The following are some general rules of thumb for growers to follow. Between hours of labour per acre is required. Typical sod installation in new home development. The amount of soil lost at harvest varies depending on the time of harvest, soil type and moisture content.
Many sod growers grow carrots and potatoes in rotation with sod to manufacture soil. After harvesting, many roots remain in the soil and are tilled under. Soil scientists and the United States, Internal Revenue Service have studied soil loss during sod production and concluded that commercial turfgrass production will not deplete topsoil.
Their findings showed that turfgrass actually improves farmland by adding organic materials and nutrients to the soil. They also stated that the turfgrass opens up the soil to accept greater amounts of moisture and reduces water and wind erosion of the soils.
Open row crops such as corn and cotton, even using the best conservation techniques, have been shown to lose greater amounts of topsoil through erosion than sod production. Sod is grown throughout Canada except in the more Northern regions where cold temperatures, long winters and late ground freeze delay or inhibit the growth of sod. Ontario grows about 4, hectares of sod per year.
It is a self-supporting organization through membership dues. The NSGA funds research at the University of Guelph to determine which species, cultivars and techniques will produce a superior turfgrass sod for the consumer. Turfgrass nursery sod is grass that has been seeded and cultivated in nursery sod fields as a turfgrass sod. At the time of sale, number one grade turfgrass nursery sod should be healthy.
Native grasses are any other species then what was planted. There must be sufficient shoot density so that no soil is visible from a standing position when mowed to a height to 4cm. The mowing height should be between cm except for creeping bentgrass sod where the height is determined by the end use. The thickness of the soil portion of the sod is not to exceed 1.
Number one grade turfgrass nursery sod is suggested for areas where a high quality, attractive turf is required such as residential and commercial lawns, golf courses and sports fields. At the time of sale, commercial grade turfgrass nursery sod should be healthy. There must be sufficient shoot density so that no surface soil will be visible from a standing position when mowed to a height of 4cm.
Commercial grade turfgrass nursery sod is suggested for use for erosion control, roadsides and other minimal maintenance areas. Kentucky Bluegrass Sod Nursery sod grown from one or more Kentucky bluegrass cultivars.
Highly recommended by N. Its excellent colour and texture make it an attractive, high quality turf especially for residential lawns. Also used for parks, cemeteries, institutional grounds, boulevards, golf courses, sports fields, office and commercial lawns. An all purpose sod with moderate shade adaptation. Suitable for residential lawns, parks, cemeteries, institutional grounds, boulevards, golf courses, sports fields, office and commercial lawns.
A less attractive lower maintenance sod having higher tolerance to shade and drought stresses. Specialty Turfgrass Sod Nursery sod grown from seed of various species of turfgrass such as:. Creeping Bentgrass A fine-textured, very dense, low growing species recommended for use on putting greens, bowling greens, fairways and tees.
Usually grown as a mono-stand of a single cultivar. Turf-Type Perennial Ryegrass A medium-textured, shiny-leafed, moderately fast growing species exhibiting good wear tolerance.
Lacks cold hardiness in many parts of Ontario. Can be used for lawns, sports fields and fairways. May be grown in a mixture with Kentucky bluegrass.
Has lower nitrogen and water requirements. Turf-Type Tall Fescue A coarse-textured, drought resistant and wear tolerant species. Non-recuperative when damaged. Suitable for sports fields and low maintenance areas mowed at higher heights. Other Species Include supina bluegrass a shade and wear tolerant species , weeping alkaligrass a salt and alkaline pH tolerant species , and other specialized turfgrasses as they may be identified. Last Modified:. Accessing this message means you do not have a JavaScript enabled browser.
If you cannot enable JavaScript in your browser and would like to know the last modified date for this page, please contact the webmaster at - internet. Print Share. Last Modified: Accessing this message means you do not have a JavaScript enabled browser. What are the Benefits of Sod? Introduction What is Sod? History of Sod in Ontario William Ruthven, a prominent and well-traveled farmer from Alliston Ontario, started the Canadian commercial turfgrass sod industry in the early 's.
Type of Land Required for Sod Production When choosing a location for sod production, several factors should be considered. Creeping Bentgrass is a fine textured, very dense, low growing species. There are high maintenance costs associated with mowing and disease control.
It is mainly used for putting and bowling greens, fairways and tees. Turf-type Perennial Ryegrass is a medium textured, shiny leafed, moderately fast growing species that exhibits good wear tolerance. In many parts of Ontario, it lacks cold hardiness. This species is usually found on lawns, sport fields and fairways.
It may be grown in a mixture with Kentucky bluegrass. Fine-Leafed Fescues are very fine and less attractive. These include creeping red fescues, chewing fescues, hard fescues and sheep fescues.
These are shade-adapted, drought tolerant and ideal for low maintenance situations. Fescues have lower nitrogen and water requirements and may be grown in a mixture with Kentucky bluegrass. We only plant the best of the best for our customers. It typically takes about 18 months after seeding for the turf to fully mature and be ready for harvest.
In those 18 months we are fertilizing, watering, and mowing the grass to help it reach its full potential. Normally, sod is cut into slabs or rolls. The big rolls require an installer. Quick traffic turnaround. Once sod roots establish, it's ready for normal lawn traffic, including entertaining, play and pets. Disadvantages of sod High initial cost.
Finished sod carries a higher price tag than comparable grass seed coverage. High labor expense. Improper installation leads to poor rooting, visible seams and failed, unsightly lawns. Effective results may require trained professionals. Restricted grass choices.
Sod limits you to grass varieties sod farmers choose. This means fewer choices matched to your unique home and lawn goals. Take time to seek out farmers who grow premium, top-performing grasses, such as Water Star varieties. Different growing conditions. Growing conditions in your yard may vary significantly from where sod was grown. Adjustments to different light levels and soil conditions can be difficult.
Most sod is grown in full sun, so shady lawns can be challenging for sod. Short transplanting window. Fresh sod must be laid as soon as possible after harvest, ideally within 24 hours of being cut. With grass seed, you become the grower. This allows you to influence and experience every step of your lawn's establishment, from germination and rooting to the development of thick, lush, green turf.
Starting a lawn from seed has its own distinct set of considerations: Advantages of grass seed Lower initial cost. The cost of premium grass seed is much less when compared to the cost of sod for the same size lawn.
Sod farms typically either grow their sod from high-quality seed blends or hybrid sprigs. Once the seeds are planted, it can take anywhere from 10 months to two years to cultivate turf before its ready for harvest.
This involves an intensive regimen of watering, mowing and fertilizing. The sod farms in our area grow a number of different types of sod at any given time.
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