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Lawn care getting in the way of football? Try sod

Grass generally needs to be planted between September and November or during a slim timeframe in the spring.

Posted Updated
Football Grass
By
Joel Orr

Grass generally needs to be planted between September and November, or during a slim timeframe in the spring. Considering September, October and November weekends belong to football, it’s entirely understandable that lawn care falls to the wayside (unless a person’s team is downright awful, wherein he or she might seed the yard, repaint the house, and finish grad school instead of watching beyond the first quarter).

According to Bryce Lane, lecturer and Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor in the Department of Horticulture Science at NC State, sod is the answer to a lovely lawn without missing a moment of commercials interrupted once in a while by football. In this quick YouTube clip, Lane walks viewers through the values of sod in regards to the freedom it provides by allowing lawn enthusiasts to install the grass of their choice at any time of year. Lane’s only precaution is to be sure to provide enough moisture for the grass and sod in case the weather becomes too hot.
How Do I Choose My Sod?

The NCSPA recommends taking three major questions into account when choosing a sod grass to plant.

  1. What is the intended use?
    • Utility (Roadside, or erosion control, for example)
    • High or low profile lawn
    • High or low profile athletic field
    • Golf course
  • What is the shade level? (Shady or not shady)
  • Geographic location
  • Consumers can use the TurfSelect application, provided through a joint effort between NCSPA and NC State University. And, just in case the consumer is someone who enjoys a good grass picture, TurfSelect also offers a year-round calendar view of grasses, providing a visual guide so buyers know what they’re getting themselves into (Too bad this doesn’t exist for potential romantic partners and the ability to see how they’ll look down the road).
    Where to find good sod?

    The average North Carolina homeowner spends around $840 on lawn care per year. And, considering rising tuition costs, how often Apple unveils new iPhones (as soon as everyone gets used to the last version), and how many ‘almost over-priced but the indie vibe and food just can’t be beat’ restaurants there are in North Carolina, it’s important for homeowners and professionals alike know where to turn for information.

    Below is a list compiled by NCSPA that provides professional resources and helpful hyperlinks in case Google is too much work.

    Professional resources include:
    1. I am looking for Sod : NC Sod Producers Association (NC SPA)
    2. I am looking for a certified Lawn Care Professional: Turfgrass Council of North Carolina (TCNC)
    3. I am looking for an athletic sports field management resource: North Carolina Sports Turf Managers Association (NCSTMA)
    4. I am looking for Certified Turfgrass Seed growers in NC: North Carolina Crop Improvement Association (NCCIA)
    5. I am looking for Do It Myself lawn care information: www.TurfFiles.ncsu.edu or contact your county extension agent.
    This story was written for the North Carolina Sod Producers Association -- Great quality, great price, and a commitment to community.
    This promotion is supported in part by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

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