There are few things more satisfying to a homeowner than having a beautiful green lawn. But first, you’ll want to make sure you’re installing it correctly, and the first step is making sure your soil is ready for sod installation. Here’s how to prepare soil for sod to ensure you end up with the desired results.

Soil Preparation for Sod Checklist

Step 1: Test the soil. Not all Arizona sod is the same, so you’ll want to make sure you purchase the right type based on alkaline content of the existing soil. This is achieved by testing the soil’s pH level with a kit from your local garden center.

Step 2: Install or prepare sprinklers. Naturally, fresh sod is going to require maintenance and regular care; therefore, a sufficient irrigation system is the key to success. If your yard is already equipped with one, mark each sprinkler head with a flag and be cautious not to damage them when you attempt step three.

Step 3: Remove grass and weeds. In order for sod placement to be successful, your yard must be completely cleared of grass, weeds, rocks, twigs, and debris. Kill existing vegetation with either chemical or organic products. Then, clear the vegetation and rake up additional debris, such as rocks, so that there is nothing left to physically interfere with sod installation.

Step 4: Consider grading. If your lawn is flat, be sure to build up soil around your home and other structures to prevent water from pooling. Your goal is for the yard to slope slightly to avoid overwatering.

Step 5: Spread topsoil. This is not always mandatory, but adding soil amendments to your lawn can help with sod’s ability to root and gain proper nutrients for growth and sustainability, which is of particular importance in Arizona’s desert climate. If you need topsoil, you can order some that will get delivered straight to your home from Big Yellow Bag.

Step 6: Water the soil. As a final step, dampen the soil with water just before you are ready to install sod (which should be laid as soon as it is purchased/delivered). Do not create mud puddles; rather, give the soil a quick once-over with the hose to lightly moisten the surface.

It’s as simple as that – now you know how to prepare soil for sod. Although the steps are not necessarily difficult, they can be time consuming depending on the size of your yard. Dedicate the proper time for soil preparation and soon you’ll have a lush landscape to call your own.

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.

Want to keep your grass green all spring and summer so it will last through the fall? Arizona sod experts at Evergreen Turf offer some tips to help you out! Here’s how to keep your grass green in 5 easy steps.

1. Choose a variety of grass that will work best in your yard

As you may or may not know, there are many different types of grass. Each type grows best under different conditions. Some grow best in cooler temperatures, while some require more sunshine than others. So to set yourself up for success, you first need to choose the right type of sod. Check out our Lawn Selector Tool and answer a quick series of questions to determine which varieties are best suited for your location. From there, you’ll be able to see more detailed information about each of the grasses to help you make a final decision.

2. Test your soil

Use a soil test kit. Test your soil for things like:

• nitrogen
• phosphorus
• pH levels

This will help you uncover any deficiencies that may prevent you from achieving a healthy green lawn. If your soil is missing key nutrients, you can add certain products that will boost your soil. This will create an ideal environment for healthy grass. If you don’t want chemicals on your lawn there are environmentally friendly ways to care for your grass. For example, leaving the grass clippings on your lawn, known as mulching, helps keep your soil moist and prevents weed growth. For more information check out our Lawn Care Nutrition page.

3. Water thoroughly but do not overwater

One of the top mistakes that homeowners make is overwatering their lawn. If you’re starting a lawn from seed, you will need to water often, since the seeds need time to germinate and sprout. However, if you’re starting your lawn from sod, be cautious to not overwater.

Most homeowners water lightly every day, or practically every day. This encourages the roots to stay close to the soil, which in turn makes your lawn more vulnerable to heat and drought. Instead, you should water deeply only a few times per week. This method will encourage deep root growth.

Finally, try to water in the early morning and avoid watering at night. This tactic will help you avoid prolonged moisture which can cause disease. For more information, check out our Lawn Care Irrigation page.

4. Don’t mow too short

When you mow your lawn very short, it creates more work and maintenance in the long run, because you need to water more frequently and use more herbicides. Also, if you mow your lawn one day after watering, you will help your lawn heal better from the recent cut. This often prevents the tips from turning yellow and brown. Check out our Mowing Lawn Care page for more tips.

5. Aerate your lawn once in spring and fall

Aeration is the process of creating small holes in the surface of your lawn. This can be done using an aeration rake. Some companies even sell aeration sandals that you can strap on your feet! This process allows water, nutrients, and air access to the roots. It also creates better drainage which reduces runoff.

If you’ve followed all these tips and you’re still not getting the results you want, your lawn may have a disease or insect infection. It’s important to identify the problem accurately, so it’s best to take a sample of your grass and soil to an expert for help in identifying the root of the problem.

Have questions? Contact us today by phone at 602.626.9959 or email at info@evergreenturf.com. Better yet, come on down to our Chandler office located at 11407 E. Germann Rd and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have!

For more lawn care information, visit our website https://www.evergreenturf.com.

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.

Do you live in Phoenix, Arizona, and need to renovate or expand your lawn? Purchasing sod is a must for any landscaping project. You need a company you can trust, one who delivers high quality Phoenix sod that will make your lawn look spectacular. That’s where we come in.

Here at Evergreen Turf, we have been Arizona’s top experts on desert landscaping since 1999. Our goal is to farm and sell premier Arizona sod for homeowners across the sunshine state. Our sod is also used for golf courses and sports facilities, including the Arizona Cardinals’ stadium. We have provided sod to thousands of commercial projects as well. When you buy from Evergreen Turf, you are getting the same sod that demanding professional organizations choose. You won’t find higher quality sod in Phoenix.

Some consumers wonder whether they should use sod or seeds to grow their lawns. Sod has many advantages over seeds. You won’t have to worry about allergies, because sod is pollen free. Sod also requires less water, making it better for the environment, especially in Arizona’s arid desert climate. Also, you don’t have to wait for sod to grow like seeds do. Sod can instantly give you the great lawn that you want and deserve.

We sell several different types of high quality premium sod. Midiron is the most popular turfgrass sod in the state. Midiron is a blue-green, low maintenance brand. Palmetto St. Augustine provides you with bright green turn and performs well in the shade. Celebration Bermudagrass is bluish-green and requires significantly less mowing than other varieties. If you stop by our office, we’ll be happy to help you find the right variety for you. You can also visit our website and take our quiz to help you decide which lawn to choose. Key factors include whether your lawn will be in the sun or the shade, the type of lawnmower that you own, and whether you have any children or pets.

We are the state’s top authority on anything having to do with desert landscaping with sod. We are happy to help you with any fertilization, irrigation, mowing, and weeding questions that you have. Maintaining your lawn in a desert environment can be challenging and proper lawn care is very important. With sod, you conserve water that would be consumed by seeds. Sod is also durable and long-lasting.

Experience the Evergreen Turf difference for yourself and join our happy family of satisfied clients. We are confident you will agree that we offer the best sod in Arizona. Contact us today or visit our office. We look forward to hearing from you!

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 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.

Arizona is a beautiful state with some of the most diverse landscapes and climates in the country. The northern part of Arizona sees snow, while the central and southern parts of the state are known for their hot and dry desert climate. Phoenix and Tucson are both areas where residents need to be conscious of their water use and their contribution to pollution. If you’re a homeowner that has an Arizona sod lawn, here are five eco-friendly ways you can tend to your lawn.

1. Be Conscientious When Watering

It’s very common to overwater your lawn, even with Arizona sod, and especially during the hot summer months when homeowners attempt to compensate for the hot weather. Look for signs of overwatering such as pools of water on the lawn or moss growing on the sidewalk.

2. Use Push Mowers Instead of Gas Mowers

Push mowers require zero fuel except for your pure man (or woman) power! While gas mowers have become the norm, they are actually not necessary to maintain a beautiful Arizona sod lawn. You can purchase eco-friendly push mowers at home improvement stores. When your neighbor asks why you don’t have a gas mower, tell them you’re doing your part to help the environment! Maybe they will join the trend.

3. Use a Rake Instead of a Leaf Blower

Ask yourself, “Do I really need a leaf blower?” They are loud and smelly, they disturb your neighbors and worst of all they are not good for the environment. Why not trade in your leaf blower for a standard rake? It only takes a little bit more time than the leaf blower, plus you’ll tone your arm muscles in the process! Let’s face it, most parts of Arizona don’t see a ton of autumn leaves like some states back east, so a rake should be sufficient in maintaining your Arizona sod lawn.

4. Stick to Local Plants, Flowers, and Grasses

Native plants are going to grow best in your yard, so if you want flowers and plants incorporated into your landscape, try to choose ones that are native to your area. If you’re not sure which plants are local to your area, check with your neighborhood nursery or your professional landscapers to confirm which plants will be best for your yard.

5. Buy Sod From Local Businesses

Like flowers and plants, grasses that aren’t native to your region will require more maintenance and often more watering. It’s best to buy your Arizona sod locally as it supports local business and you can ensure you’re choosing the right type of grass for your home and climate. Which grass you choose also depends on how often your lawn is in sunlight. For help choosing the right type of Arizona sod for your lawn, answer three questions from our lawn selector tool. Your answers will determine the absolute best sod for your Arizona home.

For more information on Arizona sod, visit our website or call one of our Arizona sod specialists at 602-626-9959.

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.

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.

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.

Starting to settle into the idea of chillier weather? Before the temperatures start to fall, take this time to do some maintenance around your property. Planting sod in the fall can bring new beauty to your lawn just in time for the changing seasons. If you’re installing sod during the cooler seasons, make sure you choose cool season grasses.

Here are some tips to help you with your sod project:

1. Clear the Area

You may not even realize how much stuff has accumulated in your yard area over time. Any materials and objects need to be removed. Items such as wood, bricks, and cement need to be moved. Do a thorough check for stumps, rocks, boulders, stones, and other natural debris that you might not notice upon first check, and remove those items too.

2. Grade the Space

You’ll want to grade the space properly to prevent any drainage problems. Slope the grade away from the foundations of buildings will help eliminate drainage problems on the property. Take care to reduce or remove severe slopes and low-lying areas which have potential to hold water in the future. Those spots should be filled upfront so the soil has a chance to settle. Toward the end of the process, you might need to add more filler. If your property is small, you can grade with hand tools. For a larger space, you’ll want to use a tractor-mounted blade or box for the work. Keep an eye out for newly uncovered debris that will need to be moved.

3. Prepare the Root Zone

The root zone is just what it sounds like; it is the area where you will lay down the sod and where the root system will develop. Take the time to prepare it properly. In particular, determine the pH level of the soil by performing a soil test. Then, make modifications, as needed. Acidic soils have a pH level of 6 or below. Alkaline soils have a pH of 7.5 or greater. Once you’ve determined the pH of your soil, ask a sod professional which fertilizer or other products to use.

4. Fertilize Sparingly

Don’t make the mistake of feeding your fresh sod tons of fertilizer, as this can damage it. Go light on the nitrogen, using a formula of no more than one pound per 1,000 square feet of lawn. Starter fertilizer that is high in phosphate can be beneficial for new sod.

5. Deploy the Lawn Roller

It’s time to check for low spots. These need to be filled to match the surrounding grade. Allow the site to settle, and, if possible, employ irrigation water to assist with the settling process. This will ensure your property is ready for a happy green lawn.

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. Contact us to talk to one of our sod specialists at 602-626-9959. Better yet, stop by and meet the team at our convenient Chandler location.

There’s no doubt that St. Augustine makes for a beautiful lawn. Just like any lawn, regular fertilization is required to keep it healthy and green. Choosing the best fertilizer for St Augustine grass is not rocket science but it’s also not as simple as picking up any bag found at your local garden supply store. It’s important to understand how to properly care for St. Augustine sod. We break it all down for you in this article.

Important Factors to Consider When You Apply Fertilizer

The most important factor of fertilizing St. Augustine grass is using the correct amount. Using too little fertilizer will not produce that lush, dark green color or rapid growth for which St. Augustine is known. On the other hand, too much fertilizer will create a haven for pests.

The best fertilizer for St Augustine grass is any fertilizer that has one pound of nitrogen for every 1,000 square feet of sod. Fertilizing every two months is ideal unless you apply slow release fertilizer that can be spread every 10 weeks.

Here’s How to Figure Out which Bag of Fertilizer to Choose

Every bag of fertilizer has a nutrient analysis on the label which shows the percentage and ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, respectively. Although it requires some math, the calculation is fairly easy and, of course, in-store lawn care professionals can always assist if memory fails. Here’s how it would break down assuming you have a 2,000 square foot lawn and use a bag of 15-5-10 fertilizer.

• Divide 100 by the first number to determine the total amount of nitrogen needed. 100/15 = 6.6
• Because each number in the analysis equals the total percentage of the nutrient, in this example you actually need 6.6 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.
• Take the lawn’s total square footage and divide by 1,000. (2,000/1,000) x 6.6 = 13.2 pounds of fertilizer

Once you understand the analysis, the fertilizer you choose for your St Augustine grass becomes a matter of preference. There are numerous fertilizers marketed for St. Augustine specifically such as Lesco St. Augustine Lawn Fertilizer, Dr. Earth Organic Super Natural Lawn Fertilizer and Pennington’s Weed and Feed product.

Beyond Fertilizer – How To Care For St. Augustine Sod

Fertilizing your lawn isn’t everything! In order to ensure maximum beauty, follow these tips for a healthy St. Augustine lawn:

1. Fertilize during the growing season in the spring and fall.

2. Check for chinch bugs and white grubs and treat for insects as needed.

3. Don’t over water! Water only when grass shows signs of deterioration in color or blade structure. Consider irrigating in the early morning when the yard has time to dry out in the sun.

4. Try to limit heavy foot traffic as St. Augustine cannot withstand constant trampling.

5. Set your mower to a height of 2.5 to 3 inches and leave the clippings rather than bagging them. Doing so ensures that nutrients are redelivered to the soil.

6. Control weeds with herbicide, preferably in temperatures of 90 degrees of lower as treating in high heat may lead to lawn damage.

7. Test the soil and understand how its PH level will affect your choice of fertilizer.

It’s not uncommon for St. Augustine to lack iron (made apparent by PH levels higher than 7.0), but its other components are equally important to note such as the levels of phosphorus and potassium. Therefore, soil tests should be a regular part of lawn care and will truly determine the best fertilizer for St Augustine grass. And though it may seem like a full-time job, caring for St. Augustine pays off in the long run with its beauty and stands as a perfect warm-season grass for any homeowner.

Ready to grow more things? Why not try your hand at growing fruit trees in Phoenix. Check out this step-by-step guide to growing fruit tress in Phoenix, published on AZCentral.

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.

Late summer means hot weather and longer periods of sunshine, which can cause stress and damage to your grass. Keep an eye on your lawn to make sure that any dry spots start getting enough water. If you’re not sure how to best care for your lawn in the heat, it might be a good idea to consult a professional. Otherwise, the following are some tips to help you prepare your yard for the next season.

Beware of Summer Pests

June beetles, Japanese beetles, and European chafers all lay eggs in the grass during the early and middle of summer. These eggs begin to hatch mid to late summer, and the timing can vary depending on what region you live in. Where you live in will dictate what time is the best time to lay down grub control.

Treat Brown Spots

Brown patches are caused by fungus that thrives in the hot, humid weather of late summer. While most brown patches will correct themselves as the weather cools, there are things you can do to reduce or eliminate them. Avoid watering your lawn more than every three to four days, and seed your lawn with resistant grasses that are not as susceptible to fungus.

Remedy Thinning Grass

To improve the health of your lawn, you need to rake or dethatch dead grass. When you remove accumulated dead grass, you allow air and sunlight to get reach the healthy grass. Doing this will help promote growth and hopefully reduce thinning. Consult a professional if you are not sure how much to remove. The thatch protects grass during the winter, so you do not want to eliminate too much of it.

Choose the Right Fertilizer

Your yard needs a different fertilizer in the late summer than it needs during the other seasons. Your location will partially dictate what type of fertilizer you need, and whether you need the fertilizer to treat a specific issue or to build turf. If you are not sure what your lawn needs, it is best to consult a professional. You could be wasting time and money treating your lawn with the wrong fertilizer. For more information, check out our page on the Five Types of Fertilizer.

Mowing

Mowing your lawn can have an impact on its health, and using a mower with a dull blade can leave the grass shredded and frayed. Grass that is cut too short will allow too much sunlight to reach the roots and the grass will burn. You are going to want to leave your grass a little longer during the hottest part of the summer, as this will help it survive the heat.

Weeds

When you have weeds in your yard in the late summer, it is a good idea to pull them by hand. Pulling weeds up from the root completely removes the plant. This is more effective than just mowing over the weeds, and is more environmentally friendly than spraying chemical weed killers. If you walk through your yard a few times per week and pull any weeds you find, your yard will look much better than if you do not.

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.