If you’ve ever considered using sod in Arizona to create a beautiful lawn, you were likely faced with several questions. How difficult will it be? How much will it cost? When is the best time to install sod? Of all the ways to cultivate a green lawn, laying sod is efficient; and, with the right preparation many homeowners agree that it’s well worth the cost.

What to know before beginning

One of the selling points of sod is the fact that it can be installed year round as long as the soil is properly prepared beforehand. Understand that preparation is often the hardest step and that taking shortcuts may hinder the sod’s growth in terms of its ability to become firmly rooted. To prepare your yard in its current state, you must:

• Measure the desired lawn space
• Remove all plant matter such as weeds and patches of dead grass
• Clear your yard of all debris (rocks, sticks, etc.)
• Till the soil
• Test the soil’s PH level (this will tell you what type of sod to purchase)
• Grade the area and ensure the landscape slopes away from your home and other structures
• Fertilize or “pre-treat” the soil
• Moisten (don’t soak) the soil prior to installation

Installation tips and tricks

Once you’ve completed the laborious task of soil preparation, laying sod will seem easy in comparison—especially in lawns that are symmetrical or rectangular in shape. However, if you’re working with an irregular shape, establish a starting point by aligning the sod in the center of your lawn and working from the inside out, toward the perimeter. Use a sharp knife to cut around trees, pavers, and flower beds. Once your sod is delivered, install it immediately for best results and water it as soon as it is laid. Keep off the grass as much as possible for the first few weeks while the root system forms. Although you can enjoy the beauty of your new lawn instantly and tread upon it within a matter of weeks, sod can take up to two years to fully mature. Adhering to a consistent maintenance schedule will ensure its longevity and vibrancy.

The best time to install sod

While sod can effectively grow year round, the best time to install sod in Arizona is in the fall. The reason is because temperatures start to fall and homeowners can take advantage of natural rainfall as the monsoon season draws to a close. Secondly, this is the time in which grass still grows before falling dormant in the winter. Spring is the second best time to lay sod—especially warm-season grasses like Bermudagrass or St. Augustine.

Seeding your lawn, while inexpensive, doesn’t provide the immediate results that sod promises nor does it withstand the harshness of desert seasons as easily. The biggest benefit to turf grass is that virtually any time is the best time to install sod as long as you follow the necessary steps to preparing your lawn (which do not vary from seed to sod). Once the work is done, the lasting benefits of sod often outweigh the disadvantages. Like most worthy investments, it will become apparent why cheaper isn’t always better.

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 480-456-1199 if you don’t find what you are looking for. Better yet, stop by and meet the team at our convenient Chandler location.

Who doesn’t love butterflies? These beautiful animals capture our attention, delighting us with their delicate, fluttering, vividly-colored wings.

Every fall, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona creates an amazing display of caterpillars that transform into majestic Monarch butterflies. Visitors can observe as the hungry caterpillars chow down on their favorite plants, form their “cocoons” (scientifically referred to as chrysalises), and ultimately become amazing butterflies.

Here at Evergreen Turf, we specialize in growing and installing sod – but we know how much Phoenix residents love the Arizona butterfly installation at Desert Botanical Gardens! So we put together this helpful guide with 6 ways you can attract butterflies to YOUR garden.

How to Attract Butterflies to your Garden

1. Make sure your yard / garden gets plenty of sunshine.

This is usually not a problem in sunny Arizona! But did you know that butterflies usually only feed in full sunlight? It’s no wonder we associate butterflies with beautiful days.

2. Grow native plants.

Keep your plants local. Don’t import crazy flowers from China or anywhere else. Native plants work in harmony with native animals like butterflies because they have evolved together in your environment. This also goes for your grass lawn by the way. The more you stick to native grasses such as Midiron, Tifway, and St. Augustine the better chances you have at keeping your lawn alive and attracting native fauna.

3. Don’t use toxic pesticides.

They can kill butterflies and other helpful creatures that live in your yard. Check out our 7 Tips for Natural Garden Insect Control for more ways to keep your backyard healthy and thriving.

4. Water

Butterflies like to splash around in puddles of water. They also stay hydrated with water, just like us! So make sure you create a little area in your yard that has fresh water for the butterflies and you’ll be one step closer to being the coolest butterfly hangout spot in town.

5. Choose plants with good nectar sources.

The butterfly has two main goals in life. To eat nectar and to make babies. So if you want to encourage more of these critters into your space, make sure you choose plants with good sources of nectar. As a tip, try bordering your lawn with the following nectar-rich flowers:

• Goldenrod
• Milkweed
• Shasta Daisy

For a more complete list of butterfly-friendly plants, check out this list on The Old Farmer’s Almanac site.

6. Choose plants with bright colors.

Butterflies are attracted to colorful flowers, so if you’re not sure which plants to choose, keep this handy information in mind. If you have little ones, take them to your local nursery on your day off and have them help you pick the most colorful flowers in the store. It’s a great way to spend time with your kids and they’ll have a blast knowing they are creating a home for butterflies!

Follow these tips to attract butterflies to your garden, then sit back, relax, and watch these beautiful creatures enjoy the habitat you have created just for them.

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 480-456-1199 if you don’t find what you are looking for. Better yet, stop by and meet the team at our convenient Chandler location.

Just because your outdoor space is small does not mean you have to settle for a tiny, closed off look. The following are steps and tricks to make your small lawn look bigger.

Plant up: Vertical Walls, Tall Trees, Vertical Gardens, Pergola

You can add dimension to small yard using arbors, pergolas, trees, and vertical garden wall features. The Leyland Cyprus grows three to four feet per year, and is often used as a privacy screen feature. These trees do require regular pruning and maintenance because they are susceptible to disease, so only use them if you are ready to put in the time to care for them. Other tall choices include birds of paradise and banana plants.

If you have a lackluster fence, you can use it to add dimension to your yard by covering it with a vertical garden. Tall bamboo makes a great cover for fencing, and if your neighborhood permits it, you can allow it to grow even taller than the fence.

Use sod: mix your grassy areas with other materials

Grass can still be part of a small yard space, but it is better to mix it with other materials instead of covering the entire space with sod. The easiest way to add grass to your smaller yard is to order sod directly from us or your local sod farm if you live outside of Arizona.

Place Plants with Smaller Leaves Near Edges

Plants with small leaves reflect light and that causes them to seem like they are more distant, and they blend into the background. You should use these types of plants around the edges of your yard away from the entrances.

Place Plants with Big Leaves Near Entrances and Focal Points

Plants with big leaves, such as philodendrons, will make a small space feel larger when they are used around entrances and focal points. Big leaves provide more visual interest and the shadows they cast give the illusion of depth.

Use Color in the Entry

Just like plants with big leaves focus the eye’s attention to entryways and focal points and cause the rest of the space to draw back visually, color can have the same effect. Colors like yellow, red, and orange stimulate the brain and are a great choice for places you want people to focus on. Cooler colors like blue and pink are not as stimulating and should be used near boarders and in the outer edges of the yard.

Using warm colors near your house will also draw attention to it instead of towards the yard. Red bricks will do the trick, or you can use flowers. Just make sure that there is always something blooming in your color choice.

Create a focal point

Art with straight or modern lines will help make your yard look bigger. You can also use a fountain, statue, or spiral topiary. Using a bright art piece on a distant wall will draw the attention into the distance.

Following these tips will help you make the most of your smaller outdoor space. You can follow one or two, or all of them depending on how ornate you want your landscaping to be. The choice is yours.

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 480-456-1199 if you don’t find what you are looking for. Better yet, stop by and meet the team at our convenient Chandler location.

We all love our pets. Where four-legged furry friends live, however, lawn spots are sure to follow. If you care about the “why” behind the problem, you can read about the three primary reasons why your dog’s urine burns the grass here – it basically comes down to the pH of the urine and its nitrogen content though. Most people just want to know if there’s anything that can be done to get rid of and prevent urine spots on their lawn. The answer is Yes!

Here are some tips to get tough on those destructive lawn spots:

Dilution.

Arm yourself with water, and follow up Fido’s freshly wet spot with a dose of watery dilution. If you have a hose, spray the area with water. Alternatively, you could seek out ways to go a little greener by utilizing greywater sources to flush the harmful elements in the urine off the grass.

Designate a Spot.

Dogs are very trainable animals, and most of them only want to make their humans happy. This can work well in your favor when you’re trying to keep your lawn healthy and green. Designate a spot in the back of your yard that’s specifically intended for your dog to do its duties. With a little training, your pet will happily pee where he knows he’s supposed to go, eliminating all-over-your-yard yellow spots. If you want to avoid having a bright yellow spot in the back of your yard, consider defining your dog’s special spot with artificial turf, gravel, or mulch.

If your pet isn’t obeying the command, or if you’re still in the training phase of the process, consider using a leash to direct your dog to the place he needs to go.

Go with the Right Grass.

Some grasses are simply more durable than others, and if you have a pet, you might want to consider installing a lawn that’s more capable of standing up to the wear and tear. Fescue and perennial ryegrass have the ability to survive under lots of foot traffic, making them an excellent choice for pet owners who like luscious lawns. With these grasses, the dilution process can actually feed your lawn, acting as a fertilizer. Kentucky Bluegrass and Bermuda grass do not stand up to the pet urine test very well, so you should consider putting those at the bottom of your list if you are shopping for a urine-resistant species.

Favor the Right Fertilizer.

All fertilizers are not created equally. High-in-nitrogen fertilizers can be excellent in the right situations, but if you are fighting urine spots in your lawn, go with a low-nitrogen option.

Do you have other urine spot prevention pointers for other homeowners? If so, please share them at our Evergreen Turf, Inc Facebook page!

Baseball season is in full swing! As crowds flock to stadiums all over the country to watch their favorite teams, sports field crews work around the clock to make sure the fields are in tip top shape.

If you live in Arizona then you have probably been to the Arizona Cardinals’ University of Phoenix Stadium and seen some of the finest sports field sod in Arizona In fact, Business Week named the stadium one of the 10 ‘most impressive’ sports facilities in the world and was the only American one on the list.

Evergreen Turf provides the University of Phoenix Stadium with sod for its impressive football field. As a premier producer of Arizona sod, Evergreen Turf is dedicated to making sure the Cardinals’ field is ready to go on game day. Great care is taken in selecting, cultivating and maintaining the particular variety of sod that is used in this unique and prestigious venue.

Take a look at some of the top baseball fields and other sports complexes in Arizona with sod provided by Evergreen Turf:

Goodyear Ballpark

Goodyear Ballpark is the current spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians. It opened in February of 2009 and has a seating capacity of 10,000. This state-of-the-art ballpark features a modern main entrance, a team shop, and several concession stands. While the stadium is primarily used for baseball, it occasionally serves other purposes such as a monthly Farmer’s Market and Independence Day Fireworks. Evergreen Turf supports Goodyear Ballpark by providing top-of-the-line Arizona sod.

Camelback Ranch Ball Park

Camelback Ranch Ball Park is the spring training home of the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers. It opened in March of 2009 and has a seating capacity of 13,000. It is known for having the largest seating capacity in the Cactus League and includes 8 full suites, 4 mini-suites, 1 press box, 1 suite-level party deck, and a series of outfield terraces.

Big League Dreams Gilbert

Big League Dreams Gilbert is a beautiful sports park located near Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona. The impressive complex features replica fields, a 20,000 sq. ft. indoor soccer pavilion, flag football fields, batting cages, and a Stadium Club restaurant. They host a variety of adult sports leagues including softball, soccer, and baseball.

Reach 11 Sports Complex

Reach 11 Sports Complex is owned by the City of Phoenix and is the largest soccer complex of its kind in Arizona and one of the largest in the western United States. It features 18 full-size soccer fields and 4-little league baseball fields and has hosted all kinds of international tournaments in soccer, field hockey, and rugby. Evergreen Turf provides the Bermuda grass that is used throughout the complex while the City of Phoenix maintains the Arizona sod on a regular basis.

If you are in need of sod for commercial or residential purposes, look no further than Evergreen Turf, the premier producer of Arizona sod.

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.

If you are interested in adding some much needed shade to your Arizona back yard, there are plenty of options to choose from. The best backyard shade ideas can range from beautifully simplistic DIY solutions to elaborate and decorative construction projects. Depending on your budget and aesthetic interests, a variety of backyard shade ideas can turn any sweltering porch into a luxurious, relaxing environment. Take a few moments to review just a few of the many popular backyard shade ideas for homeowners in Arizona and across the nation.

Shade Sail Fabrics

Sometimes the best backyard shade ideas happen to be the most simple and affordable. For many Arizona homeowners especially, high quality shade sail fabrics is the solution of choice. The best shade sail fabrics are comprised of premium materials that will easily shed water, resist rotting and block harmful UV rays. If you are considering investing in shade sail fabric, ensure the product has been sintered (also called heat-set) to prevent shrinkage of the fabric over time. Thoroughly researching shade sail fabrics before buying is always recommended.

Retractable Awnings

Retractable awnings are often the best choice for homeowners who would like to shade a smaller area of backyard or patio. Retractable awnings are typically built from acrylic fabric and are available in either motorized or hand cranked models. One advantage that retractable awnings have in comparison to other backyard shading ideas is the ability to be quickly put away in the event of severe weather or when shade is not needed. This option may be especially perfect for homeowners who have a swimming pool or like to enjoy an occasional Sunday barbeque with family.

Pergolas & Pavilions

Are you interested in backyard shade ideas that can completely transform your backyard into an inspiring and tranquil paradise? Pergolas and pavilions are always an excellent choice. Available in a myriad of styles, these structures are excellent at providing a well-shaded sitting area for friends or loved ones.

A pergola, also known as an arbor, is built from a lattice which is held in place by support beams. Many homeowners allow vines to grow through the lattice to create a natural and intoxicating shade for the patio or backyard area. Although the Arizona climate may not be conducive for the growth of many plants, incorporating shade sail fabrics into a pergola’s lattice may be an attractive option.

By far, however, the best backyard shading option for many tends to be a pavilion. This free standing structure may be one of the more expensive options but its durability and impressive appearance more than pays for itself. Pavilions may be constructed from wood, high quality sail fabric, or a combination of both. However, some pavilions can be found through select retailers that can be easily put together much like a camping tent.

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 creating shady areas in your backyard.

Get the most out of your backyard by providing a comfortable environment for friends, family and household pets to enjoy. Don’t let the unforgiving Arizona sun keep you indoors all summer long. Instead, consider creating one of these excellent backyard shade solutions and turn your backyard into your own private getaway.

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 480-456-1199 if you don’t find what you are looking for. Better yet, stop by and meet the team at our convenient Chandler location.

Cacti can be an exciting way to spice up your backyard landscape. Many are full of unique colors and flowers with spires, curves and spiky, regal stalks to make your yard come to life. These sun-loving plants make for a very low maintenance backyard design that practically cares for itself. Check out these tips on how to pull off cactus landscaping in your backyard.

Begin With Sandy Soil and A Sunny Spot

Good drainage is important, as sitting in standing water can damage your cacti. Assure your run off goes into proper drainage portals, and make certain no areas will become soggy when it rains.

There are wide varieties of cactus available at local nurseries and other retail garden stores. Verify the growing conditions in your area, then select your cacti according to those guidelines.

Cactus can be planted at any time throughout the year. Mature cacti do not like to be moved – so be sure you choose a long-standing location appropriate for good health. Transplanting cacti is tricky, spiky and at times even a little dangerous.

Place Your Focus on Edges and Centers

For the most appealing backyard design – make sure you choose an attractive border to contain your cactus landscaping. Large rounded rocks, cement blocks, small stones or bricks are commonly used for cacti garden borders.

The simplest approach is to create the border using bricks or stones, then infill the area with sandy, cacti-appropriate soil. This sets ideal growing conditions and good drainage in place for the long-time health of your cactus landscaping.

It’s best to place these cacti areas on mounds and natural hilly areas so the raised elevation prevents them from ever sitting in standing water. This prevents root rot. Large rocks placed as a center-piece, unusual shapes and slabs, an old covered wagon or wheel, fence posts and other old west props work very well to add a southwest theme for your cactus landscaping.

Careful Placement of Large Cacti

Choose one or two very large cacti and place them near the center of your backyard landscape design. This will act as a centerpiece.

One great choice is the Saguaro, which grows slowly to a height of about 60 feet at maturity. The Saguaro will not branch off until it has reached a height of 3 feet. It blooms beautiful white flowers and lives for many years if kept healthy.

Another good one is the “hairy old man” or Cleistocactus strausii. This will grow to 6 feet tall and will seasonally bloom purple-red flowers. This is a non-branching cactus that features an unusual covering of furry needles.

The “tree cholla” or Opuntia imbricata is another great choice for cactus landscaping that grows into a 10-foot column and produces pink flowers.

Medium Sized Showpiece Cacti

Mid-sized cacti are great to plant in your yard as showpieces. Many feature straw-like flowers in brilliant colors. Here are some medium-sized cacti that work well in Arizona backyards:

The “golden barrel” is formally called “Echinocactus grusonii” and can grow to 4 feet tall and 2.5 feet wide after many years. Younger golden barrels do not look much like the mature ones, and these cacti can grow for as long as 30 years! They have yellow flowers and grow well in warmer climates, making them a perfect option for Arizona homeowners.

The Ferocactus emoryi or the “red barrel” is another option for medium sized cacti. It grows up to 8 feet with yellow-red blossoms and can make for a beautiful addition to your backyard landscape.

As a tip, you can group cacti within the same genus together to create a dramatic display. For example, there are more than 30 types of cacti in the Ferocactus genus that vary in size and shape but have similar characteristics.

Unusual Cacti

Add excitement to your cactus landscape by featuring some unusual cacti. Astrophytum myriostigma (also known as the Bishop’s Cap) grows to 10 inches tall. It has yellow flowers but may take up to 6 years to begin blooming. This cactus is perfectly symmetrical and does not grow any spines.

The Sand Dollar cactus (Astrophytum asterias) is another type of unique cactus that grows to a height of about eight inches. It is symmetrical and spineless and looks like a Sand Dollar from the top, hence its nickname. It is covered with pretty yellow flowers when in season.

Both the Bishop’s Cap and The Sand Dollar Cactus are low-growing groundcover plants, and make a great option if some areas of your yard need protection from erosion and/or drought.

So there you have it, some fresh ideas on how to incorporate cacti landscaping in your yard!

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 480-456-1199 if you don’t find what you are looking for. Better yet, stop by and meet the team at our convenient Chandler location.

Many Arizona homeowners often find it difficult to come up with front yard garden ideas, thanks to the hot, dry climate in Arizona. Fortunately, there are many native species of plants that can thrive well in Arizona and do not require a lot of water. When you couple these plants with certain hardscape features of your front yard, you can come up with an amazing and spectacular front yard.

Here are some front yard garden ideas that are perfect for Arizona homes.

Cacti Garden

A cacti garden is perfect for the front yard if you don’t have kids. Plant different cacti can make your garden look unique and spectacular. A regal saguaro cactus will survive in the harsh climate for more than 100 years, but also make a bold statement. A prickly pear cactus can lend color to the harsh desert terrain when it bears fruit. While a bearded cactus plant can get your guests talking because they will want to know what the plant is with thin strands of white hair.

Select a corner in your garden to plant different cacti species, and then use small rocks to make a perimeter. The space between the cacti garden and the house can be covered with gravel interspersed with medium-sized boulders. Alternatively, you can plant the cacti in the center of the garden to create a focal point. Surround the area with small rocks and scatter gravel inside.

Shade Garden

You can make your garden a shady oasis, by planting desert trees that offer shade and soothing greenery. Palo Verde is a deciduous that grows well in Arizona and can make your garden come to life with its vibrant yellow blooms. In fact, you can grow this shade tree and grow cacti under its shade. The tree’s foliage will protect the cacti from the harsh summer heat and winter frost.

Citrus trees too are common in Arizona. Don’t be afraid to plant orange, grapefruit or lemon trees in your front yard with an irrigation system. Citrus trees require water every seven to 28 days. The lovely fragrance of the citrus blooms can make you forget the heat in Arizona. It will be welcome relief to sit under the shade of the tree in the evening.

Zen Boulder Garden

This is a wonderful front yard garden idea for Arizona. It does not require too much maintenance. Take two-colored landscaping stones and scatter them to create swirling patterns in the garden. In a tranquil part of the garden, demarcate an area to place colored sand. Once you have finished this, place boulders around the garden in clusters. Do not overdo the boulders, as they will absorb heat and make your garden and front room, hot when the boulders emit the absorbed heat. Plant sage bushes and rosemary along the edge of the garden. This will break the monotony and add some color.

Terraced Garden

Create theater-style tiers in your garden, if space permits. Plant cacti and succulents in the terraces. Use small rocks of different colors to create a winding path along the terraces. This will give an illusion of a dry creek. You can plant low cacti, sage bushes and/or yucca trees along the edges of the pathway to add more color and depth. If you like, break the continuity of the edges with small boulders.

Use these front yard garden ideas to beautify your Arizona home and also create your own private oasis. These ideas are simple and easy to act upon and you will find it extremely rewarding.

For more ideas, check out our article: Top 5 Front Yard Landscaping Ideas.

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 480-456-1199 if you don’t find what you are looking for. Better yet, stop by and meet the team at our convenient Chandler location.

Ready to take on a new DIY home project and have your sights set on your home landscape? We’re here to help! Check out these essential steps for DIY landscape design.

1. Start with your front yard. It’s the first thing people see when they drive up to your house, so why not start there? Make it simple, functional and pretty.
2. Install your hardscapes. This is most often the hardest part of DIY landscape design. Things like driveways, walkways, porches, decks, patios, you name it… should be constructed before you lay down a single plant.
3. Take care of your soil. Add nutrients and organic matter to your soil that will boost the beneficial content and make your plants happy.
4. Foundation planting. It’s time to plant shrubs and flowers around the foundation of your house. Make sure you choose appropriately sized plants that do not cover up your entire house.
5. Backyard. Now time to move to the back of the house. You’ll want to spend a good amount of time creating the perfect backyard space for you. Fix up the deck, add privacy and shady spots if you need them, as well as play area for the children.
6. Fire accents. Consider installing an outdoor fire pit, grill, or outdoor kitchen. It’s a great way to gather the family together for meal time outside of the kitchen!
7. Side yard. Time to fix up the side yard! Think about what works with your family. Whether it’s an herb garden, storage area, or dog run, as long as it’s useful for you it will make a great side yard for your house.

Here are some final tips when it comes to DIY landscape design:

• Make sure you choose the right type of plants for your climate
• Know the full size of adult trees before planting baby trees in your yard.
• Don’t forget to add nice finishing touches like containers and hanging baskets.
• Incorporate your personality!

Just remember that there will be moments of frustration during this process, but it will all be worth it! Remember to prioritize your wants and needs when you feel stuck, and don’t forget to take progress pictures. At the end of the day you’ll have a beautiful home landscape design to show all your friends!

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 if you don’t find what you are looking for. Better yet, stop by and meet the team at our convenient Chandler location.

Starting a lawn from seed in Arizona is not easy. The heat in southern Arizona and infrequent rainfall make it difficult for grass seeds to germinate. If you want a healthy lawn in Arizona, start out on the right foot by using sod. But you can’t just choose any sod. It should be the right kind of grass for your light, water and soil conditions. The most popular types of grass for this region (Phoenix, Tucson and Southern Arizona in general) are hybrid bermuda grass.

Use our lawn selector tool to figure out the type of sod that’s right for you.

You should also take into consideration how you want to use your lawn. If you expect lots of foot traffic, for example, consider one of the types of grass that golf courses use. For example, Tifway is very popular in the Phoenix area because it establishes itself relatively easily and homeowners can achieve a very manicured look with proper mowing techniques. Similarly, Tifgreen is also a popular hybrid Bermuda grass choice for Arizona lawns. It performs well with southern Arizona’s low rainfall levels and high summertime temperatures.

Related: Top 3 Best Types of Grass for Arizona Lawns

In general, the best sod in Phoenix is a warm season grass. Warm season grass differs from its cool season counterparts by being able to survive in dry soil. Warm season grasses do not depend on spring rains to grow but can tolerate the high heat of the summer. Warm season grasses grow fastest during the summer months and tend to require less water than cool season grasses.

Related: How to Have Year-Round Grass in Arizona

In Arizona, sod is an excellent choice for homeowners because sod gives weeds less space, light, water and nutrients to establish themselves in your lawn. High-quality sod is dense and has a well-developed root structure that will grow into the soil of your yard. You should expect to have to water your sod frequently for the first few weeks after you install it and taper off as the roots become acclimated to their new location. The specific amount of water you will need depends on the species of grass and any conditions on your property that add or reduce moisture to your lawn.

If you’re ready to purchase sod, be sure to purchase from a reputable local company like Evergreen Turf. Not only will you benefit from our local expertise; you will minimize your worries about the sod drying out or overheating during transport, and about any regulations concerning bringing in plants from out-of-state. After the grass is cut from the sod farm, you should install it within 1 day to achieve the best results. Prepare the underlying soil before the sod arrives on your property. Your landscaper will be able to provide assistance. Be sure to follow our lawn care guide to create a healthy lawn that will serve you for many years.