in the winter it is called overseeding, because you are planting the seed over the existing Bermuda grass. Be sure to handle all the regular lawn maintenance steps of:

1. Scalping
2. Seeding
3. Fertilizing

In addition, another critical step in preparing your winter lawn is mulching. While it may be an optional step for most lawns, you’ll want to take the time to mulch if you do not have a good irrigation system or do not have a timer that can water 4-5 times per day. A well-composted mulch will help retain moisture and heat necessary to germinate your perennial ryegrass. After you have spread the seed, spread the mulch 1/8″ to 1/4″ thick evenly over the whole lawn.

Ryegrass will start to die around May when temperatures in Phoenix and Tucson really start warming up. When it’s time to transition your sod lawn for summer, stop watering your winter grass for a few weeks to let it die out. Then, begin your watering schedule once again to bring your dormant Bermuda summer grass back to life. Check out our fall / winter overseeding guide for more information on transitioning your lawn from warm to cool season. At the end of the day, be sure to keep in mind that lawn success is a matter of preparation.

How to Select The Right Grass For Your Lawn

Select the perfect turf using our lawn selector. Once you’ve found the perfect type of grass, you can order online or by phone. Learn how to measure your lawn and how to install your new lawn with our helpful online guides.

You are always welcome to visit our showroom. Come on in to meet our staff, get some great advice, and walk barefoot through our live grass sample areas. Evergreen Turf always has a green carpet rolled out for you!

If you live in Phoenix, Arizona, you know that winters here are gorgeous. Unlike other parts of the country that are blanketed in snow, Phoenix in the winter is beautiful and typically sunny most days, with a slight chill at night, dropping down into the 40s. Most Phoenicians prefer to do their outdoor entertaining and gathering with friends in the winter months, because the summer is just too hot. And if you’re a homeowner enjoying the winter in Phoenix, a lush green lawn is the perfect place to do just that. For whatever reason, if you don’t yet have an established lawn come winter-time, you may be wondering if laying sod in winter is possible, and whether it’s a good idea to do so.

The short answer is yes, it’s absolutely possible to lay sod in winter in Phoenix. All you need to do is order the sod, prepare the soil, install the sod when it is delivered, and then water it.

Make sure to follow our How To Install Sod Guide for all the details to ensure your lawn looks it’s best. Or if you’re short on time or don’t feel like doing it yourself, you can have us install your lawn for you.

Benefits of Having a Sod Lawn in Winter

There are many benefits of having a sod lawn in winter, including:

• Great for entertaining
• Fun for your dogs
• A nice, safe area for your kids to play outside
• A beautiful spot to relax at the end of the day
• Increases the curb appeal of your home

Caring For Your Winter Lawn

As far as care, watering sod in Arizona early in the morning is a good idea. There is usually less evaporation at that time. Timed sprinklers and sprinkler heads that give an even output both aid in proper water application. Check for damaged heads and broken systems, then replace or repair them to avoid inefficient water use. This also saves money.

In addition to watering, if you plan to lay sod in winter, you need to mow it and fertilize it as well. All of that info can be found in detail in our How To Install Sod Guide that we also mentioned above.

One more thing to consider. If you want your lawn to be nice and green all year round with little effort, we highly recommend selecting sod that is overseeded with perennial ryegrass for a lush, dark green winter lawn. Plant overseeded Phoenix sod now, and enjoy a beautiful yard all winter long. Then watch as it turns into summer grass once spring rolls around. It is, by far, the most practical way to go. For the all the information on this, be sure to read our Fall Overseeding / Winter Lawn page.

For more information about maintaining your Arizona sod, or installing new sod, feel free to contact us at Evergreen Turf, Arizona’s Premier Sod Supplier.

Select the perfect sod variety using our lawn selector tool. Once you’ve found the perfect type of grass, you can order online or by phone. You can also learn how to measure your lawn with our helpful online guide.

Southwest Arizona climate often makes it difficult for homeowners to come up with the right landscaping ideas. This said, it isn’t impossible to have beautiful gardens in this region. Understanding the general climate in Southwest Arizona will better prepare you to come up with great winter landscaping ideas.

General Climate

Southwest Arizona experiences high temperatures during the hot summer months. Like the rest of Arizona, this region gets very little precipitation. It perhaps has something to do with its desert environment. But when winter comes, most people may enjoy the hot summers, as winter in Southwest Arizona is extremely cold and windy. In fact, Tucson has a number of ski resorts due to significant snowfall during winter. That should give you an idea what winters are like in this region.

Winter Landscaping Ideas

It goes without saying plants that may flourish in the rest of the United States will not thrive in Southwest Arizona. That is why Arizona homeowners have to plan their landscape and garden and grow plants and shrubs that can withstand the harsh winters and cold, windy conditions.

So, without much ado, here are some winter landscaping ideas that are perfect for Southwest Arizona.

1. Cold and Wind Resistant Plants: The dry, cold and windy conditions cannot be tolerated by most plants. Hence, it is imperative to find and grow plants that can tolerate these conditions. It is best to stick with cacti and succulents. These also are plants that will thrive in the poor soils of Arizona. Think of planting giant prickly pear cactus, which thrives in the southwest. However, do not plant this cactus near walkways and doorways because of thorns on the pads. You also can plant century plant (Agave Americana), which is a succulent and takes 10 years to bloom, after which it dies.
2. Plants for Sonoran Climate: There are many plants that are well adapted to flourish and survive in Sonoran climate. It is best to check with a local nursery about these plants, so that you don’t make a mistake. Typically, bougainvillea, which can flower, even in winter if there is no frost, lilac vine, primrose jasmine and rosemary are great choices.
3. Desert Botanical Garden: Located in Phoenix, the Desert Botanical Garden has an online presence. You can get ideas about what plants are best suited for the cold and windy winter of Southwest Arizona. For instance, the Desert Botanical Garden states that rosemary, which is a popular herb, makes great ground cover and has beautiful sky-blue blooms in winter. So, it is perfect inclusion your garden.
4. Walkways: When coming up with winter landscaping ideas, make sure you include pathways to walk around your garden and get access to the plants. You will still need to water the plants even if it is winter. Furthermore, provide the plants you have selected with shade, so that it protects them from the cold as well as the strong winds.

Other Winter Landscaping Ideas

Plan to strategically place outdoor lighting, so that you can admire your beautifully landscaped garden while sitting indoors in the evenings. It also will uplift your mood and boost the curb appeal of your home.

As Southwest Arizona has poor soil conditions, you want to grow a combination of plants, grasses amidst boulders and rocks. Boulders and rocks will add more depth to your garden and also break the monotony of the plants. Also, look to grow evergreen shrubs, such as Arizona rosewood and Chasteberry.

Another way to bring your garden to life during winter is by adding holiday accents. During Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s visit holiday stores and craft stores to pick up vibrant and colorful garden ornaments. You can place these ornaments in your garden to add color and make your garden look unique and special.

Don’t let the cold and windy winters of Southwest Arizona stop you from coming up with interesting and novel winter landscaping ideas. You will be amazed with a little bit of research and some effort, you will be able to enjoy greenery even in the winter months.

Evergreen Turf is your source for the highest quality sod in Arizona. Our friendly, knowledgeable people are committed to answering all of your questions to ensure a stress-free experience with your new Arizona sod lawn. Whether you wish to sod a small play area for the family or an entire golf course, Evergreen Turf can help you make it happen.

Our team serves customers throughout Arizona, including Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and Tucson. Browse our website for information and tips on how to create and maintain a beautiful lawn, or contact us to talk to one of our sod specialists at 602-626-9959 if you don’t find what you are looking for. Better yet, stop by and meet the team at our convenient Chandler location.

If you have lived in Arizona for any amount of time, you already understand that the winters get cold. Cold enough, in fact, to damage all sorts of unprotected plants and shrubs. Even your lawn can be damaged in the winter weather. Here are just a few suggestions on how to protect plants from frost:

Keep Off the Lawn

In short, don’t walk on your lawn when it has already frozen until the temperature has increased above freezing and the frost itself has lifted. Otherwise, your footsteps will probably leave brown imprints where the weight of your treading has crushed the leaves and left them irreparably damaged.

Know Your Plants

Practically speaking, it is next to impossible to protect every plant in your landscape but, on the other hand, it may not really be necessary. Knowing that fruit trees must be protected while the native cacti are relatively immune to the frost will maximize your efforts. Consult with your local horticultural expert for the best advice.

Plant Wisely

Wind can be a real killer in the winter months dropping the actual temperature by a dozen degrees or more due to the wind chill factor. Placing the more susceptible plants in places where they will be protected from the wind is simple common sense. The south and west sides of a building get more sun and planting shrubs near a retaining wall can also get them a little extra heat during the night.

Cover Up when Necessary

While most homeowners will sagely place old sheets and bed coverings over their most prized plants and shrubs, the wiser ones will also drop in a layer of mulch that will protect the roots of the plants as well. In addition, it is also a great way to get a head start on next Spring’s projects as you will already have a foundation established.

Avoid Plastic

While seemingly the ideal material for covering at-risk pants, plastic actually has several major drawbacks. It traps moisture which leads to the plants major undoing during a cold spell – freezing. In addition, even the slightest touch from a plastic covering to a plant is enough to impart the cold from the outside and damage the leaves of the stem.

Continue to Water

While somewhat against conventional wisdom, regular watering is of great value to a lawn and plants during the winter season in Arizona. Water your plants in the morning as the wet soil will absorb whatever heat is available from the sun and the leaves will have time to dry before the sun sets. Just don’t over water and everything will be fine.

Don’t Prune

Every experienced gardener – and the vast majority of novice ones – would never prune in the winter season. This tip is specifically aimed at those who feel the need to remove those dead and decaying leaves and twigs. Don’t do it! The parts you remove are actually serving as protection for further damage from the weather. Wait until spring even if it means looking at some unsightly plants.

Pay Special Attention to Citrus Trees

If you haven’t realized it yet, your citrus trees are not really suited to the Arizona winter environment. It is essential to cover even relatively large trees – those with six inch trunks or less – or you may wind up in the Spring with a yard full of dead plants. Just another tip on how to protect plants from frost in the Arizona desert.

There you have it, now you know how to protect plants from frost.

Evergreen Turf is your source for the highest quality sod in Arizona. Our friendly, knowledgeable people are committed to answering all of your questions to ensure a stress-free experience with your new Arizona sod lawn. Whether you wish to sod a small play area for the family or an entire golf course, Evergreen Turf can help you make it happen.

Our team serves customers throughout Arizona, including Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and Tucson. Browse our website for information and tips on how to create and maintain a beautiful lawn, or contact us to talk to one of our sod specialists at 602-626-9959 if you don’t find what you are looking for. Better yet, stop by and meet the team at our convenient Chandler location.

Anyone who lives in Arizona will dispute the notion that Arizona doesn’t have a season for fall colors. As a matter of fact – there are many ways you can design your front and backyard to focus on the fall colors Arizona enjoys most.

How to Get Fall Colors in Your Arizona Yard

If you’re looking to design a full color landscape in your Arizona backyard – begin by planning your trees. This will dictate the amount of shade and other features your landscape will offer to other plants.

Here are just a few trees that grow well and produce fall colors in Arizona:

• The Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis)
• Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki)
• Japanese Maple
• Paperback Maple
• Silk Tree
• Serviceberry Tree

All of these have shown a hardy response to the cold, arid temperatures of the Arizona winter followed by the searing heat some areas can have in summer. There are a number of ways to incorporate them into your lawn landscaping.

Don’t Forget the Flowers

As a tip, you can complement your trees by planting flowers that explode into varieties of color in the fall.

Zephtranthes, also known as Rain Lilies, burst into bloom from September through October, making them an excellent choice if you want your backyard full of Arizona fall colors.

These tough little perennials are native to the plains in South America and Mexico. This beautiful late-season bloomer is perfect for Arizona landscaping. Named affectionately for their delightful habit of bursting into bloom after an early fall rain, this Rain Lily performs with a show-stopping flair.

These colorful carpets do well with periods of drying out and watering that are common to our Arizona landscapes. When placed near a canopy of raging red fall leaves – the effect can be simply awe-inspiring!

Optimize for Rainfall

Also, if you don’t receive much rainfall where you live, sink the primary planting areas by 6 inches in order to better capture the sparse rainfall.

This approach can also solve problems for backward-sloping front yards – as these houses can flood during sudden heavy rains. Removing soil is almost always cheaper than having to install plumbing to divert runoff, and good planning means rain water irrigates plants for free. For more on this, read our article on How to Create a Beautiful Arizona Backyard Landscape on a Budget.

Finally, make sure your grass lawn receives enough sunlight so as to promote healthy sod growth. No sod can tolerate 100% shade, so keep this in mind when planting your gorgeous trees that turn red in the fall.

Evergreen Turf is your source for the highest quality sod in Arizona. Our friendly, knowledgeable people are committed to answering all of your questions to ensure a stress-free experience with your new Arizona sod lawn. Whether you wish to sod a small play area for the family or an entire golf course, Evergreen Turf can help you make it happen.

Our team serves customers throughout Arizona, including Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and Tucson. Browse our website for information and tips on how to create and maintain a beautiful lawn, or contact us talk to one of our sod specialists at 602-626-9959 if you don’t find what you are looking for. Better yet, stop by and meet the team at our convenient Chandler location.

In some ways, the types of turf on which football is played in the NFL is almost as diverse as the players in the league. There may not necessarily be a Fantasy League for the best sod football fields in the NFL, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some fields that are certainly more desirable than others.

Arizona Cardinals: University of Phoenix Stadium

Sure, we may be biased considering our Evergreen Turf team is a proud partner of the Arizona Cardinals, but we don’t let our pride stand in the way of a job well done. Sports Illustrated recognized our hard work when it comes to picking, preparing, and procuring the perfect grass for this Glendale, AZ team, and we’re happy to see our efforts paying off. The Tifway 419 Bermuda grass is rolled inside only when it’s game time, and it spends the rest of its life on a retractable tray outside in the natural Arizona sunlight enjoying life in its (mostly) natural habitat.

Encourage Dormancy

If your lawn is Bermuda grass, it will go dormant in the winter, so encourage it to go peacefully by reducing the frequency of watering and fertilizing. This will slow its growth and allow you to prepare for overseeding more quickly.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Raymond James Stadium

Tifway 419 Bermuda grass is a common theme among the top fields in the NFL, and Tampa Bay joined Sports Illustrated’s list at #2 in the nation. Florida’s sunny days help to provide nutrients to the Buccs’ home field, making it a soft and supple place for the players to play. That said, not everyone is a big fan of a fluffy field. Rumor has it that Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers voiced his dislike of the sod’s softness a while back, but the pristine quality of the field still puts it at the top of this list.

Miami Dolphins: Sun Life Stadium

Obviously warmer climates and super sunny places are making their way to the top of this list for a reason. Good grass needs a lot of love and some good luck in terms of the elements to grow at its best. The Dolphins also enjoy Tifway 419 Bermuda grass, which flourishes at a favorable spot as a result of the long growing season it enjoys and its ability to recover from damage quickly.

San Diego Chargers: Qualcomm Stadium

With several teams calling sunny California home, one of them was likely to make it to the top of this list, and it’s not likely going to be Oakland’s football arena any time soon. The Chargers’ Bandera Bermuda grass soaks in the sun and shows off its lush self, acting as a focal point of beauty in an otherwise aesthetically struggling stadium.

Carolina Panthers: Bank of America Stadium

The Panthers are the only team to employ the use of Voyager Bermuda grass. This species of grass is super hardy, which allows it to withstand the damage inflicted during the team’s well-fought home turf battles.

Denver Broncos: Sports Authority Field at Mile High

We think it’s important to pay homage to at least one turf that doesn’t soak in Southern sun all year long (even if Denver, CO does tend to enjoy over 300 days of beautiful sunshine annually). The Broncos, being a team located within a four-season state, have opted for a field made of 100% Kentucky Bluegrass. The underfield heating system and under-soil base help to ensure year-round health for this field, even when the temperatures turn blustery cold in winter.

We know you’ve got some opinions on this subject, so please tell us which fields you think are the top turfs in the NFL! Start a conversation on our Facebook page.