Types of Sod Grass in New Jersey

Tall Fescue

• Tall fescue is known for its wide blades. It’s considered a durable sod variety. It thrives in both sun and shade, making it an ideal choice for backyards of an active family as well as athletic fields. Its turf-like feel enables it to handle high traffic and play. Fescue requires less maintenance than other sod types once it develops roots. It’s known to tolerate drought conditions relatively well. Once installed, it needs about an inch of water per day until it takes to the soil.

Kentucky Blue Grass

• Sod farms throughout New Jersey, like Johnson Farms, Jade Run and Tabernacle Sod Farm, grow Kentucky blue grass or simply blue grass sod. It has thin blades and is best used for residential landscaping. It’s considered a shower variety of sod, which doesn’t stand up as well to traffic as others sod types do. It requires more water than other sod varieties and can’t handle long periods of dry weather. At the same time, it needs plenty of sun and isn’t good for shaded areas. It needs more care after it's installed until it establishes roots in the ground.

Blended Sod Varieties

• Certain New Jersey sod farms develop their own sod blends, such as Tuckahoe Turf Farms. Tuckahoe turf blend sod comprises 30 percent midnight star Kentucky blue grass, 30 percent brilliant Kentucky blue grass and 40 percent P105 Kentucky blue grass. It’s considered a high quality variety of sod derived after years of research. Tuckahoe Turf Farms claims its sod adjusts to variable environmental conditions and resists disease. This type of sod is able to reestablish in virtually any soil.