Turfgrass Sod

WHAT IS TURFGRASS SOD?

Turfgrass sod is a mature grass cover that is produced in an intensively managed agricultural operation, removed intact with a minimum amount of soil and transplanted in another location to form an instant turf cover. The primary market for sod production in British Columbia is in the housing industry.

WHERE IS TURFGRASS SOD PRODUCED IN BC?

Two-thirds of the sod in BC is grown in the Lower Mainland, on Vancouver Island and in the Okanagan. In part, this is because sod is used primarily for new housing. There are other isolated farms throughout the province.

HOW MUCH TURFGRASS SOD DO WE PRODUCE?

BC grows about 1000 hectares of sod.

HOW IS TURFGRASS SOD PRODUCED?

A field is prepared for seeding. This involves ensuring that all perennial weeds and old sod is removed or chemically killed. Organic material, such as sand, sawdust, compost or manure, is sometimes placed on the field to replace the soil that was removed in previous harvests. The soil is then worked and fertilizer is applied. A mixture of perennial grasses is seeded and allowed to grow for about one year. The mixture of seeds used will depend on the desired end use. The sod is cut and rolled by the sod harvester, a special machine used for this purpose. The sod is then placed on pallets, ready for transport to the installation site.

WHAT DOES TURFGRASS SOD LOOK LIKE WHEN IT IS USED?

Turfgrass sod is used to create an instant, weed-free turfgrass area or lawn. It is also valuable for control of soil erosion in sloping landscapes and roadside construction areas. It comes from the field in rolls that are 0.5m wide and 2 to 3 m long.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE TURFGRASS SOD LEAVES THE FARM?

Sod must be moved quickly after it is harvested to prevent damage as it is living plant material. The sod is trucked to the site on pallets where it is unrolled and fitted into the prepared area. Sod is used to create soccer fields, parks, golf courses or lawns for homes.

WHAT CHALLENGES DOES THE TURFGRASS SOD PRODUCER FACE?

One challenge that sod growers face is that the demand for sod is quite dependent on the housing market. The amount of acreage to be sodded can dramatically affect the price of turfgrass sod. Good producers concentrate on producing a quality product.

WHO'S INVOLVED IN PRODUCING TURFGRASS SOD?

• Sod farmer
• Fertilizer, seed and chemical company representatives
• Crop Advisors
• Truck drivers
• Farm labourers
• Landscape companies
• Machinery dealers
• Accountants

Interesting Fact About Turfgrass Sod:

Turfgrass sod is not only used for home lawns, but for green turf on golf courses, parks, roadsides and playing fields. It was even used in the Detroit Silverdome indoor field for World Cup Soccer.

Contacts and other resources:

 

BCMAL - Turf Information

InfoBasket: Your Portal to Agri-Food Information on the Internet

Pacific Sod Growers Association

Western Canada Turfgrass Association