The Best Sod for Georgia

Geography

• Georgia is a state of varied climates and terrains, from coastal plains at sea level in the southeast to mountains of up to 4,784 feet above sea level in the north. Georgia is part of the "sunny South," with some regions falling into U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 8b but the far northern part of the state experiencing winter temperatures as low as minus 5 degrees Fahrenheit, placing them in USDA zone 6b.

Warm Season Versus Cool Season

• The University of Georgia's College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences identifies eight grass types suitable for one or more of these Georgian climates. Sodding with cool-season grasses, such as tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) or Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) might be your best bet if you live the far northern section of Georgia, although tall fescue is considered potentially invasive in Georgia. Warm-season grasses, such as Bermuda grass (Cynodon spp.), carpet grass (Axonopus affinis), centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides), zoysia (Zoysia spp.) or St. Augustine (Stenotaphrum secundatum) tend to work better in the hotter climates of the middle and southern regions of the state.

Sun Versus Shade

• The amount of sunlight your Georgia lawn receives is a major factor in determining the best sod to use. If your yard gets full sun all day, it's hard to beat Bermuda grass. All Bermuda grass varieties love the sun and thrive in hot weather, but with the exception of some recently developed hybrids, such as TifGrand, they don't perform well in shade. Kentucky bluegrass does best in partial shade but can tolerate full sun if you keep it well watered. Although zoysia grasses can withstand partial shade, St. Augustine is the most shade tolerant of Georgia's warm-season sods.

Maintenance

• Sodding an attractive lawn is one thing. Maintaining that lawn is a different subject. Bermuda grass varieties tend to spread aggressively, and some are even referred to as "devil grass" because they can easily invade flower beds and other areas where you don't want grass to grow. Centipedegrass is a slow- and low-growing grass that doesn't require a lot of mowing or fertilizing. It only spreads through surface runners, so keeping it out of your flower beds is easy. It is shade tolerant and even grows well in poor soil, making it a good sod choice if you're looking for a low-maintenance lawn.

Cost

• Cost can be a significant factor in determining the best sod for your Georgia lawn. Zoysia grass sod is a good choice if you're looking to save money. The Homewyse website places the average cost for installed zoysia sod in the Atlanta area from $0.40 to $0.52 per square foot, while Bermuda grass sod and installation prices ranged from $1.04 to $3.53 per square foot at the time of publication.