A lush, green new lawn provides instant gratification, improving the value and curb appeal of your home, and creating a relaxing and more welcoming environment for your family and guests.

What Is Sod?

Sod, also known as turf, is a combination of grass and soil that forms a mat created by the intertwining of the roots of the grass with soil.

It comes in rolls or slabs that are easy to install. Sod is used on residential lawns, golf courses, parks and other outdoor areas to enhance landscaping, retard erosion and augment drainage. It also has a cooling effect. Installing sod is an effective way to quickly establish a lawn.

Specialized farms cultivate grass strains that grow well in their local area. Grasses are planted, cultivated and harvested during a process that takes 10 to 18 months. The time needed to establish new turf depends on the type of grass, climate and the method of cultivation used by the grower. When the grass is ready, it is harvested and delivered to the consumer. Growers are usually local because of the care required in harvesting and transporting the crop, which must be kept fresh and in good condition to produce viable results.

Sod vs. Seed

Though most home and business owners can, depending on their environment, grow new grass from seed, there are many advantages to having a sod lawn professionally installed. First, growing your own grass from seed is a lot of hard work. From prepping the soil, spreading the seeds, and adding mulch to fertilizing, frequent watering, and pest control.

Other Factors Include

• Finding premium seeds that are best for your location.
• Installing the best possible topsoil for your specific seed choice.
• Protecting the seeds from wind and water erosion.
• Reseeding of low-growth or problem areas.
• Protecting the newly seeded area from human and animal foot traffic.
• Few homeowners have the time (up to several months) or want to invest the energy in what it takes to ensure a healthy, established, and attractive lawn from seed. Note: More new lawns fail due to improper follow-up care than all other facets of lawn establishment combined.

Needless to say, there is a lot more to 'seeding' a lawn than meets the eye.

The Benefits of Sodding

Installing sod to establish a new lawn or repair an existing one has many benefits. Installation is fast, and results are equally fast. Instead of sowing seeds and waiting for them to sprout and take hold, professional growers have already completed this time-consuming part. Because the grasses are embedded in a soil layer, sodding helps establish lawns quickly. Sodded lawns usually require less care than seeded lawns because the types of grass used in sod are appropriate for the local climate and the grass root systems are mature and established.

Well-established grasses are helpful to the environment. They filter out impurities and prevent them from entering groundwater. Grasses are cooling, creating an environment with lower ground temperatures around your home. Sodded lawns require less watering because the grasses hold moisture. A grassy lawn captures moisture during storms and rains, which helps prevent erosion. Turfgrass installations help retard runoff on slopes by absorbing rainfall, which preserves topsoil.

Sodded lawns have a thick root system, making it difficult for weeds to grow. Common weeds in Indianapolis include Bermudagrass, crabgrass, foxtails, dandelions and nettles. They thrive in patchy areas and lawns with compacted soil or nutrient-poor grasses. Planting grass that is appropriate for your yard and micro-environmental conditions will result in a healthy lawn with minimal eruption of weeds.

Best of all, sod installations result in a healthy, aesthetically pleasing yard. Expanses of thick, green grass are pleasant to look at and add value to your home. The professionals at Emerald Meadows offer lawn and landscaping services to create beautiful outdoor spaces that enhance the appearance of your property.