Rivendell's Kentucky Bluegrass Sod

Rivendell Sod Farm produces a premium turf of elite bluegrass varieties. It is drought tolerant, winter hardy, and disease resistant. Each variety is selected for performance characteristics including early spring green-up, late fall dormancy, and dark green color. Grown at 7000 feet elevation in nutrient rich clay loam soils, our sod will readily establish to any site in the Roaring Fork or Colorado River valleys.

Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis) is an exceptional turf grass that can survive harsh winters here in the mountains, thrive at low mowing heights on a golf tee box, and maintain lush growth in a heavily used public park. A single roll of sod measures 18”wide X 6’long and covers 9 square feet (ft²). There are 45 rolls on a full pallet covering 405 ft².

Be careful -SOD IS HEAVY- a roll weighs between 40 and 50 lbs. depending on moisture content and a pallet can weigh over 2000 lbs. When picking up sod make sure that the vehicle you bring can handle the weight. All sod pickups require a 1 day notice. Please call the office to schedule a pick up appointment. This is necessary because we cut sod fresh to order to ensure quality and limit waste.

New Lawn Installation Guide

Install your lawn immediately upon delivery. Don’t forget to apply your pre-plant fertilizer on top of dirt, below sod. Sod is a living plant that requires soil contact, moisture and sunshine for survival.

Begin installing sod along the longest straight line, such as a driveway or sidewalk. Butt all edges together tightly without stretching and avoid gaps or overlaps. Stagger the joints in each row in a brick–like pattern. Avoid leaving small strips at the outer edge, as they will not retain moisture well. Protect exposed edges with dirt or edging when finished.

Give your new lawn at least 1 inch of water within 1/2 hour of installation. For the first 2 weeks water twice daily, or more often with hot windy conditions, keeping sod moist.  Once the sod is firmly rooted (about 2 weeks) begin less frequent and deeper watering. (A turquoise color is the first stage of drought stress and your signal to soak your lawn.) Remember that wind patterns and heat reflection (e.g., windows, sidewalks) may affect water needs.

Long Term Lawn Maintanence

Strong and healthy grass is more beautiful and requires less maintenance. Here are tips to keep your lawn healthy!

Watering-You have the most drought tolerant, toughest seed varieties available; make them do some of the work for you! Once the sod is very well established (2 weeks +) force it to go down looking for water by watering it deeply, only when needed. (A turquoise color is the first stage of drought stress and your signal to soak your lawn.)

Mowing-Mow one week after installation. The first few mowing’s should be diagonal to the direction the sod was laid. Never cut more than a third of the plant blade at a time because the grass will think it has been scalped and go into shock. Always keep your mower blades sharp. Dull blades chew off grass rather than slicing cleanly; the ragged edges turn brown, the yard looks yellowed, and it makes the grass vulnerable to other problems.

Fertilization-Growing things must have food. The soils in our valley are nutrient poor in general and almost totally deficient in some elements. Iron and sulfur are the two specific needs not found in most national products.

We recommend a fertilizer program using organic, organic-based, and/or organic-enhanced fertilizers which contain slow-release nutrients plus active enzymes and microbial action that improve soil health and fight soil compaction.

With our typical heavy clay soils, core aerating at least once annually prior to applying fertilizer helps prevent soil compaction and enhances fertilizer benefits and results.

Avoid weed-and-feeds for routine maintenance.  Healthy grass chokes out most weeds, and there are professional products for specific problems you may have. Treating the targeted problem is healthier for both your home and the environment.

We recommend the following lawn fertilizer choices and schedule:

This program is a general suggestion that works for most lawns and may be altered to meet your specific needs (e.g., supplementing with additional feedings, event preparation).

  • All-organic: Alpha One Natural Organic 8-1.5-1.5 (alfalfa, blood meal, cottonseed meal)
    • 15-20 lb./1000 ft² each application
    • Apply in late spring, mid-summer, and early fall
  • Organic-based: AlphaLawn II 15-2-2-2Fe-2S (alfalfa, blood meal, cottonseed meal, urea, ferrous sulfate, trace minerals)
    • 7-8 lbs./1000 ft² each application
    • Apply in late spring, mid-summer, and early fall
  • Organic-enhanced: Rivendell's Own w/ Organics 16-4-9-7S-3Fe (ammonium sulfate, methylene urea, diammonium phosphate, muriate of potash, ferrous sulfate, iron sucrate, alfalfa, blood meal, cottonseed meal)
    • 6-8 lbs./1000 ft² each application
    • Apply in late spring, mid-summer, and early fall
  • Synthetic: Lebanon ProScape 25-0-5-1Fe ammonium sulfate, methylene ureas, ureas, muriate of potash, ferric oxide, ferrous sulfate)
    • 2-3 lbs./1000 ft² each application
    • Apply in late spring and early fall
    • For mid-summer application, lower application rate to avoid stressing lawn OR substitute an organic/organic-based/organic-enhanced fertilizer

Look for Our Products at these Local Locations!

Customer

Phone

City

Alpine Ace Hardware

970-925-3031

Aspen & Carbondale

Mountain Greenery

970-927-1003

Aspen

Eagle Crest Nursery

970-963-1173

Carbondale

Stephens Nursery

970-524-9344

Dotsero

New Castle Gardens

970-984-3850

New Castle

Garden Center of Gypsum

970-524-0138

Vail

Camelot Gardens

970-249-6109

Montrose

San Juan Gardens

970-249-2052

Montrose

Rocky Mountain Trees & Landscaping

970-349-6361

Crested Butte

Alpengardener

970-349-0252

Crested Butte

Nature’s Design

970-870-3053

Steamboat Springs

Windemere Landscape & Garden Center

970-879-2403

Steamboat Springs