Come to us or call us for guidance so that you can have a lawn that you will love and will improve your property value!
Need fresh Pine Straw?
We have just received over 500 bales of fresh Long Leaf Pine Straw. We keep it enclosed so it is nice and dry and very clean, come on out this week and pick up a few bales. You will pay a little more but you will save money because our bales at Superior Sod cover more area than the Pine straw that is available from our competitors. You will love our fresh Long Leaf Pine Straw!
Storage-area-for-pine-straw
Call Big Al 910-443-0596 to place your order and he will have it ready for you when you get to our facility in Ogden, off of Market Street behind the Restore.
Long Leaf Pinestraw
THE SCIENCE OF DORMANT SOD
In Southeast North Carolina all warm season grasses lose their color and go into a safe, dormant (sleeping) state. As fall approaches the incidence of sunlight (direction, angle, and intensity) decreases enough for plants to start slowing down their inner processes. This commences the beginning where grass blades go off color and eventually reach their true dormant colors of brown to gold depending upon your variety of turf grass.
This overall phase of dormancy begins when the soil temperature has declined to 67 degrees.
After several frosts in November your lawn is well headed into full dormancy. Root growth stops when the soil reaches 47 degrees.
For established lawns – where the grass is well knitted down and has been mowed at least five times, a Pre-emergent Herbicide needs to be applied in September or early October. This will stop all winter annuals from germinating – such as Annual Bluegrass. A product that does a good job is called, “HIGH YIELD TURF & ORNAMENTAL / WEED AND GRASS STOPPER.” This Contains the Herbicide “Dimension”. This Herbicide forms a barrier in the top 1/2” of your soil preventing all weed seeds from germinating.
Farmer Supply on Oleander Drive keeps a good supply of this Herbicide.
It is important to understand that this Herbicide must NOT be used on newly installed sod – whether the sod is active or dormant, This Herbicide will NOT allow the roots to penetrate this barrier and knit down.
A Post-Emergent Weed Control Herbicide can be used after the turf has been mowed five times.
WHY INSTALL DORMANT SOD
There are many advantages to installing dormant sod. There is no difference in dormant sods whether they are located in one of our fields or in your backyard. In fact, the micro-environment found in your back yard vs. an open field is much warmer and is less susceptible to desiccation due to cold drying winds.
By installing dormant sod in the middle of winter you will reduce the mud, dust, and weeds, control erosion, and still produce a finished appearance for that all important “curb appeal” or simply having an aesthetically pleasing lawn.
Installing dormant sod in the fall, winter or early spring, has another advantage in that you are not dealing with the high heat and humidity of June through August.
Did you know that frozen dormant sod can be installed on frozen soil and have no problems coming out of dormancy in the spring?
We annually ship many truckloads of dormant sod during late fall, winter and early spring with great success.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING DORMANT SODS
Care must taken to assure that the dormant grass will live through the winter and break dormancy or “wake up” and begin growing, once again, in the late spring. The timing of this “waking up” period is dependent upon the same environmental factors that caused the dormancy to occur in the fall.
So we are looking for soil temperatures to rise above 47 degrees and exceed 67 degrees. Root activity wakens first.
Research has shown that several factors influences the success of dormant sod installation. These include:
1. Proper soil preparation, including the incorporation of a “Starter Fertilizer” (5:5:15) into the soil. Using a high Potassium (K) (0:0:32 or 0:0:60) is important as this Element strengthens the cellular walls of the growing region of each turf grass plant. This strengthening will allow for the expansion and contraction of this critical growing region during the fickle freezing and warming days during dormancy. If a “wall” tissue is cracked during an “expanding” freezing spell, than this one turf grass plant will not survive. This is rare.
2. Having a loose sod bed of 3/4” to 1” is preferred as the roots will than be protected by the soil acting as an insulator or blanket.
3. It is always a good idea to have good sod roots to soil contact. Rolling or tamping is helpful to insure that this condition is created. This will reduce voids and air spaces which can allow roots (dormant or otherwise) to dry out.
4. Proper water management is key! DORMANT SOD NEEDS WATER TOO!! A common misconception is that because the turf grass is brown, it does not need water. This is NOT true!
But because of more frequent winter time rains, and the evaporation and transpiration rate is greatly reduced during the dormancy period, supplemental irrigation is far less in the winter. But, one needs to know that cold, drying winds can cause winter time desiccation. It is important to keep an eye on a dormant lawn or on a newly installed dormant lawn that the roots remain moist.
SPRING FOLLOW THROUGH PRACTICES
1. Apply a pre-emergent herbicide (same product as used in the fall) to an established lawn that has been mowed at least five times. The time frame for this application is as early as mid February through mid March. This prevents spring and summer weeds.
2. When you see a new spring green understory, mow your lawn at your usual mowing height to clean up all winter debris and a portion of the tops of each dormant grass blade as they are pushed up from the growing region found at the soil level.
3. Fertilize after all chances of frost are over. This timing varies annually depending upon Mother Nature. Generally between April 15 to May 15th is a safe time to fertilize, and an efficient uptake of the nutrients by the roots will occur.
4. Continue mowing as needed and at the height as recommended for your turf grass variety.
Is Your Lawn Ready for Spring?
Homeowners looking for Spring lawn care tips have come to the right place. Summertime is one of the most difficult times of the year for our lawns. Spring’s lush, green grass has gone and been replaced by dry, half-dead lawns. So how do you make the most of your lawn and help it make it through the summer before the Spring months?
Here are five lawn care tips to help you do just that:
Avoid the urge to cut the grass too short. When you are approaching summer but still putting up with the rainy season, it can be very tempting to cut that grass as short as possible. After all, the rain makes it seem to grow a foot in two days! But as summer approaches, make sure that you adjust the height of your mower blades. They should leave your lawn at least three inches tall or maybe even taller than that. Lawns that are kept at taller heights can grow their roots more deeply than those that are kept exceptionally short. Consequently, lawns that are not cut as short will dry out more slowly because their roots are longer and give them access to water that is further and further under the ground.
Be consistent with your lawn care practices. One issue some homeowners have is the fact that they wait until their lawns have died off and then start watering them so that they will turn green again. This simply creates too much activity for your grass. If you want it to stay green and lush all year long, then make sure that you are committed to watering it as much as it needs to be. Of course it may be nearly impossible to keep your lawn green, and if so, you just need to accept this and let the lawn go dormant until a more favorable season rolls around.
Don’t forget that your lawn still needs water, even if you have allowed it to go dormant. Water the lawn early in the day and let it soak down deep into your soil. Dormant lawns only need about a half inch of water every two or three weeks to keep them alive. If you keep up your watering rates like this over the summer, you should see instant renewal when the fall rolls around.
Keep certain lawn care practices to the end of the summer. Weed killers are best used between late August and early September. Also, tasks like thatching, seeding and fertilizing should be saved for this same time frame.
Try to keep the traffic on your lawn to a minimum during the summer months. These are the times when your grass needs a break, and any traffic on it is going to make it that much more difficult for it to recover when the fall finally rolls around.
Even when your lawn is lying dormant, you still need to take proper care of it, and by following the above tips, you are sure to be one of the first homeowners with a nicely trimmed lawn when fall does arrive. Just focus on the basics over the summer and let your lawn get the rest that it needs.
Ways to Up Your Home’s Curb Appeal
Whether or not you are selling your home or just maintaining a household, curb appeal is important. Curb appeal is a phrase used to describe a positive looking yard, home, and generally “walking up” area.
The main advice is plant some bright flowers, paint the shutters, and repave that walkway. There are some additional actions that we can take, however, to ensure the beautiful longevity of curb appeal that go deeper than the surface.
Red Pine Straw
Pine Straw is used most commonly in colder environments because of its effectiveness in keeping root systems much warmer than your average mulch. It also prevents most varieties of weeds.
The acidic level of pine straw is what makes it so perfect for most gardening and yard situations. It matches that of rain water to keep plants thriving. It doesn’t blow away in the wind (especially if the needles are long) and can be applied at different depths for different sized plants.
The practical applications of pine straw are clear, but what does this plant loving mulch have to with curb appeal?
Most pine straw is used to enrich soil and has a deep brown color but is not often considered decorative. “Slash” pine is short and plentiful, but there is a more beautiful pine straw that can change the way your yard looks and feels.
Long Leaf Pine is a little longer than your average “slash” and is much more red in color. It is not bright red like a red colored mulch, but has a gorgeous red-brown color that its shorter counterpart does not.
Sod
The grass is the pride of any yard and is often the first thing people see about your property. There is no way to get around happy, healthy grass when it comes to curb appeal.
If you are not familiar with sod, it is the grass meets ground solution for a yard that needs a little help. It can take a complete disaster of a yard, or just a place that needs a little help, and give it a fresh start.
Fertilizing
Whether or not the grass starts out as sod, fertilization is very important for the health of the lawn. A good looking yard starts with happy healthy grass that is well fed. Late in the Spring you should make your first round of fertilizer and then another in the late summer.
The care of the yard as a whole is very important. The entire property sits on the foundation that your lawn provides. While it may seem tedious, every step you take toward a better looking lawn makes all the difference.
When working towards improving curb appeal, it is important to remember that beauty goes deeper than the surface.
Fall Topsoil and Sod Installation Projects
If you’re like many gardeners, you’ve been trying to wrestle down the overgrowth of the last hothouse months. Tangled vines may be strangling your late-flowering crepe myrtle. The Sweet William ground cover, which you intended to contain, may have run over your entire yard!
As you yank at dead branches and pull out stubborn weeds, you may finally find a clearing for fresh planting. One catch: the dirt at your feet looks like unwelcoming clay.
Rich Topsoil for Planting Bulbs
Have you always wanted an entire field filled with daffodils and tulips? Do you love the blanket effect of densely planted flowers? Once you clear a sizable space, you can plant bulbs to your heart’s content!
Here are some of the advantages of purchasing topsoil for your garden now:
You will help protect and nourish bulbs, so they can take root quickly.
You can save a bundle on large quantities needed for massive projects.
You will get a jump on the springtime by taking steps to prepare a season ahead.
Plenty of Time for Sod Installation
After you’ve yanked at unruly weeds, you may have torn up more grass than intended. When you step back and survey the damage, do you find yourself searching for an immediate remedy? We have a simple solution: sod installation!
Now that you’ve done the hard work of clearing space in your yard, you have plenty of time for sod installation. Many homeowners complete this project through October. You can even install sod in the winter.
For dormant sod installation without any green leaf tissue, one important point is to keep the sod pad moist. Our rainfalls will help during this phase, so that’s a reason to rethink gray days when you can’t go outside and sink your hands in the earth.
Contact Us About Topsoil and Sod Installation
Would you like to schedule delivery of bulk topsoil for large bulb-planting projects? Do you have questions about sod installation during the fall and winter? Contact us!
Save Money on Premium Topsoil
During the fall, you may want to tackle some outdoor home-improvement projects before the winter takes hold. Maybe you need to create a level path up your steep front lawn, so an elderly relative has wheelchair access to your home. For years, you may have wanted to install a shed for all of your gardening tools and supplies and decided that the time has finally arrived.
The good news is that you are finally taking care of overdue projects. However, as you dig up your landscape to accommodate these new elements, you may need to fill in and level off areas with topsoil. If you take care of this step now, you will have a jump-start on the next planting season!
Popular Topsoil Blend
At Superior Sod and Garden Supplies, we love to share titles and applaud partners who produce outstanding products. Without a doubt, we think that the highest-quality topsoil is the one that we carry exclusively from Parker Bark. If Big Al is the “Father of Sod” with 40 years of experience, then Mr. Parker is a good match as the “Father of Topsoil” who has continually created premium products for more than 25 years on 50 acres.
Magic Blend
The Parker Bark Topsoil is a perfect blend because of the following:
Certified compost mix including 15% turkey compost as well as a finely screened combination of black dirt and sand
Product is heated to make his topsoil WEED-SEED-FREE!!
Blend drains well with the inclusion of sand
Organic matter providing the ideal amount of moisture and nutrient retention
Additional Projects to Plan
After you finish your outdoor home-improvement projects, you can also start to prepare for others. Most gardeners need to do the reverse countdown back to spring and stay busy in the interim. Here are a few other projects requiring topsoil, and you can start to lay the groundwork now:
New lawns
Garden beds
Additional trees
Stop by or Schedule a Delivery
If you enjoy scooping up your own topsoil, you can fill your own buckets, or we can load your pickup or trailer with any amount needed. Remember, you can save a bundle when you buy in bulk. Think about all of your projects, and take advantage of large quantities of high-quality topsoil to enrich your landscape now.
To schedule a delivery of topsoil, contact us today!
Reddish Long Leaf Pine Straw: Low-Cost Mulch for Fall
Most gardeners are planners. We need to schedule projects and maintain order as the seasons change. If you’ve noticed the shorter days and slipping temperatures at night, you can feel the transition into fall.
As you shift with the season, you’ve probably started to think about protecting your bulbs. If you’ve doubled up on your planting efforts for a spectacular show next spring, you definitely want to ensure a good return. What’s an easy and decorative way to create a warm blanket of insulation during the upcoming months?
In a word: mulch!
Colorful Autumn Mulch
Although two kinds of pine straw are sold in Wilmington, N.C., we carry reddish pine straw. Instead of brown “slash” pine straw with shorter needles, we like the long needles, which range from 7 to 9 inches. Our responsive supplier provides same-day deliveries, so you know the bales are fresh!
In addition, we have a sheltered area at Superior Sod & Garden Supplies, where the pine straw stays completely dry during bad weather. As you start to spread mulch around your garden, you can depend on us to keep you fully supplied. To provide the best protection, you can use a generous hand because pine straw is one of the most affordable mulch options.
Advantages of Pine Straw
Along with lower cost, here are some of the other benefits of pine straw:
Protects the ground from wind, rain and snow
Adds nutrients to fortify soil and plants
Provides a natural and easy-to-spread material
Offers a material that generally remains in place
Blocks weed growth and stubborn roots
Place Your Orders for Pine Straw Now!
Would you like to add a splash of color and thick layer of affordable mulch as the seasons change? Place your order for pine straw now. Contact us at Superior Sod & Garden Supplies today!
Best Time to Re-Sod Your Yard
Have you been sitting out on your porch, feeling forlorn about your heat-scorched grass? Around this point in the gardening season, do you feel stuck about how to proceed? If you are wondering if you can remedy the problem and re-sod during the intense heat, the answer is: Yes!
Benefits of Plan to Re-Sod Now
Some homeowners may think that we are in a no-planting zone because of the intense heat. With 40 years of experience, the experts at Superior Sod & Gardening Supplies can produce outstanding results anytime during the year! If you are disappointed because your entire garden has literally gone to seed, now would be a perfect time for new grass installation.
Here are some of the advantages of planting sod immediately:
Extend the season for your enjoyment outdoors
Property enhancement for activities during the upcoming months
Easy way to create positive surroundings for family, neighbors and visitors
Tips for Successful Sod Installation
At Superior Sod and Gardening Supplies, we have the knowledge and experience to ensure a successful sod installation at any point during the year. One important key is proper preparation, which our team will ensure. We often recommend Zoysia grasses, which are easy to take care of and resist brown patch.
Big Al made this choice for his own yard, which delivered great results after installation during the winter. By spring, the grass had knitted together completely. At any time of the year, making a quality choice is the key!
Watch Our Video, and Contact Us With Any Questions
Have you been wondering when to plan a new sod installation? Are you searching for a way to ensure a problem-free and pleasant experience? For more tips, watch our video: When is the best time to renovate my yard?
Growing grass and planting palm trees require acts of faith. You put the necessary elements in place and hope that a good watering will deliver healthy growth. With quality products and expert guidance, your investment will literally multiple!
Decades of Hands-On Experience
At Superior Sod, we want to share nearly 50 years of knowledge. Customers know that they can depend on us because of our hands-on experience with right type of sod for our region. In particular, they rely on our expertise in:
Production
Harvesting
Distribution
In addition, they know that we are experts who have personally grown, studied and distributed high-quality turfs.
Respected Connections and Credentials
Our long history with satisfied customers has also grown over the years. We have gained their respect because of our strong connections with:
Three major agricultural university systems
Local arboretums
Extension services
With a 4-year bachelor of science degree in turf and soil sciences, we have worked hard to earn the title of “lawn renovation specialists.”
Large Projects, Awards and Testimonials
Our work generally speaks for itself, showing that we can handle all types of projects. Some of the large ones involving truckloads of sod have included:
A major university football stadium
Several parks
18-hole golf courses
For the past seven years, the Arboretum in Wilmington, N.C., has honored us with the “BEST IN EDUCATION” Award. We also take pride in your testimonials including:
Quality customer service
Helpful and entertaining assistance
Fair prices for quality products
Early-morning telephone help
Educational information
Contact Us for Further Growth
At Superior Sod, we genuinely want our customers to have the best results. For us, healthy grass is a way of spreading prosperity throughout our community. Lush greenery is a symbol of vitality around every corner in our region.
For further growth, contact Superior Sod & Garden Supplies today!
Hi I'm “Big Al” and I can help you with your grass
