Sod Archives - Riverview Turfworks

Meyers Zoysia and El Toro Zoysia Comparison

March 23, 2023/0 Comments/in Sod/by Michael Tandarich

Northwest Arkansas and Fort Smith, Arkansas, are both beautiful areas of the state that offer residents a variety of outdoor activities and attractions to enjoy year-round. One popular activity in the area is lawn care, as many homeowners take pride in their lawns and strive to maintain healthy, lush grass. Two types of Zoysia grass that are often compared are Meyers Zoysia and El Toro Zoysia. In this blog post, we will compare the two types of grass and provide insight into which one may be best for your lawn.

Meyers Zoysia and El Toro Zoysia are warm-season grasses well-suited for the climate of Northwest Arkansas and Fort Smith. They are both known for their drought tolerance and ability to resist disease and pests. However, there are some differences between the two types of grass.

Riverview Turfworks is a local sod installation landscaping company serving Northwest Arkansas and Fort Smith, AR.

Meyers Zoysia

Meyers Zoysia is a medium-bladed grass known for its dark green color and ability to grow in a variety of soil types. It is also known for its fine texture, which gives it a soft feel underfoot. Meyers Zoysia is a slow-growing grass that requires less mowing than other types of grass, making it a popular choice for those who want a low-maintenance lawn.

El Toro Zoysia

El Toro Zoysia, on the other hand, is a coarser grass with a wider blade than Meyers Zoysia. It has a lighter green color and is more shade-tolerant than Meyers Zoysia. El Toro Zoysia is also known for its fast growth rate, so it may require more frequent mowing than Meyers Zoysia.

Which type of Zoysia is best for your lawn?

So, which type of Zoysia grass is best for your lawn? It depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you are looking for turf that requires minimal maintenance and has a soft texture, Meyers Zoysia may be your best choice. However, if you have areas of your lawn that receive a lot of shade or prefer grass with a wider blade and faster growth rate, El Toro Zoysia may be the better option.

Regardless of which type of Zoysia grass you choose, it is important to remember that proper lawn care is essential to maintaining a healthy lawn. Lawn care best practices include regular watering, fertilization, and mowing. It is also important to aerate your yard periodically to allow water and nutrients to penetrate the soil.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Meyers Zoysia and El Toro Zoysia are excellent choices for homeowners in Northwest Arkansas and Fort Smith looking for drought-tolerant, disease-resistant grass that requires minimal maintenance.

By considering your individual needs and preferences, you can choose the type of Zoysia grass that is best for your lawn and enjoy a beautiful, healthy lawn for years to come.

Would you like a quote for sod installation? Please request your free sod consultation online; we will follow up quickly!

El Toro Zoysia: The Perfect Grass for Shaded Properties in Northwest Arkansas and Fort Smith Metro Areas

March 9, 2023/0 Comments/in Sod/by Michael Tandarich

El Toro Zoysia is the perfect grass for you if you’re looking for a beautiful, lush lawn in shaded areas of Northwest Arkansas and the Fort Smith metro area. This warm-season grass is known for its ability to adapt to various growing conditions, including areas with limited sunlight. In this blog post, we’ll explore why El Toro Zoysia is an excellent choice for shaded properties in Northwest Arkansas and Fort Smith. We love installing El Toro Zoysia sod at Riverview Turfworks!

El Toro Zoysia Shade Tolerance

El Toro Zoysia is well-suited to shaded areas, with the ability to grow in as little as four hours of sunlight per day. This makes it an excellent choice for homeowners in areas with limited exposure to the sun, such as wooded areas or homes with large trees. Unlike other grasses that require a lot of sunlight, El Toro Zoysia can thrive in areas with less light, providing a beautiful lawn in shaded areas.

El Toro Zoysia Drought Resistance

El Toro Zoysia is also drought-resistant, significantly benefiting homeowners in Northwest Arkansas and the Fort Smith metro areas, where rainfall can be sporadic. This grass’s deep root system allows it to absorb water and nutrients more efficiently, requiring less watering than other grasses. This makes it an ideal choice for homeowners who want a beautiful lawn without the hassle of frequent watering.

El Toro Zoysia Disease Resistance

El Toro Zoysia is naturally resistant to many diseases and pests, requiring less chemical treatment than other grasses. This is important for homeowners who want a healthy lawn without harmful chemicals. El Toro Zoysia is an excellent choice for shaded properties in Northwest Arkansas and the Fort Smith metro areas.

Is El Toro Zoysia Right For Your Lawn?

In conclusion, El Toro Zoysia is the perfect grass for shaded properties in Northwest Arkansas and the Fort Smith metro areas. Its shade tolerance, drought resistance, and disease resistance make it an excellent choice for homeowners who want a beautiful lawn without the hassle of frequent maintenance. If you’re looking for grass that thrives in shaded areas and requires minimal care, consider El Toro Zoysia for your lawn.

Contact Riverview Turfworks today to request your free installation quote!

Sod Calculator

February 13, 2023/0 Comments/in Sod/by Michael Tandarich

To calculate how much sod you will need, you need to determine the total number of square feet where you want the sod to be installed and then divide by the square footage of each piece of sod.

If you’re in the Fort Smith, AR area or Northwest Arkansas, we would be happy to quote your sod job for free.

Sod Calculation Math Example

Front yard: 30 feet by 15 feet = 450 square feet

Side yard: 3 feet by 10 feet = 30 square feet

Backyard: 30 feet by 30 feet = 900 square feet

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450 + 30 + 900 = 1,380 total square feet

1,380 divided by 2.67 = 517 pieces of sod (Using 16″ x 24″ pieces of sod)

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In this example, we added up the front, side, and backyard square footage to arrive at a total of 1,380 square feet.

The average piece of sod is 16 inches x 24 inches or 2.67 square feet.

By dividing the total number of square feet we want to cover with sod by the square footage of each piece of sod, we get the total number of pieces of sod we will need.

Helpful Information When Calculating Sod

For the above example to be accurate, you need to ensure that the sod you will get is also 16″ x 24″. The dimensions of sod pieces can vary from sod farm to sod farm. If the sod you will get is a different dimension, multiply the length by the width (in inches), then divide by 144 to get the square footage of the sod you will be using and use that value where we used 2.67 in the example above.

Most pallets of sod contain 450-500 square feet of sod. Ask your sod supplier for the dimensions of each piece of sod and how many pieces can on a pallet.

It’s a good idea to buy slightly more sod than you need. 5% more is usually plenty. You want to do this in case your measurements were not exact or if there are a couple of bad pieces of sod on the pallet you’d prefer not to use.

Does installing 500 pieces of sod sound like too much work? Sod is available in large rolls also. These need to be installed using a skid steer with a special attachment. If you have a large-scale sod project, it is often best to leave it to a professional sod installation company like Riverview Turfworks.

Bermuda and Zoysia Sod Installation

November 2, 2022/0 Comments/in Sod/by Michael Tandarich

Whether you are wanting to replace your entire yard or simply fix some bare areas, sod installation is the best solution for your needs.

In this blog post, we will go over best practices for both Bermuda sod installation and Zoysia sod installation including preparation, installation, and maintenance. If you start to feel overwhelmed by the work involved don’t worry, Riverview Turfworks is a Professional Sod Installation company located in Van Buren, AR, and would love to help you with your project!

Sod Preparation: Let’s start at the beginning!

Preparing for your sod installation in the Fort Smith and Northwest Arkansas metros will consist of the same prep work regardless of location.

The very first step is to determine the size of your work area, you can use small flags to help visualize the job. For the best-looking sod installation, you will want to ‘square off’ the work area, for instance, if you have an area with several small damaged spots consider replacing a large square or rectangular area that includes everything instead of placing random pieces of sod throughout the lawn.

Next, you will want to grab a calculator and measuring stick to calculate the square footage of the work area, this will let you know how much Bermuda or Zoysia sod to purchase. When installing Bermuda sod or Zoysia sod soil preparation is one of the key aspects of the job. The soil will need to be tilled at least 2″ deep to create a seed bed for the sod roots can get established more easily. If you’re doing a DIY sod install then renting a tiller may be your best bet for a small area, however, professional sod installation companies like us use commercial units mounted to skid steers. After tilling the soil be sure to rake the area smooth and remove any debris.

Sod Installation: You’re halfway there!

Both Bermuda sod and Zoysia sod are typically available in three sizes; slabs (small rectangles roughly 18″ long), mini rolls (small rolls roughly 6′ long), and big rolls (professional machinery is needed to install big roll sod). Since Riverview Turfworks is a professional sod installation company we install big rolls almost exclusively. The key aspect of big roll sod installation is to have an experienced machine operator, this will ensure a smooth and quick sod installation.

When installing palletized Bermuda sod or Zoysia sod it is important to stagger the pieces, like a brick wall, during the sod installation. Staggering sod pieces will help keep the pieces from shifting.

After the sod has been laid you will need to use a lawn roller over the area to help ensure good root contact and smooth out any bumps.

Sod Maintenance: The hard work is over!

Bermuda Sod and Zoysia Sod are both warm-season grasses, so they both require the same basic maintenance schedule.

Proper watering is the key to ensuring your new lawn looks good and establishes properly. Our general rule for watering is to make sure the ground is moist at least 3″ deep and that the sod roots and top of the soil is moist at all times. This means watering frequency and times will vary for everyone, with summertime sod installations needing watered three times a day, and winter sod installations needing to be watered once every ten days or so.

After the roots have attached to the ground you can begin to mow your newly installed sod, be sure to not scalp the sod. For more in-depth sod installation maintenance and mowing, information check out our other blog post here – How to water and mow Bermuda and Zoysia sod.

A new lawn can transform your curb appeal into a beautiful work of art. We would love to help you complete your dream home by turning your spotty yard into a luscious new Zoysia or Bermuda lawn. Our clients are always blown away by not only the sod installation itself but our customer service. If you would like to experience the best customer service you’ve ever had from the lawn company fill out the estimate form and we will contact you shortly.

How To Water Sod and Mow Sod After Installation (Official Guide)

August 4, 2022/0 Comments/in Sod/by Michael Tandarich

Learn how to water sod and mow sod after installation by reading this in-depth how-to blog post from the sod experts at Riverview Turfworks in Fort Smith, AR.

All post-installation maintenance of sod is the client’s responsibility. We want to make sure you understand how to care for your sod to protect your investment in your lawn!

If you are located in the Arkansas River Valley or Northwest Arkansas, we’d love to provide you with an estimate for sod installation. Riverview Turfworks can help set up sprinklers during the installation if needed.

How To Water Newly Installed Sod (First 20 Days)

There is a lot to know if you want to water sod properly and protect your investment in your lawn. Please note that watering times will vary for every installation due to varying issues such as weather, sprinkler type, water pressure/flow, soil type, property characteristics, shade coverage, etc. It is the client’s responsibility to water properly.

The #1 rule for new sod watering is to make sure the soil underneath the sod and the sod roots are moist; this is what your watering times will be based on. With that being said there are some compromises; for instance, the soil/sod will be muddy right after watering, and dryer just before the sprinklers start again. We DO NOT want the soil muddy all day long, nor do we want it dry all day long. In an ideal environment, the soil/sod will be moist 24/7. To check how wet the soil/sod is simply lift a corner of the sod in several places throughout the installation.

Additional Sod Watering Tips

Yes, rain affects how much and how often you need to water sod. If you are receiving rain be sure to adjust your watering schedule accordingly.

Do not water at night (2 hours before dark – 4 am) unless the sod is extremely dry. Soggy grass at night causes disease and mildew to grow.

At the time of the first watering, if the soil is dry (think summer time, or droughts) then the first few waterings will need to be longer than normal so that the soil can absorb all of the water; you may need to double or triple watering times. It is ideal for your soil to be moist 4”-6” deep.

The first couple of days you will likely be dialing in the time your sprinklers are on, be sure to check the sod BEFORE your next sprinkler cycle starts, as well as IMMEDIATELY AFTER your sprinklers stop – Adjust your sprinkler timer as needed. For your first watering try setting your sprinklers to 20 minutes and test the results using the #1 Rule listed above. Some situations will need sprinklers running as long as 40 minutes per watering, do not be scared to lower or increase your watering time.

Temperatures over 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day we recommend watering 3x daily for the first 10 days, and 2x daily for days 11-20. When you switch to 2x daily you will need to up the watering times by about 25% each. Hotter temperatures and more sunshine mean your sod will dry out quicker. Set your sprinkler timers to 7 am, 1 pm, and 6 pm for your watering times when doing 3x daily – and 10 am/6 pm when doing 2x daily. If you have multiple zones needing to be watered, do the math and adjust the last watering time accordingly so that you are not watering any later than 2hours before sundown. Always refer to Rule #1 listed above to adjust your watering schedule.

Temperatures 65-85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. We recommend watering 2x daily during the first 10 days after installation and 1x daily for days 11-20. Set your sprinkler timers to 6 am and 2 pm when doing 2x daily, and 1 pm when doing 1x daily. Always refer to Rule #1 listed above to adjust your watering schedule.

Temperatures 40-65 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. We recommend watering 1x daily, or less. Set your sprinkler timers to 7 am. Temperatures closer to 65 degrees Fahrenheit will need 1x daily watering, while cooler temperatures may be able to go 1x every other day or 1x every 3 days. Always refer to Rule #1 listed above to adjust your watering schedule.

Watering Newly Established Sod (21 Days After Installation – 6 Months)

The first 8 weeks of your sod installation are crucial to the development of the root system.

When temperatures are over 65 degrees Fahrenheit be sure to water sod 2x per week (in times of extreme heat/drought every other day may be necessary), temperatures 40-65 degrees Fahrenheit 1x every 7-10 days are good. At this time longer water periods are preferred to short watering periods because your grassroots need to grow deep in order to flourish. The roots will grow towards the moist soil; a short watering time will only soak into the top inch or two of soil causing shallow roots, this is why you need longer watering times to allow the soil to be moist 4”+ which will cause the roots to grow deep.

Fully Established Lawn Watering Guidelines

Your lawn needs 1” of water per week. When temperatures are over 90 degrees Fahrenheit up your watering to 2” per week.

The time your grass is watered doesn’t matter too much, other than you do not want your lawn to be wet at night. Generally, we recommend watering between 6 am-noon.

How To Mow Newly Installed Sod

Mowing practices will vary depending on terrain and temperature. Wait at least 5 days after the sod has taken root before mowing. To test if the sod has taken root you should be lifting the corners on various sod pieces daily, once there is resistance in lifting them then the roots are established. If your sod was installed on a hill you should wait 10 days after the sod takes root. Be careful when using riding mowers to not spin the tires or make too tight of turns, this will harm the roots.

Use your best judgment to not damage the roots/sod while mowing, if there is an area you do not think you can mow safely then use a weedeater or push mower. Chances are that the sod is a little overgrown for the first mowing, raise the deck on your mower as high as it will go for the first mowing. Do not mow at a height lower than 3” for the first 8 weeks.

Other than the first mowing service, do not cut more than 1/3 of the grass blade off during each mowing service. This means if the grass is 6” tall do not cut it lower than 4”. If temperatures are above 85 degrees Fahrenheit then your Bermuda/zoysia sod should be growing quickly, you’ll likely need to mow it every 4-6 days during the first few weeks to keep from cutting more than 1/3 of the grass blade.

Mowing Established Lawns

Mowing is the most important part of your lawn’s health. You’re able to curb drought, burn-out, and weeds by mowing the proper height and frequency. For lawns in the River Valley/Northwest Arkansas area that typically means mowing every week for most of the year, and bi-weekly during early spring and late fall.

Your mowing height will depend on your mowing frequency and the weather. Do Not cut more than 1/3 of the grass blade off when mowing, doing this repetitively will damage the grass to the point of killing it. Bermuda and Zoysia are our two most popular types of grass and are both warm-season grasses, this means they flourish when temperatures are above 85 degrees Fahrenheit – aka they grow fastest during the summer.

A freshly fertilized and properly watered Bermuda yard will grow 3” per week during the summer. The point being made here is that our grasses have a faster/slower growing period. If you keep the same mowing frequency all season then you will need to adjust your cut height accordingly to the temperatures; if you want to keep the same cut height all year long then you will have to adjust your mowing frequency according to the temperature.

Riverview Turfworks also offers weekly lawn mowing services, so we adjust the mowing height to the particular season we are in. Typically we will start the first spring service cutting at 3”, this is because our last fall service is cut at 3” and the grass will grow slowly over the winter. Otherwise, our early spring mowing services are cut at 2.5” for the most part.

As temperatures start to rise we raise the cut height gradually, when temperatures get around 80 degrees Fahrenheit we will be mowing at 3”. When summer hits and temperatures are over 90 degrees Fahrenheit we will be mowing at 3.5”. If we receive constant temperatures (or a drought) over 95 degrees Fahrenheit we will raise the mowing height one final time to 4”. Raising the height mostly serves to curb the amount of grass blade height being cut off every week to 1/3 or less, however during the summer the longer blades also provide insulation and shade from the sun to help retain soil/root moisture.

As temperatures lower during the fall we end the season at 3”. Just as longer grass blades help insulate from the heat during the summer, they also help insulate the roots from extreme cold during the winter.

Conclusion: How To Water Sod and Care For Sod After Installation

We hope you found value in this detailed information about how to water sod by the Zoysia and Bermuda sod installation experts at Riverview Turfworks.

If you are located in the Arkansas River Valley near Fort Smith or in Northwest Arkansas please feel free to request your free quote for sod installation.