Rivendell's Kentucky Bluegrass Sod

Rivendell 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.

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 locations!

Alpine Ace Hardware

Aspen & Carbondale

970-925-3031

 

 

Mountain Greenery

Aspen

970-927-1003

 

 

Eagle Crest Nursery

Carbondale

970-963-1173

 

 

Stephens Nursery

Dotsero

970-524-9344

 

 

New Castle Gardens

New Castle

970-984-3850

 

 

Garden Center of Gypsum

Vail

970-524-0138

 

 

Camelot Gardens

Montrose

970-249-6109

 

 

San Juan Gardens

Montrose

970-249-2052

 

 

Rocky Mountain Trees & Landscaping

Crested Butte

970-349-6361

 

 

Alpengardener

Crested Butte

970-349-0252

 

 

Nature’s Design

Steamboat Springs

970-870-3053

 

 

Windemere Landscape & Garden Center

Steamboat Springs

970-879-2403

 

 

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