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.

Even with a small yard, resodding your lawn can seem like a daunting task. Essentially there are two options: with ample time and research you can go the DIY route or you can simply hire a professional. When considering the overall cost to resod a lawn, you’ll want to look at the big picture in regard to the total project time and probability of error. Here’s what you can expect financially for either option.

Do-It-Yourself Sodding

Naturally, this route is more laborious and will require you to first prepare the soil for new sod. On average it will take a full day to prep the existing landscape before you can move forward in the process. Equipment rentals for grading and tilling can vary in price, but you should budget for approximately $50 per four hours of use.

Next, you’ll test the soil for its acidic content or “PH level” to determine what type of soil you’re working with and, subsequently, what type of sod to purchase. Depending on the level of alkalinity, you may need to purchase PH correction materials such as sulfur to get your lawn sod-ready. Plan to purchase a $20 at-home soil testing kit, but expect a much higher expense if your soil test shows less than optimal results.

Of course the biggest expense in the total cost to resod a lawn is the sod itself. Premium high-quality sod runs approximately 70 cents per square foot. For budget’s sake, let’s assume you have a lawn that measures 600 square feet for a total of $420. But wait! Remember to account for oddly shaped areas (rarely are lawns a perfect rectangle) and human error. Adding ten percent more sod brings your total to $460 (give or take a couple dollars).

Lastly, consider that the cost to rent a lawn roller and fertilizer spreader is about $50 and the fertilizer about $20 per bag. Take note of the coverage limits listed on the bag of fertilizer before buying as you may need more or less than one bag. That brings the total cost to resod a lawn to $600 based on a 600 square foot area.

Professional Sodding

Remember learning about cost-benefit analysis in Economics? When it comes to projects of this magnitude, often the benefits of hiring professionals outweigh the costs. Hiring an experienced team to install your sod may be worth the stress and labor of a DIY job. Although they will not prepare the soil, professionals can tackle the tough jobs like cutting around sprinklers, rolling the sod, and applying fertilizer.

Labor costs average around $1,000 in addition to the cost of sod. Therefore, if you consider these factors plus the previous calculations regarding prep work, the cost to resod a lawn with professionals is $1550. Sure, you’re paying two and a half times what you would if you put in the work yourself, but unless you have experience, mistakes are likely. Not only that, but many do-it-yourself projects often take twice as long as you anticipate.

So while resodding a lawn may seem like a reasonable undertaking, there are several key factors at play. Consider your square footage, time invested, previous knowledge, and budget. There’s no right answer whether you choose to trust a professional or your own two hands. Whichever route you take, understand that a little research goes a long way in the quest to have the yard of your dreams.

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 want a verdant green lawn, you have two options. Either you sow the seeds and wait for the grass to occur or lay down ready-to-go sod.

To that end, laying turf is the fastest and easiest way to plant a new lawn or patch areas of your existing grass plot. Sod enables you to immediately enjoy the results of the natural germination process without nearly as much effort and waiting.

But how long does it take for sod to take root? The Arizona sod experts at Evergreen Turf have your answers.

How Long Am I Waiting, Exactly?

Although sodding is much faster than the natural lawn seeding and growing process, it isn’t instantaneous. Technically, once it’s been installed, sod should begin to take root within 10-14 days. And with the right balance of sun, air, and water, your sod will fully take root in 2-6 weeks.

That said, the rooting timeline doesn’t have a clear and easy answer.

To provide a more accurate estimate, you need to first ask a follow-up question – which type of roots?

There are two stages of rooting that take place after you lay sod:

Stage 1: Shallow Roots (10-14 days) With the right preparation, your sod can start to establish shallow roots in about 10 to 14 days. The key to ensuring healthy shallow root formation is to start watering your new grass immediately after the sod is placed and continue to do so daily for the next week. This is an extremely sensitive stage, therefore, you should avoid walking on the sod or mowing the lawn during this period.

Stage 2: Deep Roots (30-45 days) Deep roots take longer to develop. If you treat the turf properly, a deep root system should fully take root in approximately 30 to 45 days. After the shallow root systems have matured, you can start watering the turf less frequently. Irrigating the turf with plenty of water every other day encourages the sod to send out deeper roots tasked with locating moisture.

After the initial installation is completed, the turf won’t be ready for outdoor activities, not for a few weeks at least. If you use the new sod too much and too soon, you could prevent the roots from developing.

RELATED: How to Prepare Soil for Sod in Arizona

Factors That May Impact Root Development

The numbers discussed above are general appraisals. Various factors can impact the speed and health of root development. If you want the best results, keep the following elements in mind:

Seasonality Sod tends to perform better in warmer weather. During the summer, the sod’s shallow roots should develop in one to two weeks. But during the winter, they may take twice as long to grow.

Type of turf  Certain grasses will only grow properly in the right climate conditions. Also, different sod grass varieties may require more or less maintenance. For instance, Midiron sod requires less upkeep than Tifway 419. As a result, certain sod varieties will take longer to develop roots or they may not develop at all if they’re incompatible with the local climate.

Quality of sod  Along these lines, certain sod farmers use higher-quality inputs and implement better harvesting practices. Ideally, your sod provider should only work with farmers that wait to harvest until after the order is made. On-demand harvesting ensures that the sod is fresh and of higher quality, which fosters root development.

Soil conditions For root systems to develop, the soil must be properly prepared. Ideally, the area where the sod will be placed should be:

• Cleared of old grass and other debris
• Graded for draining
• Covered with an ideal layer of topsoil
• Fertilized

Tips for Laying Sod

Want your sod to be healthy and develop its root systems as quickly as possible? Here are some before and after tips you should keep in mind:

#1 Prepare Your Soil Ahead of Time

If you want strong root growth from your sod, your first task is to prepare the soil for rooting. The majority of grass species like well-drained and slightly acidic soil.

Prior to laying your sod, be sure to till in any needed additions to your soil, such as:

• Sulfur
• Compost
• Lime

Taking these measures will give your sod fertile grounds to spread its roots. Once your yard is tilled, even out the ground with a light raking and then water the area. Sod contours to the ground, so make sure that there aren’t any low areas where water could accumulate.

By following these preparations you can encourage your sod to start taking root within the first two weeks.

#2 Lay the Sod Immediately

Whether you plan on laying the sod yourself or hiring a gardener to do it for you, you should make sure that it’s laid the same day it’s delivered.

Sod will typically only survive for 24-36 hours on a pallet. The longer you wait, the higher the likelihood that it dehydrates and becomes unusable.

#3 Use a Lawn Roller

Immediately after your sod has been laid, you can settle and firm the surface by running over the turf with a hand-pulled lawn roller. By carefully rolling the sod, you can ensure that the new sod and topsoil adhere to one another. This process also removes air pockets, which can stymie root growth.

#4 Fertilize the Sod

To promote healthy shallow and deep root growth, you should fertilize the sod six weeks after installation. This tip has been known to cause some problems, so read carefully!

Many people make the mistake of overfertilizing their sod.

To ensure that the turf remains healthy, you should only fertilize it approximately three to four times during its growing season.

Practically all fertilizers will contain a combination of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The fertilizer’s label will typically show three numbers that represent the percentage of these elements within the package.

Different fertilizers will be more effective during various times of the year. That said, on an annual basis, you should consider the following fertilizer schedule:

• Spring 30-0-9 fertilizer
• Summer 24-0-11 fertilizer
• Fall 24-0-11 fertilizer

#5 Water the Sod Properly

Sod needs to be watered with a certain volume, at the proper time, and at the optimal frequency. Botching any of these variables could negatively impact root development.

Before you lay your sod, consider these watering strategies:

• Don’t overwater before installation since it can muddy the ground and make it difficult for the new lawn to take root.
• Water the newly laid sod within 30 minutes of installation with at least an inch of water.
• Make sure that water covers all areas of the lawn.
• Don’t hand water – instead, set up an automated irrigation system.
• Water early in the morning or at night. Sod in Arizona can quickly dry out during the hot days.
• For newly installed sod should be watered 4 to 6 times per day, during the heat of the day. Sod should be watered thoroughly with each cycle, making sure the ground underneath the new sod is moist, but not creating a puddle or pond.
• Water this way for the first 10 days, then reduce it to 2 to 3 times per day for the next week.
• By the 3rd week you can begin to water once per day in the early morning.

High-Quality Sod in AZ from Evergreen Turf

If you’re meticulous and attentive, your turf should take approximately two weeks for shallow roots and six weeks for deep roots to develop. With proper preparation and care, your sod will look beautiful and healthy from the outset, especially if you use a high-quality product.

That’s where Evergreen Turf can make the difference.

We’re the source for the highest quality sod in Arizona.

Are you looking for Phoenix sod, Tucson sod, Mesa sod, or Tempe sod? Then you’re in luck. Here, we offer an expansive selection of sod grass varieties perfectly suited for Arizona’s climate. Whether you want to sod a backyard or an entire golf course, our premier commercial sod services can put the finishing touches on your green dream.

If you need sod (or have any questions regarding this piece), contact our team today.

Looking for some front yard landscaping ideas for your Tucson sod lawn? We have tons of desert landscaping ideas for your home. Check out these ideas that can help turn your front lawn from blah to beautiful!

Create a paved pathway to your front door.

Use stones or concrete to create a flat, paved pathway to your front door. It’s best to plan out the shape of the pathway before laying down any materials. Also, try to give your pathway a unique shape with curves and angles rather than just laying a straight line to your door.

Cut down on the amount of sod in your front yard by adding gravel areas with desert plants.

Lawns are more aesthetically pleasing when there are different dimensions throughout. So rather than just have one giant lawn of Tucson sod, why not break up the landscape by adding some gravel areas decorated with desert plants and shrubs?

Add big boulders to give your yard some depth.

Boulders are a great way to spruce up your yard and give it some depth. Try adding some along the border of the pathway to your door as well as next to your desert plants and shrubs on the gravel. Do not place boulders on top of your sod lawn however as this will cause the sod underneath to stop growing and die.

Add lights to your yard for the evening.

There are many different lighting options when it comes to lighting up your front yard in the evening. You could use rope lighting to line the pathway to your door or small ground lights than stick into the soil. You can also buy small spotlights to illuminate different plants around the front yard. Just make sure you take into considering the placement of the sprinklers as well as your watering schedule. You’ll want to check that the water system does not damage your outdoor lighting in any way.

Create a border between the different areas of your lawn.

Use small rocks, potted plants and flowers, or black plastic edging to create decorative borders between the Tucson sod and gravel portions of your front lawn. This helps give your yard balance and protects your sod from excessive wear and tear.

Have any specific questions about your lawn? We’re here to help! Call one of our Tucson sod specialists today at 602-626-9959 or visit www.EvergreenTurf.com.

Having a great looking lawn can be difficult no matter where you live. This is especially true in climates like Phoenix where the harsh weather and climate can make lawn care cumbersome. However, many people desire having a great looking lawn to boost the appearance of their home. A great way to care for your Arizona lawn is through the help of products offered by Evergreen Turf.

When it comes to having a great looking lawn, you must consider two main factors. First is the amount of effort that you are looking to put into the upkeep and care of your grass. The second factor is the conditions that it may experience, including weather and activity on the lawn after it is installed.

Lawn Maintenance – Upkeep and Care

Mowing your lawn can be tedious for some, while enjoyable for others. If you are willing to put in the effort, great looking lawns are those that are mowed at least once a week. They also require being fertilized more often, in order to provide nutrients to the grass. People who are willing to put in the extra effort with their lawn should consider a product like the Tifway 419, offered by Evergreen Turf. This is a great looking short grass that when taken care of, really highlights your Arizona lawn. Those that are looking to only mow their Arizona grass once every couple of weeks and do not want to continually fertilize, should consider a product like the Midiron. It is extremely durable and can handle tougher conditions.

Weather Conditions

Another factor to consider when selecting the correct sod in Arizona should be the type of weather conditions that you experience. Living in Arizona, your lawn is sure to be under constant desert-like conditions. The aforementioned Tifway 419 and also the Tifway 328 are great options for people who do not have shade for their grass, making it consistently get heat from the sun. However, for those that have many trees and a lot of shade covering their grass, Evergreen Turf offers their Palmetto St. Augustine line of Arizona sod. Although no extreme, heat or shade, is perfect for your grass, these lines can handle differing weather conditions in cities like Tucson and Phoenix.

How You Mow Your Lawn

It is also important to consider how you mow your lawn and if you have children or pets that will consistently be on the grass. Reel mowers require much more effort and cleanup. However, they also cut shorter and are more precise than rotary mowers. The Tifway line is great for reel mowers, even if you have children or pets that may consistently be running and playing on the lawn. But if you have a rotary mower, Midiron would be your best bet. The Midiron’s durability makes it perfect to handle rotary blades, as well as continual wear and tear from children and pets.

Learn more about Evergreen Turf Sod

Having a great looking lawn is hard work. But with a bit of effort and the correct knowledge of how to go about having a dream lawn, you can have a lawn that highlights the features of your home. The sod products offered by Evergreen Turf will allow you that chance.

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.

So, you have just installed a fresh new sod lawn. That’s great! Now what do you do?

Your Arizona sod lawn requires proper care, maintenance, and upkeep if you want to see it grow into the lush and healthy image you have in your head. These post-installation tips should help get you on your way to a happy lawn:

0 to 10 Days

• Water for 2-3 times per day for 5-10. Mid-summer may require watering 4-5 times per day.
• Check your moisture level by pulling back the corner of the sod in several places across your lawn to ensure that the water is penetrating through the sod into the soil.
• Increase frequency or length of watering if your moisture tests reveal dry soil.
• Keep non-essential foot traffic off your lawn, and walk on it only to move the sprinklers and perform essential maintenance.
• Use a new lawn starter fertilizer before you install your sod
• Do not mow your lawn.

10 to 21 Days

• Water daily for 10-30 minutes to encourage root growth deep into the soil. (every sprinkler system is different)
• Perform moisture level checks frequently, but do not force the sod if it’s difficult to pull up. Resistance means the lawn is rooting well. If it’s easy to pull up, you may need to increase your watering.
• Cut the grass before watering, but do not go remove more than 30% of the leaf at one time. If you grass is 3 inches tall, don’t mow below 2 inches. If it is 1.5 inches, don’t mow below 1 inch.
• If your grass is too wet to cut, skip watering for a day to let the water absorb into the sod and soil, then check it again tomorrow. If it’s dry, proceed with your normal mowing regimen.
• Do not fertilize your lawn.

3 Weeks Going Forward

• Cut the lawn as needed.
• Water two to three times per week, applying 1″ of water weekly.
• Measure your irrigation by using a small container (such as a pie tin) right in the path of the sprinkler. Use this equation to compute your total water: Amount of water (in inches) x number of times you water weekly to total 1″
• Apply a balanced turf fertilizer 3:1:2) six weeks after installation using a rotary spreader.
• Avoid herbicides when it’s hot and dry and wait until cooler temperatures are prevalent.

Tips, Tricks, and Helpful Hints

• While your new Arizona sod lawn is still within its initial establishment period, keep non-essential foot traffic away from your turf. People should only be walking on your lawn when they’re moving the sprinklers or performing other essential maintenance tasks.
• You’ll know you need to apply more water if the edges can be easily separated. This means the sod is shrinking and pulling apart within its structure.
• Water early in the evenings at the latest to avoid prolonged periods of wetness, which can make your new Arizona sod lawn susceptible to diseases.
• Your new Arizona sod lawn requires special attention where it’s placed against paved and concrete surfaces. Our climate’s hot temperatures and scorching sun will literally bake fresh sod when it’s against hot surfaces, so be sure to provide extra attention and water well where the pavement meets the grass blades.

Still trying to decide which Arizona sod lawn will fit your home and lifestyle best? Check out our Evergreen Turf Lawn Selector to help you make a well-informed decision.

All plants need fertilizer just like they need sunlight and water. Think of fertilizers as healthy supplements for plants. Just like people take vitamins and supplements to achieve optimum health, soil often needs help via fertilizers to be able to give the plants everything they need nutritionally. This helps the plants achieve optimum growth and yield.

Whether you’re working in your garden or trying to get a fresh green lawn all year round, fertilizer can help you get the most out of your plants. Here is a breakdown of the five major types of fertilizer.

Fertilizer with Pesticide

This type of fertilizer is most commonly used when you need to protect your lawn or plants from pests that may damage them. When looking for fertilizer with pesticide, make sure the pesticide is not too strong, otherwise you risk killing your plants too.

Products to look for: Bayer, Jobes, Scotts

Time release fertilizer

If you’re looking for fertilizer that will work for several months, time-release fertilizer is the way to go. These will slowly release their nutrients over a period of 2-6 months typically. The benefit to time-release fertilizer is that the plants have less risk of getting burned because the plants do not receive a full blast of nutrients. However, it’s important to note that the release of nutrients is accelerated in the presence of water and moisture.

Products to look for: Milorganite

Liquid fertilizer

Liquid fertilizers are great when you need to quickly deliver nutrients to your plants, since the liquid seeps right into the roots. You need to reapply more frequently than other types of fertilizer since the liquid is quickly used up by the plant. Using liquid fertilizer on large yards may not be economically feasible, but they work great on indoor and outdoor gardens.

Products to look for: Nachurs, Scotts Miracle-Gro

Plant specific fertilizer

Some plants are down-right picky. For these types of plants, it’s easy to over-fertilize using traditional fertilizer products. This is why there are plant-specific fertilizers. These types of fertilizers are specially designed to give the plants the specific ratio of nutrients they need to thrive.

Products to look for: Cutting Edge Solutions

Inorganic fertilizer

Also known as synthetic fertilizer, this type of fertilizer is best for plants that are in dire need of immediate help. Inorganic fertlizers quickly infuse nutrients to plants and instantly produce ammonia as a by-product which malnourished and dying plants need to revive themselves. It’s usually best to keep a stash of inorganic fertilizer around for when you need it most.

Products to look for: Jobes

Each type of fertilizer has its own advantage. Get to know which types of fertilizers work best with your lawn and garden. Keep a healthy stock of fertilizer in your garden shed or garage so you can use them anytime you need. For more information, visit our Lawn Nutrition and Fertilization page.

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.

Phoenix homeowners are blessed with year-round sunny weather and plenty of outdoor activities to stay entertained with the family on weekends. The great part about having a nice sod yard is that families can spend time having fun with each other outdoors without spending money. Are you thinking of making some improvements in your yard this spring?

Here’s how to streamline your backyard in 4 easy steps:

1. Plant for Impact

Choose some plants to accent your lawn. Stick to just two or three types to keep it clean and simple. Phoenix sod lawns benefit from plant borders and accents as they help retain water for the lawn and reduce the amount of total space needed for fresh grass.

How to save money
Check with your city’s parks and rec department to see if they may have any plants they are planning on throwing out that you can take for free. Making official calls probably won’t get you anywhere, but if you know of an area where the park staff pulls plants on a regular basis, you could swing by and see what they may be willing to donate.

2. Choose trees with full canopies

Get two trees and plant one in each corner of your yard. Choose shapely trees with open and airy, but full canopies. This will provide some shade but also allow your sod lawn to get some sunlight since this is essential for a healthy lawn.

NOTE: No sod grass can tolerate 100% shade. If you have an area that receives no sun, we recommend modifying your landscape to use decorative rock or other vegetation in that space. You may also consider pruning trees and vegetation to provide more sun to the area. For more help, check out our Lawn Selector Tool.

3. Set your sprinklers to span all sod areas

Whether you have 6 ft. or 600 ft. of sod in your Phoenix lawn, it needs to be watered on a regular basis to stay healthy. Many homeowners do not check where the sprinklers are reaching when designing their yard, which leads to dry patches where the sprinklers can’t reach the grass. Check out our irrigation page for more info about watering Phoenix sod.

4. Get matching patio furniture

Patio furniture is one of the most common hand-me-down items that people stock up in their yards. This year, why not splurge on a nice patio set to really create a beautiful backyard for your family. Cover your patio furniture or bring it in to the garage during bad weather to try and maintain the quality over time.

Follow these four easy steps to give your backyard a facelift this spring. Want more help with lawn care? Check out our FAQ’s page or contact us today.

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.