Arizona’s climate can make it challenging to maintain a healthy looking lawn. With dry, hot summers and low precipitation during the rest of the seasons, it can be difficult to keep your lawn green and lush.

Choosing the right type of sod grass is one of the biggest keys to success. What type of sod grass is best for your yard? Here are some tips to determine what grass will grow best on your lot.

Questions To Ask Yourself About Your Lawn

The following questions can help you determine what type of grass would be best for your yard:

Is your yard mostly shaded or in the sun?

Shade or sun makes a difference in terms of what types of grass will grow best in a space. Some of your yard may be in the shade while some is in direct sunlight all the time. You may find that different types of grass will work better in different areas of your lawn. The more direct the sunlight, the more the grass may need to be watered as well.

What kind of mower do you plan to use?

The most common type of mower is a rotary mower, with rotating blades that are electrical or gas powered. However some homeowners use a reel mower that is propelled by pushing. Reel mowers work best for small yards and rotary mowers work better for larger yards. For extremely large lots, a riding mower may be best, which is also a rotary style.

How much time and effort can you devote to yard maintenance?

Some types of grass require more time and effort than other types. Choose your type of grass based on the amount of time you are able and willing to devote to yard work. Or if you plan to hire a lawn service, determine what your budget will allow in terms of the frequency and type of services you can pay for.

Do you have children and/or pets?

The amount of traffic your lawn will receive is largely determined by whether or not you have children or pets. When it comes to pets, the type of animals you have will also be a deciding factor in the type of grass you may want.

Turning Questions Into Answers

Here are some suggestions based on your answers to the questions above:

• Mostly sunny lawn: Midiron, Bermuda. Midiron grass is blue-green in color with a medium coarse leaf texture that holds up well in hot, dry climates. Bermuda has short, flat leaves that make it tolerant of dry climates and grows best in direct sunlight.
• Mostly shaded lawn: Palmetto St. Augustine. It is difficult to get grass to grow in the shade, but Palmetto St. Augustine grass can grow in both direct sunlight and shade.
• Rotary mower: Any type. Rotary mowers are designed for any type of grass, but adjust the blade level according to the type of grass you choose.
• Reel mower: Bermuda. Reel mowers work best on Bermuda grass because it is coarse and short, meaning it won’t get caught up in or flattened by the reel.
• High maintenance: Tifway, Tifgreen. If you have plenty of time to devote to your lawn, Tifway or Tifgreen make great manicured a lawn, but it does require a bit more maintenance than some other types to keep that manicured look.
• Eco-friendly: Midiron, TifTuf Bermuda. Midiron is known for being relatively low maintenance and recovers quickly from damage. TifTuf Bermuda is one of the toughest types of grass that is also the most drought resistant, ultimately using less water.
• Kids and pets: TifTuf Bermuda, Midiron. In addition to being low maintenance, TifTuf Bermuda and Midiron hold up well to plenty of traffic, making them ideal for families with children and pets.
• No kids or pets: Any type. If you don’t have kids or pets, you are free to try any type of grass that meets your other criteria.

Where to Get Quality Sod Grass

Evergreen Turf provides a wide variety of sod grass types that are well-suited for Arizona weather. If you’re not sure how to choose the right type of grass for your yard, try our lawn selector tool.

For questions, call (480) 456-1199 or contact us today. Place an online order for sod grass here.

Fertilizer provides the nutrients that soil and grass need to thrive and be healthy. If you have ever walked barefoot in thick, luscious green grass — fertilizer probably had something to do with it.  After all, grass needs more than some water and sun for perfect growth.

Let’s take a closer look at the role of fertilization and how it pertains to effective lawn care.

Proper Nourishment

The health of your soil plays a very large role in the growth of your grass. Fertilization has the necessary nourishment to care for it all. While different types of fertilizers will have a varying mix of nutrients, there are three that are almost always found in them. They are:

• Nitrogen (N)
• Phosphorous (P)
• Potassium (K)

Each plays a part in getting the grass to grow faster and more dense, with strong roots. It also keeps it healthy enough to fight off diseases. It is important to understand that there are different factors that impact the amounts and types of nutrients needed, such as the soil type, the amount of foot (or car) traffic it will experience, the local climate, and whether or not there are currently any pests or diseases.

Just as you eat to provide your body with daily nourishment, effective lawn care is going to require regular doses of fertilizer, too.

Routine Treatments

A healthy lawn is going to need a good diet of fertilizer regularly in order to provide you with healthy growth. To do this effectively, you need to make sure you are providing it at the right intervals. For instance, giving it too much too frequently can actually kill your lawn. This is referred to as fertilizer burn.

Finding the proper balance between the nutrients in the fertilizer and the frequency at which you fertilize is crucial. Working with lawn professionals is a great way to ensure you are getting just what you need — nothing more, nothing less.

Keep Weeds at Bay

For effective lawn care without weeds, fertilizer is a must.

Weeds can be an eyesore for lawns. Yet, they are pesky enough to show up anywhere. However, in a lawn that undergoes routine fertilization, weeds don’t often stand a chance. The nutrients make the grass thick and dense with strong roots — and all of these things make it difficult for weeds to grow.

Reduce Risk of Illness and Disease

Without including fertilization in lawn care, disease and illness can take over in an instant. It can cause a lawn to buckle with low-stress tolerance and can make the perfect home for insects and pests looking to put the lawn at risk. This is all because it is not getting the nourishment it needs to remain healthy.

You can keep a lawn looking good on the outside by tending to its outer appearance. But effective lawn care involves so much more than that. Fertilization helps to make sure that the soil and the grass are strong enough to fight off any illness, disease, insect, or pest that may try to bring it down.

When done routinely, not only will the lawn look great from the outside, but from the inside, too.

Effective Lawn Care from Evergreen Turf

If you are ready to give your lawn the nourishment it needs in order to be vibrant and healthy, then you can learn more about nutrition and fertilization from Evergreen Turf. Remember, a healthy lawn begins with healthy soil.

Contact us today to learn more.

When it comes to maintaining a beautiful and healthy lawn, proper care and attention are key. As a beginner in lawn care, it’s important to understand the essential practices that will help you achieve a lush and vibrant lawn in Phoenix, Arizona. In this article, we will share 10 DIY lawn care tips that are perfect for beginners like you. So, let’s dive in and get started on your journey to a stunning lawn!

1. Maintain a Regular and Frequent Mowing Schedule

Regular mowing is crucial for maintaining a well-groomed lawn. Instead of cutting the grass too short, opt for a little and often approach. This helps to promote healthy growth and prevents scalping, which can damage your lawn.

2. Adjust the Lawnmower’s Cutting Height

Adjust the cutting height on your lawnmower to a higher setting. Taller grass blades provide shade to the soil, reducing weed growth and conserving moisture. Additionally, longer grass blades are better able to withstand the intense heat of Phoenix, Arizona.

3. Keep the Lawn Free of Debris and Clutter

Regularly remove fallen leaves, toys, furniture, and other everyday items from your lawn. These objects can block sunlight and hinder proper air circulation, leading to patchy areas and potential lawn diseases.

Related: How to Repair Dead Spots in Lawn

4. Provide Regular Nutrient Boosts for Your Lawn

Proper nutrition is vital for a healthy lawn. Invest in a high-quality lawn fertilizer suitable for Phoenix’s climate and apply it according to the recommended schedule. This will provide your grass with essential nutrients and help it thrive.

Related: Why and When to Fertilize Your Lawn

5. Train Pets to Avoid Using the Lawn as a Restroom

Pet waste can damage your lawn and leave unsightly brown patches. Train your pets to use a designated area and promptly clean up any waste. Regularly rinsing the area with water can also help dilute and minimize the impact of urine.

Related: Tips for Landscaping with Dogs

6. Enhance Soil Health Through Annual Lawn Aeration

Aerating your lawn involves creating small holes in the soil to improve water, air, and nutrient penetration. This process helps alleviate soil compaction and promotes healthier root growth. Aim to aerate your lawn at least once a year, preferably during the cooler months.

Related: How to Aerate Your Lawn & Why You Should

7. Remove Thatch and Moss with Seasonal Scarification

Scarifying is the process of raking or using a scarifying machine to remove dead grass, thatch, and moss from your lawn’s surface. This allows better airflow and prevents disease. Perform scarification once or twice a year to maintain a healthy lawn.

Related: The Best Time to Dethatch Your Lawn

8. Enhance Your Lawn’s Density with Strategic Overseeding

Overseeding involves spreading new grass seed over existing turf to fill in bare patches and improve the overall density of your lawn. Choose a seed mix suitable for Phoenix’s climate and overseed in the fall  for the best results.

9. Optimize Sunlight Exposure for a Thriving Lawn

Ensure that your lawn receives the maximum amount of sunlight possible. Trim back overhanging branches and prune nearby shrubs to allow ample sunlight to reach your grass. Sunlight is crucial for photosynthesis and helps your lawn grow strong and healthy.

10. Persevere Through Unexpected Challenges from Mother Nature

In Phoenix, Arizona, weather conditions can be challenging for lawn care. From scorching heat to occasional droughts, it’s important to adapt and persevere. If your lawn faces setbacks due to weather or other factors, seek advice, make adjustments, and stay committed to your lawn care routine.

Achieving a beautiful lawn in Phoenix, Arizona is within your reach! Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, Evergreen Turf is here to support your lawn care journey. Browse our website to explore our high-quality sod options and take the first step toward a lush and vibrant lawn. Invest in your lawn’s future with Evergreen Turf today.

Remember, with the right knowledge and care, your lawn can become the envy of the neighborhood. Implement these 10 DIY lawn care tips, stay consistent, and watch your lawn flourish under the Arizona sun.

Installing sod can be an excellent way to achieve a lush and green lawn quickly. However, it can also be a time-consuming and costly if not done correctly. To ensure that your sod installation project is a success, it’s essential to avoid common mistakes that many homeowners make. This article will discuss the top mistakes to avoid when installing sod in a home lawn.

1. Failing to Prepare the Soil

One of homeowners’ biggest mistakes when installing sod is failing to adequately prepare the soil. Before laying down sod, it’s essential to remove any weeds, rocks, or debris from the area. You also want to ensure that the soil is level and well-draining. This will help the sod root properly and receive the necessary nutrients to grow.

2. Over or Underwatering

Another common mistake when installing sod is over or underwatering. Keeping the sod moist but not too wet or dry is crucial. Overwatering can lead to root rot and other issues, while underwatering can cause the sod to dry out and die. Be sure to monitor the moisture level of the sod and adjust watering as needed.

3. Not Allowing the Sod to Root

After installing the sod, it’s important to allow it to root properly before mowing or walking on it. This can take several weeks, depending on the type of sod and the weather conditions. Walking or mowing on the sod too soon can cause it to dislodge and damage the roots, leading to patchy or uneven growth.

4. Ignoring Fertilization and Maintenance

Once the sod has rooted, it’s essential to fertilize and maintain it properly. This includes regular watering, mowing, and fertilization. Ignoring these maintenance tasks can lead to a lackluster lawn that is susceptible to disease, pests, and other issues.

5. Choosing the Wrong Type of Sod

Finally, choosing the right type of sod for your lawn’s specific conditions, such as soil type, sun exposure, and climate is vital. Choosing the wrong type of sod can lead to poor growth and an unsightly lawn. Take our quiz to see what type of sod varieties are best suited for your location.

Conclusion

In conclusion, installing sod can be a great way to achieve a beautiful lawn quickly. However, it’s important to avoid common mistakes that can lead to growth, health, and appearance issues. By properly preparing the soil, watering correctly, allowing the sod to root, and maintaining it well, you can ensure that your sod installation project is a success. And don’t forget to choose the right type of sod for your specific lawn conditions.

Looking to install sod in your home lawn? Evergreen Turf can help! With over 20 years of experience, Evergreen Turf offers high-quality sod varieties, expert installation services, and professional maintenance tips to help ensure your lawn looks its best year-round. Browse all of our sod varieties to learn more. Order now and get free delivery with a minimum purchase of 500sq/ft.

Springtime in Phoenix, Arizona, is an excellent time to give your lawn the care it needs to thrive throughout the year. With proper lawn care, you can ensure that your lawn is healthy, lush, and vibrant. Here are some tips for spring lawn care in Phoenix to help you achieve a beautiful lawn.

Begin with a soil test

Before you start any lawn care activities, getting a soil test is essential. A soil test will tell you your soil’s pH level and the nutrients it lacks. In Phoenix, Arizona, the soil is typically alkaline, with a pH range of 7.0 to 8.5. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure that the soil’s pH is between 6.0 and 7.5. You can purchase a soil test kit at your local garden center or have your soil tested professionally. A soil test will help you determine what fertilizers to use and how much water your lawn needs.

Aerate your lawn

Phoenix, Arizona, has a desert climate, which means the soil is often compacted. A compacted soil makes it difficult for water and nutrients to reach the roots of your grass. To fix this problem, you should aerate your lawn. Aerating involves removing small plugs of soil from your lawn, allowing air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the roots more easily. You can rent an aerator or hire a professional to do it for you.

Dethatch your lawn

Thatch is a layer of dead grass and debris that accumulates on the surface of your lawn. Too much thatch can prevent water and nutrients from reaching the roots of your grass. You can remove thatch from your lawn by using a dethatching rake or a power dethatcher. A power dethatcher will do the job much faster than a rake, but it can be expensive to rent or buy.

Fertilize your lawn

Fertilizing your lawn is crucial to its health and growth. In Phoenix, Arizona, it’s best to use a slow-release fertilizer that will provide your grass with a steady supply of nutrients throughout the growing season. Choose a fertilizer with low nitrogen and high potassium content, as this will help your grass tolerate Phoenix’s hot, dry climate. You should apply fertilizer to your lawn in early spring when your grass begins to green up. Be sure to follow the fertilizer package instructions and not over-fertilize your lawn.

Water your lawn deeply

Phoenix is known for its hot and dry climate, so watering your lawn is crucial. You should water your lawn deeply and infrequently, allowing the water to penetrate the soil deeply. Watering your lawn too frequently can lead to shallow root growth, making your grass more susceptible to drought and disease. It’s best to water your lawn in the early morning or late evening when the temperature is cooler, and there’s less evaporation.

Mow your lawn regularly

Mowing your lawn regularly is essential to keep it healthy and looking good. When you mow your lawn, you should never cut off more than one-third of the grass blade. Cutting too much grass at once can weaken your grass and make it more susceptible to disease. You should also keep your mower blades sharp to ensure a clean cut.

Control weeds

Weeds are a common problem in Phoenix, Arizona, but you can control them by using a pre-emergent herbicide in early spring. A pre-emergent herbicide will prevent weeds from germinating and taking root in your lawn. If you already have weeds in your lawn, you can use a post-emergent herbicide to kill them. Be sure to follow the instructions on the herbicide package, and avoid using too much, as it can harm your grass.

Consider overseeding

Overseeding is the process of planting grass seed over your existing lawn. It’s a great way to fill in your lawn’s thin or patchy areas and promote healthy growth. In Phoenix, Arizona, it’s best to overseed your lawn in the fall, but you can also do it in the spring. Be sure to choose a grass seed that’s well-suited for Phoenix’s hot and dry climate.

Hire a professional

If you don’t have the time or expertise to care for your lawn, consider hiring a professional. A lawn care professional can help you with everything from fertilizing and watering to mowing and aerating your lawn. They can also advise you on the best lawn care practices for your specific needs.

Take care of your equipment

Finally, it’s essential to take care of your lawn care equipment. Sharpen your mower blades regularly to ensure a clean cut, and clean your equipment after each use to prevent rust and corrosion. Also, be sure to store your equipment in a cool, dry place during the off-season.

In conclusion, you can have a beautiful and healthy lawn in Phoenix, Arizona with proper care and attention. Following these tips lets you keep your lawn looking its best throughout the year. Remember to start with a soil test, aerate and dethatch your lawn, fertilize and water it properly, mow it regularly, control weeds, consider overseeding, hire a professional if needed, and take care of your equipment. With these steps, you’ll have a lawn that’s the envy of your neighborhood.

Evergreen Turf offers a wide selection of sod grass varieties perfectly suited for Arizona’s climate. 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. Contact us today.

Palmetto St. Augustine is the most popular patented turfgrass worldwide. Due to its versatility, this grass is found across most of the southern and southwestern United States and is a popular choice for Arizona homeowners. Homeowners tend to select it over other St. Augustine brands because of its better color, finer texture, and superior tolerance to shade, cold, frost, heat, and drought. This is due to the extensive root system that grows underneath the soil’s surface.

A Look at the Origins of Palmetto St. Augustine

A review of the history of Palmetto St. Augustine reveals that it has a long and varied past. This grass has been used for centuries, from the earliest days of colonial settlements to the modern era. It is a hardy, durable grass that is well-suited for hot, humid, and even dry climates, making it a popular choice for many Arizona homeowners. Its attractive appearance and ability to withstand a range of conditions have made it a favorite among homeowners and gardeners alike.

Originally a specialized grass with enhanced shade tolerance, Palmetto St. Augustine is now found across the globe, with more than two billion square feet sold and demand continuously on the rise.

Information Regarding Palmetto St. Augustine

Palmetto St. Augustine is a type of turfgrass which is native to the southeastern United States. It is an especially popular grass for lawns in Arizona, and it is used for golf courses, parks, and other large areas as well. This grass is quite tolerant of a variety of soil types, temperatures, and moisture levels, making it an ideal choice for many different environments. It is also a low-maintenance grass which requires less fertilization and watering than other types of turf. Additionally, it is resistant to many diseases and pests, which helps it to remain healthy and attractive over time.

Characteristics and Traits of Palmetto St. Augustine Grass

Palmetto St. Augustine grass has distinctive traits and attributes. It is a type of grass that is well-suited for warm climates and is tolerant of humidity. It is a hardy grass that is resistant to drought, heat and salt, which is one of the many reasons it is a popular sod variety in lawns across Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. The blades are medium to dark green in color and are coarse in texture. It is a low maintenance grass, however, it does require regular fertilization and irrigation. This type of grass is generally free of disease and pests.

In comparison to other varieties of St. Augustine, Palmetto has a more delicate blade that is not as wide. This allows it to make a denser covering of grass. Furthermore, its semi-dwarf stature leads to it growing at a lesser height than other St. Augustines, thus necessitating less cutting to maintain an optimal height.

The natural color of healthy grass is green, but it can have a range of shades and hues. Palmetto is a vivid emerald green.

When it comes to warm-season grasses that can tolerate shade, St. Augustine is at the top of the list, with Palmetto being the cultivar that is the most resilient in this regard.

In comparison to other types of St. Augustines, Palmetto displays a higher resistance to cold, frost, heat and drought.

Establishing Palmetto St. Augustine Grass

For establishing Palmetto in the yard, sod, plugs, or stolons can be utilized; however, there exists no such thing as St. Augustine seed. Installing Palmetto St. Augustine sod is the most suitable option for homeowners looking to have it on their lawn.

If you are thinking about installing Palmetto St. Augustine, then consider contacting the team at Evergreen Turf with any questions you have. If you’re ready to buy, you buy directly on our website.

Upkeep of Palmetto St. Augustine Grass

Mowing and Watering of Palmetto and St. Augustine

Depending on the season, it should be cut to a length of 2-2.5 inches. During the autumn and winter, mowing should be done less frequently and the grass should be left slightly taller than usual. This will help promote the growth of stronger roots during the winter months. You can achieve this by adjusting the mower’s height settings to a slightly higher level.

Weekly, your Palmetto St Augustine sod should receive about an inch of water, including rain. To avoid disease issues, be mindful not to give it too much, as shade and excess moisture can be a breeding ground for disease.

Fertilization of Palmetto St. Augustine grass is an important step in its growth and health. The process of fertilization keeps the grass green and strong, ensuring the lawn looks its best. It is important to fertilize regularly to get the most out of this grass. Check out our lawn care guide: Arizona Sod and Lawn Nutrition & Fertilization for more information.

Controlling insects and diseases in Palmetto St. Augustine is an important task. Using preventative measures to keep the environment healthy is the best way to avoid insects and disease all together. Check out our guide on insect control.

The Saint Augustine grass type is especially vulnerable to chinch bug infestations, so it is wise to use a broad-spectrum insecticide like Bifen L/P if any insect damage is detected. Additionally, white grub worms should be watched for as well. If previous fungal or disease issues have been experienced in the Palmetto grass, a systemic fungicide should be applied in order to avoid future occurrences, particularly during the spring and fall when soil temperatures are changing. Palmetto is able to tolerate more shade than other warm season turfgrasses, making it more susceptible to disease with reduced exposure to sunlight. As such, it is suggested to utilize a fungicide preventively, such as Heritage G Granular Fungicide. Be sure to read product labels before use.

Controlling weeds in Palmetto St. Augustine grass lawns is an important task. Ensuring that weeds don’t overtake the lawn is key to keeping it healthy and looking great.

For St. Augustine turfgrass, it is recommended to use a pre-emergent herbicide in both the spring and fall for effective weed control.

Each year, the NFL puts in fresh turf for the Super Bowl to make sure the game is as safe and visually appealing as can be. This year was no exception at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals.

An important thing to note is that when the Super Bowl location is selected, the Super Bowl determines the sod variety and installer and takes over replacing the field and the groundskeeping. The regular stadium staff is replaced by NFL personnel.

This is important because Evergreen Turf is the provider of the sod for the Cardinals for every other event or game that happens at the stadium. We are not the provider during the Super Bowl. When doing our regular routine maintenance of the stadium sod, the sod is typically replaced 2-3 times a year.

So why did the NFL make such a poor choice of sod for the 2023 Super Bowl? Throughout the game, the players were slipping and sliding, which left viewers, both at home and in the stadium, questioning the safety of the surface. Patrick Mahomes from the Kansas City Chiefs was seen slipping on one play, and Philadelphia Eagles’ A.J. Brown also had trouble keeping his footing on another.

The reason is because of the halftime show. The halftime show is more important to the NFL than the game is, so they focus on the look of the field over durability, stability and player safety. This is why they went with the Tahoma 31, overseeded heavily with winter ryegrass.

The sod is laid 4 weeks before the game, then 2 weeks before the game they begin rehearsing the setup and take down of the halftime show, which requires 26 pieces of heavy equipment repeatedly crossing the field in defined patterns which causes compacting of certain areas to the hardness of cement while other parts of the field are softer when a less durable sod is used. The heavy traffic, combined with too much ryegrass, and too much water in the new sod, caused the slipping and sliding we saw in the Super Bowl this year.

The players themselves have weighed in on the matter as well. According to Yahoo Sports, Eagles defensive end Haason Reddick said, “I’m not going to lie, it’s the worst field I ever played on. It was very disappointing. It’s the NFL, you’d think it would be better so we can get some better play. But it is what it is.”

Even the players often don’t know the details of who makes decisions to install the sod, why they choose the sod variety they desire, or that if they had played on the field when the sod was chosen and installed by Evergreen Turf, there might have been much fewer slips and blunders. But Rihanna’s performance looked great, which is what mattered to the NFL when choosing to overseed too heavily for the field.

As for us at Evergreen Turf, we are a proud partner of the Arizona Cardinals. As a premier provider of sod in Arizona, Evergreen Turf is dedicated to ensuring the Cardinals’ field is ready to go on game day. Therefore, great care is taken in selecting, cultivating, and maintaining the particular variety of sod that is used in this unique and prestigious venue.

Now that the Super Bowl is over, Evergreen Turf is re-sodding the field and replacing the Superbowl sod. Here are some pictures of our re-sod.

We specialize in residential and professional sod installation across Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. Got questions? Talk to one of our sod specialists today.

A well-maintained lawn can level up your home’s exterior. Unfortunately, lawns don’t stay vibrant and lush all on their own. Without consistent TLC, your lawn may start to look patchy, yellow, or dry.

If your lawn is lacking its luster, you may be wondering what you can do about it. Depending on the degree of your lawn’s deterioration, a full-blown lawn renovation may be in order.

So, how can you tell if it’s time to renovate your lawn? Below, we’ll break down the major causes of turf deterioration and explain when you should consider a lawn renovation.

7 Major Causes of Turf Deterioration

Before you renovate your lawn, it’s a good idea to find out why it looks unhealthy in the first place. This way, you can solve the problem and keep it from happening again, preventing the need for repeated renovations.

Lawns may start to deteriorate for the following reasons:

1. Poor lawn management – Lawns need to be mowed, fertilized and irrigated regularly to stay green and healthy. If your lawn care has fallen to the wayside, that may be the cause of its decline.

   On the flip side, over-watering or excess fertilization can also cause issues. Too much water can cause your turf’s roots to rot, while excess fertilizer can lead to unsightly “fertilizer burn” and root damage.

2. Excessive thatch – Thatch is a tightly-packed layer of decomposed stems, leaves, and roots that can build up between your grass and its soil. Some amount of thatch is unavoidable.

   However, excessive thatch can create a claustrophobic environment for your turf’s roots. In turn, they may not get enough water, air, or fertilizer, even if you’re diligently providing them during your lawn maintenance routine.

3. Weeds, insects, and diseases – Over time, your turf may get attacked by pesky weeds, insects, and diseases. Weeds harm turf by sucking up its nutrients. Meanwhile, pests attack turf by nibbling at its blades and roots.
4. Poor soil quality – The quality of your soil can make or break your lawn’s appearance. Poor soil may be acidic, infertile, compacted, or lacking in essential microorganisms. You can have your soil tested at a local soil testing lab to evaluate its health.
5. Inadequate sunlight – Not all types of turfs thrive in shaded locations. If your lawn lacks direct sunlight, you may need to remove or prune the surrounding trees and shrubs to let more rays shine through.
6. Improper species selection – Not all turfgrass species are adapted to every climate. If your turf still looks rough after adhering to meticulous maintenance practices, it may simply be ill-suited for your location.
7. Dog urine – If your furry friend frequently pees on your lawn, it can cause unsightly spots. Some species of turf are more resistant to dog urine than others.

Getting to the root of your lawn’s issue can be tricky. Fortunately, a lawn care specialist can diagnose the issue and suggest the best path forward.

When to Renovate Your Lawn

Sometimes, you can repair small portions of your lawn by re-seeding it or optimizing your lawn care regime. Most high quality warm season lawns are hybrids and cannot be grown from seed.  These will need to be plugged or sodded. However, if more than 25% of your lawn is deteriorating, it’s probably time to renovate.

Lawn Renovation Considerations

One of the most important things to consider before you renovate your lawn is the time of year. Lawn renovations should be done when the lawn can recover the quickest. If you live in Arizona, it’s best to do your work in late spring or early summer.  This gives your lawn the rest of the summer to recover and get fully healthy before winter.

Sprinkler System Check-up:  The number one cause of lawn problems in Arizona is poor irrigation coverage.  Check your system for proper head coverage, good pressure, and leaks.  A good sprinkler system will also save water!

Aeration:  Aeration is a mechanical practice that pull small cores from your soil.  This helps alleviate compaction, and will also help mitigate thatch build up.  Compaction tends to be a problem in high traffic areas wear dogs and kids play, or where people walk or stand frequently in the lawn.

De-thatching:  Thatch is an accumulation of old leaves and stems from your lawn.  Too much thatch will cause the lawn to repel water, or slow your water from penetrating the soil.  Excess thatch can also be a host to many insects.  Excess thatch will also make your lawn too soft and cause your lawnmower to “scalp” your lawn when you mow. You can rent a machine to dethach, or even vigorously rake an area to remove the thatch.

Next, you should determine if any nearby vegetation will compete with your fresh turf for space and soil nutrients. If you suspect it may, you might want to pull some weeds or apply herbicides.

Lastly, you should make sure that you plant a type of turf that’s properly adapted to your climate, especially if your old turf wasn’t. Not sure which type of turf is right for you? Try Evergreen Turf’s lawn selector guide to help you.

Evergreen Turf: Renovate Your Lawn With Premier Arizona Sod

If you’re longing for greener grass, Evergreen Turf can make it happen. We’re a premier producer of Arizona sod. Our sod grass has been used to refresh residential yards, elite golf courses, and all kinds of green spaces in between.

All of our sod grass varieties grow beautifully in Arizona, so you can rest assured you’re getting a grass type that’s right for your climate.

Are you ready to refresh your lawn? Reach out to Evergreen Turf today.

If you have an Arizona sod lawn, making a care plan can be challenging. For one, the state features 10+ USDA Plant Hardiness Zones, and seasonal changes vary drastically by region.

If you live in one of the state’s drier areas, how can you balance the desire for a bright green lawn with an eco-friendly lifestyle?

In this guide, we’ll break down nine tips for eco-conscious lawn care specifically tailored to Arizona residents. While some of these suggestions may require a little extra elbow grease, others rely on simple science. Whichever you choose, incorporating even one of the tips below will help you maintain your lawn with the planet in mind.

#1 Beware of Overwatering

There are three important things to remember about overwatering your lawn:

1. It can damage your grass – Overwatering can create shallow root systems, reduce your lawn’s tolerance to environmental changes (like drought), and provide a prime environment for unsavory insects.
2. It’s not eco-friendly – Water may be a renewable resource, but droughts can be especially impactful in dry climates like Southwest Arizona. Avoid unnecessary demands on the water supply by watering thoughtfully.
3. It’s expensive – Water isn’t free; overwatering your lawn could become expensive fast.

Instead of overwatering, follow a few sensible guidelines that can keep your lawn green:

• Irrigate early in the morning or in the evening to ensure optimal absorption.
• Use the same amount of water all year long, but adjust your frequency seasonally
  • e., water less frequently in the rainy season than you do when it’s dry
• Control your weeds to ensure that your grass is getting the majority of the water

These practices will benefit your lawn, the environment, and your wallet—a win-win-win.

#2 Use a Push or Electric Mower Instead of a Gas Mower

Gas mowers aren’t the most eco-friendly option for trimming. They require gasoline to operate—a finite resource—and they release greenhouse gas emissions during combustion.

If you’re ready to adopt environmentally conscious mowing, you have two choices. You can:

1. Switch to a manual push mower that doesn’t use gas
2. Opt for an electric mower

Battery-operated mower technology is only improving; some models boast up to an hour of runtime, and lawn care gurus have numerous brands to choose from.

And, if you want to double up on your environmentally-friendly efforts, you can charge your batteries using solar power. What could be greener than a fossil fuel-free lawn?

#3 Swap Your Leaf Blower for a Rake (Or an Electric Blower)

Raking leaves was a childhood chore for many, which may have taken some of the charm out of the activity. But using a rake or electric leaf blower instead of a gas-powered one is a much more eco-conscious method (for the same reasons a gas mower isn’t the greenest choice).

And, like mowers, electric leaf blowers are getting better every year.

For proof, just take a look at the Ego Cordless Leaf Blower: It blows 765 CFM (more if you opt for the high-capacity battery), which beats even some gas-powered, backpack blower models.

Starting to notice a theme? If you’re trying to create green habits and a green lawn, consider swapping out your gas tools for electric or analog models.

#4 Focus on Native Plants

One of the simplest ways to create an eco-friendly lawn is to foster native grasses—or varieties that thrive in your climate without significant maintenance. Since most grasses native to Arizona don’t create the thick, lush lawns that homeowners love, turf experts recommend a bermudagrass hybrid that’s well-adapted to Arizona’s various climates, like Midiron.

Midiron offers a variety of benefits:

• It’s relatively drought-tolerant
• It recovers quickly from damage (e.g., foot traffic)
• It thrives at a variety of mowing heights (so it can be cut safely with just about any mower)

However, grass likely isn’t the only thing in your yard. To optimize eco-friendliness (and add more visual interest to your lawn), consider adding native plants like:

• Marsh aster
• Hedgehog cactus
• Ironwood trees
• Desert chicory

As an added bonus, keeping your lawn native is closely related to our next tip: keeping it local.

#5 Buy Native Sod from Local Businesses

With so many sod options on the market, one of the best ways to choose the best one is to consult an expert, like a local turf business. But why should you choose a local business over a big-box home improvement store or online grass seed supplier?

The biggest benefits of buying local include:

• Local ecosystem knowledge – Sod companies in your region know which species thrive under local conditions. They can help you choose a variety that has a high chance of survival in your neighborhood.
• Troubleshooting – If your lawn starts to wither six months after installation, a local supplier can make a house call. Local turf purveyors live in your neighborhood, too—they’re invested in the success of your yard.
• Environmental impact – A big box store or an online seed shop might need to send a semi-truck cross-country to deliver your product. You can reduce your footprint by ordering sod from your own ZIP code.

#6 Don’t Overseed in the Winter

Overseeding with a perennial species (like ryegrass) might enhance the aesthetics of your yard during the winter. But, to take root, these additional seeds require a lot of water.

Contending with cooler weather while committing to eco-friendliness means accepting that your lawn will go dormant—a natural process that might make your yard (temporarily) a little less vibrant. However, skipping overseeding and accepting nature’s seasonal cycle can reduce any potential negative impact a pristine year-round lawn can have.

#7 Fertilize Your Lawn with Compost

Plants can’t discern between organic fertilizers (food made from other naturally-derived sources) and “chemical” fertilizers (commercially-available synthetic compounds).

Most chemical fertilizers are safe to use. But why spend money on chemical fertilizers when you likely have everything you need to create nutritious plant food at home? Enter: composting.

You can start fertilizing with compost without taking a single trip to the hardware store:

1. Collect compostable scraps, like eggshells, fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and yard trimmings like dead grass and fallen leaves
2. Let everything decompose for a few weeks while it breaks down into soil-like matter
3. Sprinkle the compost around your lawn, as you would with a chemical fertilizer

#8 Test Your Soil

A soil test can provide critical information about your yard, like the pH of your soil (how acidic or alkaline it is), the nutrients present in (and missing from) your soil, and what nutrients are needed to achieve peak soil health.

All these data points can help you create a healthy environment where your sod (and other plants) can thrive. And, instead of experimenting with different methods (like additional watering or nonspecific fertilizer treatments) and hoping for positive outcomes, you can determine exactly what your yard needs to improve and take any necessary steps right away.

#9 Hand-Pull Your Weeds

If you’re trying to reduce the environmental impact of your lawn, it’s time to ditch the 2,4-D and don your weeding gloves. Pulling weeds by hand is significantly better for the environment than treating your yard with herbicide sprays.

While herbicides might kill your weeds, they don’t disappear from the ecosystem. And when they flow away with runoff, they have the potential to:

• Dissolve into the water supply
• Kill other healthy plants in the ecosystem
• Change the behavior or reproduction habits of fish, invertebrates, and amphibians

You can eliminate these possibilities by switching to manual weeding—your local flora and fauna will thank you.

Evergreen Turf: Keeping Arizona Green for Over 20 Years

Whether you’re looking to green-ify every element of your lawn care or phase in just a few eco-friendly tactics, it’s easy to make your yard maintenance routine a little more sustainable.

If you need expert landscaping advice or high-quality sod, turn to Evergreen Turf.

Since 1999, we’ve been supplying Arizona with elite, golf-quality turf that turns heads—and service that keeps homeowners and sports facility managers alike coming back. Browse our blog for more sod tips, or stop by our Chandler location to chat with a pro.

We can’t wait to see your yard flourish.

When researching winter lawn care, you’ll likely discover countless suggestions for overseeding your lawn with a perennial species like ryegrass.

But overseeding requires watering—in Arizona, residents, business owners, and landscapers should be mindful of local water supplies and use restrictions in place. To conserve water, reduce your utility bill, or simply take a more sustainable approach to lawn management this winter, you might choose to skip overseeding.

If you’re not going to overseed, what should your winter lawn maintenance plan look like? Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of cool-weather lawn care.

#1 Research Your Grass Type

If you’ve recently moved into a new home, you might not know where to start when it comes to making a winter lawn care plan.

The first step—finding out what kind of grasses make up your lawn and researching how to care for each species.

And, if you’re thinking about replacing your lawn before the cool weather kicks in, remember that not all grasses are created equal when it comes to weather resistance and damage recovery. Here are a few of the most common Arizona grasses and their general response to damage (like cold weather):

• Midiron – Excellent damage recovery
• Tifway 419 – Very good recovery
• Tifgreen 328 – Fair recovery
• TifGrand – Fair recovery
• Palmetto St. Augustine – Fair recovery

After you determine your grass type, research how it responds to cooler weather and what you’ll need to do to help it survive the winter.

#2 Allow Grass to Go Dormant

Some grasses—like Bermuda grass, a common Arizona species—go dormant during prolonged cold weather. Dormant grasses can:

• Become less vibrant or even appear dead
• Grow slowly (or not at all)
• Appear and feel dehydrated, dry, or crunchy

But dormant grass isn’t dead grass—dormancy is like hibernation for plants, and dormant grass should spring back up to its former green glory once the weather warms up.

If your grass appears to be going dormant for the winter, it’s best to let nature take its course.

#3 Monitor Rainfall and Supplement with Watering

Just because your lawn might be going dormant, you shouldn’t expect it to survive without any water during the winter months.

Each grass species has specific needs for staying alive (or having a healthy dormancy) in winter, and you should expect your lawn to need at least some watering. Bermuda grass, for instance, needs to be watered in the winter to maintain soil moisture—which will keep the grass alive even once it starts to wilt.

Winter rains may provide all the water your lawn needs as the weather cools down. But, if your area doesn’t receive any rain for more than two weeks, you should consider lightly watering it (while taking care not to overwater).

#4 Adjust Fertilization Schedule

During the warmer months, you may be watering and fertilizing your lawn often to help keep weeds out, encourage thickening, and maintain that vibrant green.

However, if you don’t plan to overseed this winter, you can cut back on your fertilizing efforts once the weather cools down.

Different grasses have different fertilization needs, even during the winter. If you’re not sure how to fertilize your lawn, you can:

• Consult a turf expert for advice
• Test fertilizer frequency and formula in a small patch of your yard
• Reach out to your local extension office for more information

Evergreen Turf: Your #1 Source for Quality Sod in Arizona

Arizona winter grass doesn’t have to be overseeded during the colder months. Still, you should ensure you’re providing the specific care your grass species needs to stay alive this winter, whether or not it goes dormant.

If you’re looking for turf tips before the cooler weather sets in, Evergreen Turf is your number-one source for helpful information, high-quality sod, and so much more. You can browse our wealth of lawn care knowledge online, give us a call, or drop by our Chandler location—when you need expertise, we’ve got you covered.