We get so many phone calls from customers asking us which is the best type of sod for their Raleigh, Apex, Cary, etc homes. I want to take the time to lay out the major differences between each sod type and the pros and cons to each.
TALL FESCUE SOD INSTALL
Tall fescue sod is a cool season grass. It stays green all year round. It is a good choice if you have mostly shade in your yard. It is a high maintenance grass, so super sunny areas tend to beat it up over the summer months. It requires a lot of water if we install it in partial shade areas.
Some HOA’s in Raleigh and Cary require Tall Fescue because it stays green year round. We recommend that you educate yourself on the maintenance and watering requirements if you choose to have us install this type of grass.
BERMUDA SOD INSTALL
We carry several different types of Bermuda grass. They are all very similar except for a few minor differences. Discovery Bermuda is a good grass for out of the way, low traffic areas. It is very slow growing which means it doesn’t repair well. Celebration Bermuda is better for areas that have more shade than sun. NorthBridge, Latitude, and Tifway 419 are all very similar and have high drought tolerance.
You should choose Bermuda if you currently have Bermuda roots in your yard. Bermuda roots go three feet deep so getting rid of all traces of Bermuda to switch to a Zoysia is difficult.
Bermuda is fast growing, repairs well, and has great resistance to diseases. NorthBridge Bermuda and Latitude Bermuda are newer types and they stay green longer in the fall and green up faster in the spring than all the other types of Bermuda.
ZOYSIA SOD INSTALL
There are many zoysia types of grasses out on the market. Zoysia is a great choice if you are a new construction and don’t have Bermuda in your front yard, or if you are looking to switch from Centipede or Fescue.
Meyer and Compadre Zoysia are older grasses that have proven their durability for winter tolerance. Both types rarely sustain winter damage and we highly recommend them. Meyer zoysia is a thicker grass that sometimes comes off the field in different sizes. Please keep in mind that if Meyer Zoysia is your choice, sometimes it is hard to get completely flat on day of installation due to the thickness of the roots.
Empire Zoysia is a patented grass from Sod Solutions. It has great cold tolerance and is very similar to Compadre Zoysia.
CENTIPEDE SOD INSTALL
Centipede is a great sod choice if you have mostly sunny lawns. When we get super cold winters, Centipede has been known to sustain winter damage. It requires more water than a Bermuda or a Zoysia.