Which Planted Grass Is Best for Sod?

Site Evaluation

• No type of grass seed thrives in shady conditions. Shade produces thinner and weaker grass because the lack of sunlight reduces chlorophyll production and air movement around the blades. Sod that is produced using 100-percent Kentucky bluegrass seed, does not do well in the shade. Perennial ryegrass, a shade-tolerant seed, is usually mixed in with Kentucky bluegrass to provide a rich-looking lawn that can withstand high traffic and grow well under large shade trees.

Sun Belt Areas

• Sun Belt areas require a grass seed that can withstand heat and drought. Bermuda grass is tough, fast-growing and a popular choice for sodding sunny sports fields and golf courses. Divots and fairway damage can be quickly and easily repaired with Bermuda sod produced from a medium-textured seed variety. Golf greens use a soft, fine-bladed Bermuda hybrid that is available as sod only. Bermuda grass of all types thin quickly in shady areas and become dormant and brown when the weather turns cool.

Southeastern U.S.

• Bahia grass is a low-maintenance, tough, coarse grass often used in the southeastern United States because of its high tolerance to drought and shade. Centipede grass thrives in warm temperatures where soils are poor and acidic. Hot, dry weather turns centipede grass brown; warm, humid conditions are best for this seed. Seashore paspalum has the look and feel of Bermuda grass but is better able to thrive in sandy and salty soils along the coast. St. Augustine grass, like the Bermuda hybrid, is available as sod only.

Northern Grasses

• Perennial ryegrass is often combined with Kentucky bluegrass to enhance shade tolerance. Perennial ryegrass is naturally endowed with pest repellents called endophytes, making it a popular seed for sod in northern areas. Another seed mixed with Kentucky bluegrass and ryegrass to produce a durable sod is fescue. Fescues are hardy in colder areas and tolerant of sandy, acidic and infertile soils. Due to its slow-growing nature, fescues require less maintenance and may be mowed less frequently.