Sod Questions, Answered

Yes. Our Fescue / Bluegrass blend is adapted to the varied climates and soil types of the region, handles heat and drought well, and stays green through the winter.

Yes. The blend is lush and durable and stands up to the wear and tear of playing kids and dogs.

The Fescue / Bluegrass blend is shade tolerant and does well in sun or shade.

All of our grass is matured for a full year before it is cut, and it is only cut once you order.

Depending on order size and weather, CalTurf can cut and deliver your sod in just a matter of days. Every order is cut fresh to order.

Yes. When you order, give us your name, the quantity of sod you need and your preferred pick-up or delivery time.

Each roll is 2 ft x 4 ft and covers 8 square feet.

Yes. Whether you are redoing your entire lawn or just need a bit of sod to touch up your yard, we can work with big or small orders.

Call (530) 364-5155 (Mon-Sat, 8 AM-4 PM) or fill out the quote form with the square footage you need and your preferred pick-up or delivery time.

Depending on order size and weather, we can cut and deliver your sod in just a matter of days.

Yes. We work with big and small orders, from a full lawn to a small patch.

Prep the soil first (clear debris, till, level), then lightly water the area about 2 days before your delivery or installation date and scatter a pre-plant fertilizer.

No. Sod is perishable, so we do not take returns. Use our sod calculator and add about 10% extra.

Your name, the quantity of sod (square feet or rolls) and your preferred pick-up or delivery time.

At least 2 inches, and 4-6 inches is recommended. Add topsoil if you need to reach a total topsoil depth of 4-6 inches.

About 1 inch below mowing strips, sidewalks, driveways and patios, so the sod sits flush once it is laid.

A starter fertilizer that is high in phosphate, lightly worked into the top 2-3 inches of topsoil.

A CalTurf sod roll is 2 ft x 4 ft and covers 8 square feet.

About 10% more than your measured area, to cover measurement errors and the cuts you make around edges.

No. Sod is perishable, so CalTurf does not take returns. Measure carefully before you order.

125 rolls at 8 sq ft each, or 138 rolls with the recommended 10% extra.

Yes. Lightly water the area about 2 days before your sod is delivered or installed.

Along the longest straight edge in the area. Unroll the first row there and work outward.

Yes. Stagger the rows like brickwork so the lawn looks more uniform.

Every day, preferably in the morning, for the first week. Make sure it never dries out during the first 10-14 days. Then every other day, then 1-2 times a week in weeks 2-3, then about 1 inch once a week.

Around 2 weeks after installation, once the grass is about 3 inches tall. Mow when the blades are dry, gently, with the mower set to 2-3 inches.

Try to keep foot traffic off it for about a week after installation.

Sod costs more up front, but it is usable in less than 3 weeks with proper care, arrives weed-free and mature, needs less watering than seed and controls erosion immediately. Seed takes 2-3 weeks to germinate and months to become usable.

With proper care, a newly sodded yard is ready for use in less than 3 weeks.

Yes. Because sod is mature the day it is installed, it controls erosion immediately and can be used to stabilize hills and slopes.

Above 3 inches. Taller grass shades out weeds, encourages deeper roots and improves disease resistance, especially in summer.

Nitrogen should be the highest number. A 3:1:2 nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium ratio is ideal, and avoid any number above 10, which can burn the lawn.

Once a year in fall or spring, while the soil is on the dry side but wet enough for the tines to go in. Aim for about 8 plugs per square foot, 3 inches deep.

It is not a good idea for most lawns. Tilled-in grass and weeds, especially Bermuda grass, can resprout through your new sod, and the clumps leave the surface uneven. Remove the old turf first, then till.

Set it just deep enough to take the grass and its main root layer, so you keep as much of your topsoil as possible. After removal, follow the soil prep steps to till and level before laying sod.

As soon as the soil is prepped and level. If you used a herbicide, wait until you are sure nothing is regrowing and follow the label for any waiting period before planting.

Adding a little sand to clay usually does not help and can make the soil pack harder. Compost or other organic matter mixed into the top few inches is the safer way to loosen clay.

Gypsum helps only some clay soils, mainly those with a sodium problem, and does little for most others. If you are unsure, have your soil tested before buying amendments.

Yes. Sod grows well in clay soil that has been loosened, amended and leveled, and watered in short cycles so it soaks in. The prep work is what makes the difference.

A light misting helps keep the outer rolls from drying out, but do not soak the pallet. Heavy watering adds weight and does not reach the center of the stack. Laying the sod is the real fix.

Not always. Sod that yellows from sitting a short time often greens up once it is laid on moist soil and watered well. Sod that is dry, brittle or slimy has likely been stressed too long.

No. CalTurf cuts sod fresh to order at our farm in Davis, so it goes from the field to your pickup or delivery instead of sitting in a yard.

Gently tug on a blade near the base. If the base is still flexible and slightly green, it is alive and should recover with steady watering. If the blades and crown are dry and break apart, that piece is likely dead.

No. Fertilizer will not fix a watering problem and can stress the grass more. Correct the watering first, then follow the normal fertilizing schedule once the sod is rooted.

Sod can yellow if it sat stacked too long before it was laid, especially in hot weather. It often greens up once it is on moist soil. Our guide on how long sod can sit before installing explains how to avoid it.

Sod roots faster in warm weather, as long as it gets enough water. In winter, cooler soil slows root growth, so rooting takes longer even though the sod needs less water.

Try to keep foot traffic off it for about a week. Walking on unrooted sod can shift pieces and open seams. If you must walk on it to move sprinklers, step lightly and avoid the same path every time.

Check the soil under it. If it is dry or very hard, the roots cannot get in. If it is soggy, cut back watering. Adjust and test again in a week.

Wait. Weed control products can harm young grass, so hold off until the lawn is well established and always follow the product label.

Growth slows in cold weather, so the lawn needs less. Late fall feeding helps roots, but heavy feeding in the coldest months is mostly wasted.

Yes. Watering after you fertilize moves the fertilizer into the soil and keeps it from burning the grass blades.

Yes. CalTurf cuts sod fresh to order, so call or request a quote before you plan to install. That way your sod is cut for your pickup or delivery day instead of sitting and waiting.

Our fescue and bluegrass blend is grown in the Sacramento Valley and handles summer heat with regular watering. Follow our watering tips after installation for the first few weeks.

Call (530) 364-5155 to check. Because every order is cut fresh, timing depends on the day's orders and harvest schedule.

Yes, fescue is a cool-season grass, so it generally stays green through Sacramento Valley winters. Our blend scores 90 out of 100 for winter color on our own ratings.

Bermuda handles heat and drought very well, but it goes brown and dormant in winter and needs full sun. Fescue also handles heat with regular watering and keeps its color in winter.

Our fescue and bluegrass blend: 90 percent fescue and 10 percent bluegrass, matured a full year and cut fresh to order at our Davis farm. Call (530) 364-5155 with any questions about your yard.

Sod costs more up front than a bag of seed, but seed needs more time, more watering and more weed control before it becomes a lawn. Request a quote for your project to compare.

Yes. Many homeowners lay their own sod. Our DIY guide on how to lay sod walks through prep, layout and watering.

Fall is generally the best time to seed fescue in the Sacramento Valley, when the soil is warm and the air is cooling. Sod is more flexible on timing.

Fescue can handle partial shade under a tree if it gets a few hours of direct sun. Under dense, all-day shade, grass struggles, and mulch or a shade ground cover works better.

Rinse the spot with water soon after your dog goes, and keep the lawn well watered. Brown spots with a dark green ring are usually urine, not disease.

Keep dogs off new sod for about a week, and wait until it passes the tug test before regular play.