Southwest Sod

Our climate can be unforgiving, which can be challenging to the most experienced farmers. Over 38 years we at Southwest Sod Inc. have discovered a balance between key ingredients like the plant stock, water, maintenance, good soil conditions, and fertilizer. This formula has powered our products for decades. Here are a few tips for you.

Water your turf in the early morning to prevent excessive evaporation. As the temperature begins to warm keep a close eye out for a blue/ gray tinted green color. This is your first sign of heat stress. Saturate the area with the garden hose and adjust your sprinklers to help ensure transition your clients’ lawns. Be on the lookout for an increase in temperature, because once nighttime temperatures are consistently above 65°, you will want to begin preparing the lawn for the summer season.

For grass that has been overseeded, keep the grass mowed back short, leaving only about 50% of the leaf blade. Then you can reduce watering for 5-7 days to 70%-80% of your normal use. This stresses the ryegrass and allows the hybrid to flourish. Next fertilize with a (21-0-0) analysis or fertilizer with a similar rate of Ammonium sulfate and return to regular watering and mowing schedule. Be sure to rake the ryegrass off as it dies out so that the underlying hybrid Bermuda gets plenty of sunshine and watering. What’s normal? Well, you usually should be watering 10-15 minutes every day and mow once a week. You can transition gradually and still maintain a green yard. If you wish to transition totally, reducing water, be sure to remove all the grass cuttings and excess plant material to avoid plant diseases. water reaches the root system. A good satura tion level will allow a screwdriver to penetrate the area about 4 inches. Also, if footprints stay in your grass for more than five minutes it is time to turn on your sprinklers. Newly installed yards should be watered 10 to 15 minutes three times a day until the sod takes root. Cut back your watering schedule.

For those lawns that have been not been overseeded, mow your lawn, but be sure to remove only about 1/3 of the leaf blade. Next, carefully rake the yard to remove the cuttings and any dead grass that has accumulated over winter. Fertilize monthly with a (21-0-0) or similar analysis and water twice a week for 15-20 minutes. As your grass comes out of dormancy, be sure to increase your watering schedule to every day for 10-15 minutes.

If you follow those steps, you can bet your client’s lawn will look as if it just came from our farm. We really do have talented team of turf experts, and they would love to assist you in helping make your turf dreams come true. We may just be watching the grass grow, so please call us anytime at (602) 271-4266 or visit us at our website southwestsod.com if you have any questions or if you would like more information on our products. We look forward to hearing from you.

Grass needs water, but it loves fertilizer. A properly fertilized lawn has good density and deep color. Fertilizing not only strengthens the plant, it protects the lawn from drought disease and weeds. For best results you will want to fertil ize your turf once a month. In the summer, think Ammonium sulfate (21-0-0) or a similar analy sis. A good nitrogen-based fertilizer will help your lawn maintain its deep green color. In the winter and early spring, Ammonium phosphate (16-20-0) or similar is a good fertilizer to use. The shorter daylight hours mean the turf needs additional nutrient source, namely phosphorus.

Since summer is just around the corner, our turf team wanted to share with you how to

• Control Landscape Lighting from Brilliance Smart App

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• ETL Listed in US and Canada