Being out in the garden is a great source of happiness for many people. But one of the few things that can quickly turn gardening into a stressful experience is insect problems.

Check out these garden insect control tips and tricks. Nip your garden insect issues in the bud now (pun intended) so you can get back to doing what you love!

Maintain good plant health to prevent insect problems

The plants that are most prone to insect infestations are typically stressed in some way, meaning they are not in their healthiest condition. To prevent insect problems in the first place, it’s best to maintain good plant health. Proper fertilization, watering, and healthy soil are all key in keeping plants healthy.

However, if you do find yourself with a pest problem, the following garden insect control tips can help.

Properly identify the pests that are in your garden

The first step in solving your problem is properly identifying the pests. Here are some of the most common garden insect pests:

• Aphids
• Cabbage maggot
• Caterpillars
• Colorado potato beetle
• Mexican bean beetle
• Flea beetles
• Tarnished plant bug
• Spider mites

Use beneficial bugs for natural garden insect control

Believe it or not, some bugs are actually good for your garden! If you’re looking for natural ways to control insects in your garden, using beneficial bugs is a great way to go. Here are some bugs you can buy or acquire to reduce or eliminate the pests in your garden:

• Ladybeetles
• Green Lacewings
• Praying Mantises
• Assassin Bugs
• Ladybugs
• Flower Flies
• Spiders
• Dragonflies

Eliminate weeds and keep things tidy

Weeds typically aggravate the issue of insects in the garden, since they provide an alternate food source and hiding place for bugs like whiteflies and slugs. You can simply pull the weeds out by hand to help control unwanted insects in your garden. There are also some natural herbicides you can apply.

Along with weed control, keeping your garden and yard clean and free of debris will also help with garden insect control. Do not leave cut tree limbs or plant debris in the garden. Damaged and/or freshly cut plant material tends to attract unwanted insects.

Use sticky traps

Sticky traps can catch all kinds of pests from flies to cockroaches and even some mice. Most products are safe even for indoor use.

Install a physical barrier

Consider installing a screen around your garden if you’re experiencing recurring insect issues. You could also try applying strips of aluminum foil to protect individual plants from migrating insects such as caterpillars.

Use organic pest control spray

Sometimes, you just need to use good old-fashioned spray for proper garden insect control. Luckily there are many organic sprays you can use that won’t harm your family, animals, other plants, or the environment. When you go to pick up your insect spray, just make sure the main active ingredient is one of the following: Spinosad, Bacillus subtilis, Azadirachtin.

Finally, here are some other helpful resources / websites on garden insect control:

The National Gardening Association Pest Control Library
Buglogical Control Systems

We hope these tips help you get rid of those nasty bugs that are destroying your garden once and for all!

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. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions and our Spring Transition page for more spring lawn care advice, or give us a call at 602.626.9959 if you don’t find what you are looking for. Have a specific question about your lawn? Email us at info@evergreenturf.com. Better yet, stop by and meet the team at our convenient Chandler location.

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.

Owning a home is a dream come true for many. Once you’ve achieved this goal, your imagination starts to take off as you think of all the things you can do to personalize your home and property to make them functional and showcase your personality. Then the bills start coming in, and you realize some of your ambitious ideas may have to be put on hold until your budget balances out.

If this sounds familiar, fear not! You can have a beautiful backyard even when you’re on a budget. Here’s our top 5 ideas to spruce up your yard that won’t break the bank.

1. Look for Deals on Sod

You don’t always have to buy sod at full price. Keep your eyes open for special deals, percentages off, or free delivery. Check around for sales, or look for promo offers on social media. If you buy your sod from Evergreen Turf, we can even install your sod for you, which can make the process of beautifying your property much easier. Of course you can always install sod yourself if you enjoy DIY projects. Check out our how to install page for more information.

2. Install Interlocking Pavers

Interlocking pavers are easy to work with, and if you’re up for a DIY project, you can probably install these yourself. Pavers are a great way to give your outdoor space a bit of a facelift. You may need to install irrigation lines and put in irrigation controls before prepping your ground for pavers, however, and that job is often best being left to the experts. Before you lay the pavers, make sure you remove the original soil, and have a well-compacted base in place as a foundation. Arizona clay can cause problems when it rains if you don’t have a proper base in between the clay and the pavers.

3. Use Overlay Pavers

If you’re just trying to put a quick fix on already-existing concrete that’s not offering much in terms of aesthetic appeal, overlay pavers are a good way to go. They’ll disguise boring, cracked concrete and instantly freshen up your patio space.

4. Install a Fire Pit

Arizona’s evenings can get pretty chilly in winter, but you don’t have to forgo the outdoor fun if you’re entertaining or enjoying the fresh air. A firepit can be an awesome addition to the area’s backyards, and depending on how elaborate you go, you can install an affordable feature or splurge on a super elaborate fixture. There are plenty of online resources to walk you through a DIY fire pit installation, and the purchase of a manufactured fire pit can make the process super simple.

5. Plant Arizona-Friendly Plants

Not all plants are ready to weather the elements of the Arizona desert climate, but if you choose plants that are native to Arizona, they’ll acclimate to your lawn and produce beautiful accents for your landscape. If you aren’t inclined to have a green thumb, you don’t have to run away from the idea of landscaping your own lawn. Because many of the plants that are native to Arizona are hardy by nature as a result of our climate, you often have to work very hard to damage or kill them. They typically stand up to amateurs who are trying their hand and growing plants quite nicely, and if something doesn’t work for one reason or another, you have plenty of other options. You can even select native plants to attract birds to your yard.

If you’re in search of an Arizona sod company to help you get your yard lush and green, contact our team at Evergreen Turf today! If you’re installing your own Arizona sod, check out our How to Install guide to help you along your way!

In the past few years vertical gardens have become very popular, and there is a good reason for this. Going vertical means you can find the space that creates the exact type of light you need and it also allows you to have a garden where there may be no ground space. From herbs to succulents, creating a vertical garden lets you create a living work of art in and around your home.

If you have a blank wall or fence and you are looking to add a unique spin to the space, consider installing a beautiful vertical garden using these hints and tips.

Preassembled and D.I.Y Frames

Thanks to the popularity of vertical gardens it is easy to find preassembled systems. Online companies sell specialized systems that allow you to give just the right amount of nutrients and water to your plants. Local garden shops may also keep these systems in stock. These systems are usually made up of frames with a layer of mesh over the frames to keep the plants in place.

If you are looking to create a unique vertical garden you may want to consider building the frame structure yourself. There are many tutorials on the web that can guide you in creating a sturdy frame for your garden. Some accessories such as Wooly Pockets make building a vertical garden a breeze, these vertical planter pockets make it easy to just tuck your plants in, then enjoy your new garden.

Planting a Vertical Garden

When it comes to planting a vertical garden there are plants that you can use, that will survive better in our local climate. Some species of plants that work well in vertical gardens throughout the Tucson area include;

• Succulents
• Bromeliads
• Geraniums
• Croton
• Herbs
• Vegetables

Be sure to use the right soil for your garden, this will depend on what you decide to plant.

Tips and Tricks to Help Maintain Your Vertical Garden

How often you have to water and maintain your vertical garden will depend on which plants you decide to use.

Succulents are likely the most easy to care for, as they will only need watering every 7 – 10 days. Other species of plants such as herbs and geraniums may need to be watered every other day, especially throughout the Summer. If you have a system with a holding tank, watering becomes a little easier, as you can just keep an eye on the tank and top it up as needed.

If you do decide to install an automated watering system, you will need to clean filters and make sure all pumps and timers are working. This will need to be done on a regular basis to ensure your plants continue to receive the water and nutrients they need.

An automated system is not necessary to have a thriving vertical garden, however if you choose not to have an automated system, you may want to invest in plant sensors and soil monitoring devices, to make sure your garden stays healthy.

Keep a regular eye on all the plants in your garden, inspecting them for any pests or disease. For more on this, check out our article: 7 Tips for Natural Garden Insect Control.

As foliage dies off you will need to trim and clean them back to keep your garden looking well maintained.

Going vertical can turn a space that is drab and boring into a living work of art, and offers many advantages over garden plots, such as delivering the right light to the plants and conserving water. Use these tips to create a unique growing space in your yard.

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

Our team serves customers throughout Arizona, including Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and Tucson. Browse our website for information and tips on how to create and maintain a beautiful lawn, or give us a call and talk to one of our sod specialists at 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.

With the Fourth of July approaching, summer BBQs are about to be in full swing. Is your backyard ready for its busy season? With a little proactive yard maintenance, you’ll be able to enjoy a pristine lawn all summer long. Here’s what you need to know about summer lawn care in Arizona.

Dethatch your lawn

Warm weather grasses like Bermuda grass and paspalum thrive in humidity, yet still require preparation before the desert storms roll in. The best way to maximize the benefits of seasonal weather is to first open up the blades with a power rack. Dethatching machine rentals are easy to operate and cost approximately $40 – $60 depending upon the duration needed. The idea is to decrease the lawn’s volume without digging into the soil. While methods vary, take the foolproof approach by dethatching the lawn from opposite directions and mowing up the remains. Your end goal is to give your grass maximum exposure to sunlight while allowing stolons to take root. While it’s not necessarily catastrophic to skip this step, lawn professionals deem it wasteful as overgrowth will simply sit with nowhere to go until it’s mowed up.

Fertilize and water

As monsoon storms increase the amount of moisture in the air, you want to be cautious not to over water your lawn. Adjust automatic sprinklers to come on twice per week (and up to four during dry spells). Many Arizonans choose to water less frequently—even during long periods of heat—and that’s okay. It comes down to a matter of aesthetics as the grass won’t completely die off. Rather it will go dormant and appear less healthy and green until it’s revived by a consistent watering schedule. Additionally, you might consider giving your lawn a boost by applying fertilizer one to two weeks prior to those storm clouds rolling in. New homeowners should take time to research an appropriate fertilizer and application schedule for their specific grass type.

Tackle the “Honey-Do” List

Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare the rest of your outdoor space for BBQ guests. If you have a large yard, write down a few to-do items and tackle them one weekend at a time. You’ll have enough to worry about in the final days leading up to your party from entertainment to catering; don’t add unnecessary stress. Be mindful of the tasks you tend to put off like cleaning the grill and pulling those pesky weeds that love to take up residence in your front yard. Turn the kids’ chores into a friendly competitive game to motivate them for the summer fun to come.

Waiting until the week of your Fourth of July party to tackle the lawn might seem enticing, but as seasoned procrastinators know, it will turn out to be a bigger headache than it’s worth. Plan ahead for your upcoming BBQ (and other summer events) by marking the calendar and breaking large tasks into smaller, more manageable jobs. All the time spent laboring and sweating under the Arizona sun will be worth it once you crack into your first chilled beer surrounded by friends and family…and one beautifully manicured 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, 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.

The intelligent use of water will not only help the environment, it could allow your family to actually enjoy a larger Arizona sod lawn without adding to your water bill. Here are some water conservation ideas:

Customized Water Schedule

A careful analysis of the water needs of each species in the yard, including grass species, will allow healthy growth without over-watering. For example, Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Hybrid Bermuda varieties of grass will all have slightly different moisture requirements. The location and the age of Arizona sod will impact its water needs as well.

Water Delivery

Compared to traditional sprinklers, soaker hoses and drip irrigation can use just half the water. Plus, they allow precision delivery onto your Phoenix sod and away from the pavement. With sprinklers, even the most careful use is no match for shifting winds around driveways and walkways.

Timing

Early morning watering will save a great deal of water compared to mid-day watering, due to varying evaporation levels. This is that much more important in arid climates. Once the amount of water needed for your Arizona sod lawn is established, a timer can deliver that water precisely and at the right time of day.

Dry Soil

Drier soil may be more compacted, increasing runoff. If the lawn is drier than usual, consider turning the water off a time or two to allow the water more time to soak into the compacted soil. When dry spells hit, one can allow the lawn to go dormant. Water a dormant lawn just once-a-month, and it will bounce back when the conditions change.

Composting & Mulching

Once the investment is made in watering plants and grass, water retention becomes the next challenge. Organic materials that are turned into compost allow one to both enrich the soil and to reduce excessive drainage. Composting helps to hold water; mulching helps to keep the water in the soil by reducing evaporation. One could say that a lawn itself represents a form of mulching. It is estimated that sod in Arizona will hold rainfall 600 percent better than a wheat field and 400 percent more effectively than a hay field.

Utilize Runoff Water

Catch runoff from roofs and gutters and use this “free” water to reduce your water bill. The use of creative ways to capture water and to deliver it efficiently to your plants and lawn is a science itself.

Contour Planting

Who cares if you can’t afford an ultra-expensive backyard remodel? These ideas can transform an average backyard into a space Martha Stewart would be proud of!

1. Use rope lighting to line your garden.

Pick up some rope lighting at Home Depot or Lowes and install it around your garden for a sophisticated touch. It also helps people see at night so they don’t trip over your brick lining or anything else.

2. Set up pool noodles in the yard for a game of kickball croquet.

Need quick ideas on how to entertain the kids? Just get some pool noodles, bend them to make arches and secure them into the ground. Pull out some rubber balls and have the kids play kickball croquet!

TIP: If you’ve just installed fresh Tucson sod, you’ll want to avoid causing damage to the lawn with the pool noodles. Hold off on this game until your lawn has had time to set and anchor fully to the ground.

3. Repurpose your tree stumps.

Make an outdoor table by adding a tabletop to one of your tree stumps. You can also transform old trunks into plant pots. Just fill with soil, plant with flowers, and voila! You’ve recycled your tree stumps.

4. Grow a sunflower house for the kids to play in.

Plant sunflower seeds in a circle so that when they grow up they make a sunflower house that can be used for playtime or quiet time.

5. Don’t have a pool? Make a splash pad out of tarp and sprinklers.

This is a super easy and affordable solution to those hot summer days without a pool. Just throw down a large tarp, get some of those rotating, removable sprinklers, and turn them on to make a fun splash pad that will keep the kids entertained for hours.

6. Turn an old chair into a swing.

Cut off the legs, attach some sturdy chains and hang from a tree to create a backyard swing!

7. Put diapers in the bottom of your potted plants.

This trick helps the plants retain moisture and will keep them fresh longer. Just make sure you cover the diapers with burlap or some other material so that they are not visible from the outside.

8. Create a nighttime lawn bowling party by breaking glow sticks into bottles of water.

You’ll definitely want to avoid using carbonated beverages here, for obvious reasons. Use a rubber ball as the bowling ball and recruit one person to help fix the pins after every person takes their turn.

9. Spray paint metal folding chairs for backyard entertaining.

Turn cheap metal chairs into worthy furniture by spray painting them your favorite color. If you’re hosting a holiday party you can also spray paint them festive holiday colors.

10. Short on fertilizer? Use Epsom salts on your garden.

This is a well-known secret among green-thumbs. You will want to use 2 tablespoons of salt per gallon for potted plants and then use it instead of watering at least once a month. You can also sprinkle the salt into the soil before planting seeds.

TIP: Do not use Epson salts on your Tucson sod lawn. While this trick works well for smaller plants and shrubs, it should not be used on an entire sod yard. Leave the lawn maintenance and lawn installations up to the professionals. Got any questions on how to care for your lawn? Contact one of our Tucson sod specialists today at (602) 626-9959 or visit /.

Arizona is rightly recognized as one of the prime bird watching spots in America. You may wonder how to attract birds to your yard so that you can enjoy the company of our humble house finch or more exotic feathered friends like Gila Woodpeckers. The secret of how to attract birds to your yard is to provide variety, ample cover, and water.

Variety

With the wide array of Arizona birds searching for their next meal, finding out how to attract birds to your yard means giving them a buffet of favorite seeds:

• Ground feeders – beloved by doves, juncos, towhees and goldfinches, these screened trays sit a few inches off the desert floor
• Sunflower-seed tube feeders – installed at least five feet above ground level, these attract chickadees, house finches, nuthatches, siskins and titmice
• Suet feeders – best for Tucson’s chillier weather (when insect populations drop), suet gets rancid above 80 degrees, but is enjoyed by chickadees, nuthatches, titmice and woodpeckers
• Hopper feeders – larger birds with big appetites go for high feeders loaded with mixed seed for cardinals, grackles and the red-winged blackbird
• Nyjer feeders – thistle seed is dispensed from the very tiny holes of nyjer seed feeders to small-beaked birds (goldfinches, pine siskins, redpolls).

Location of your feeders is important. Birds get skittish and will bypass your feeders if they have to fly through too large an open area to get to food.

Spread your feeders out across your yard, too, so that no one feeder gets crowded. This also simplifies your bird watching, making the comings and goings of these feathered friends more enjoyable.

Ample Cover

Cover for birds means places they can alight, check out the safety of the space ahead, and then fly in for a meal. They need foliage from ground to tree height.

Cover is important too, to prevent predators from selecting your yard as their prime hunting grounds. Bird feeders attract unwanted attention from disease-bearing omnivores.

Maintenance

After you know how to attract birds to your yard, you must learn to prevent these pests and predators:

• javelinas
• wood rats
• mice
• insects

For more on this, check out our article: 7 Tips for Natural Garden Insect Control

Birds are messy eaters. Keeping your lawn or desert floor tidy will be a challenge, and scavengers such as mice will take advantage of the birds’ sloppy habits, especially if you buy cheap bird seed. Mice and rats will eat anything, so millet in cheap seed becomes their mainstay.

Wash and clean feeders twice a month. This not only discourages pests, but prevents bird diseases from spreading. Water pans and birdbaths should be dumped daily.

Water

You do not have breakfast, lunch or dinner without a beverage, and neither should your birds. Provide bird baths and water pans at various heights so they can groom and drink. Disinfect pans and baths with a solution of 10 percent bleach to 90 percent water, scrub the pans, and rinse thoroughly.

Layering

Certain birds prefer certain altitudes, so provide variety in both feeders and water sources:

• Ground: many birds only eat when on the desert floor or on your lawn
• Low: from about a foot above the lawn to about three feet
• High: from about four feet up and higher

Challenges

You can balance a clean, tidy yard with bird feeding:

• Careful maintenance: daily water source cleaning gives you an opportunity to monitor the bird feeding area
• Resilient landscaping: plant species that attract birds and can hide the buildup of seed litter easily. If you prefer a lawn, keep grass cut very short near the bird feeding areas to make cleanup of the seed casings easy (this also reduces rodent issues).

Once you know how to attract birds to your yard, you are taking the first steps to a delightful hobby.

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.

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.