TVT’s Signature Sod Blend: Bluegrass / Ryegrass Blend: TVT produces Premium Blue / Rye sod. We select the top Bluegrass varieties for our area from the National Turf Evaluation Program and blend four of these varieties to get the best possible genetics for our area. The Bluegrass is seeded and allowed to grow for 4 to 6 months. Then we go back and over seed Perennial Rye grass to get a 70% blue 30% rye mixture. This provides a product with great genetic diversity, with excellent resistance to diseases and pests. Our bluegrass sod contains 4 different varieties of Jacklin Seed “5 steps above “ bluegrass seed. These varieties consistently top the national trials for bluegrass and are specified by golf course designers because of their superior characteristics. Blending varieties gives much greater genetic diversity, increasing disease resistance. CHARACTERISTICS: Cool-season grass - dark green color and dense, beautiful appearance, fine to medium leaf texture with excellent leaf uniformity. Forms a strong sod via rhizomes. RECOMMENDED USAGE: Widely adapted basic lawn grass of the cool, humid, semi-arid and temperate regions - recommended for residential and commercial lawns. Also, widely used on sports fields and play areas, parks, cemeteries, commercial lawns and roadsides. TEMPERATURE TOLERANCE: Thrives in cool weather and will tolerate very cold winters - undergoes stress during extremely hot weather, but will maintain good color and appearance if properly watered and cared for. DROUGHT RESISTANCE: Medium - can go into summer dormancy when irrigation is withheld; upon return of moisture supply, will green up again. Some varieties have better tolerance to heat and drought. SHADE ADAPTATION: Fair to poor - thrives in sunny areas - a few varieties are moderately adapted to partial shade. WEAR RESISTANCE: Medium - recovers quickly from occasional abuse - will withstand moderate foot traffic usage - rhizomes enhance quick recovery, especially in spring and fall. Other varieties available: Dwarf Tall Fescue: Sometimes called “Bonsai” or “Mirage”, tall fescue can have a deeper root system than bluegrass, allowing less frequent irrigation. Tall fescue is not normally recommended by TVT for home owner lawns, as it does not hold up as well, has more prickly blades and tends to thin out, causing the lawn to become coarse over time. It is used in ornamental commercial sites where foot traffic is at a minimum. CHARACTERISTICS: Cool-season grass - medium to dark green color, moderate density - more extensive root system than any other cool-season turfgrass. Texture ranges from coarse to medium for newer turf-types. A bunch-type grass. RECOMMENDED USAGE: Very good transition zone grass - adapted to moderately cold winters and warm summers - good tough play lawn - recommended for a wide variety of uses, including residential and commercial landscapes, roadsides, parks, recreation areas, and sports fields. TEMPERATURE TOLERANCE: Good heat tolerance for a cool-season grass - grows in a wide range of temperatures in the transitional climatic zone between cool and warm climates - less cold hardy than most cool-season grasses. DROUGHT RESISTANCE: Good - one of the better cool-season turfgrasses, fairly deep root system helps avoid drought. Can go into summer dormancy, with brown leaves, when irrigation is withheld; upon return of moisture supply, will green up again. Some varieties have better tolerance to heat and drought. SHADE ADAPTATION: Good in transition zone - prefers full sun - moderately tolerant to partial shade. Of the cool-season grasses, only fine leafed rescues rank higher in shade adaptation. WEAR RESISTANCE: Good - suitable for moderate recreation and foot traffic areas exhibiting good initial wear recovery, especially in spring and fall when growth is rapid. Fine Fescue Blend: Fine fescue sod is used in heavy shade areas and areas that don’t get mowed. It grows about a foot tall and has a natural pasture look. Fine fescues don’t persist well in full sun, close mowing situations. CHARACTERISTICS: Cool-season grass - deep green color - finest grass blade of any lawn grass - upright growth habit creates a pleasing uniformity - has rapid germination and seedling establishment. RECOMMENDED USAGE: Well adapted to cool summers and high altitudes - can do well even in cold and arid climates - often used in mixtures with other grasses because of an ability to blend - frequent component of bluegrass mixtures because it grows well in shade or drought-dry soil - used with a warm-season grass in the South, it provides green winter color. TEMPERATURE TOLERANCE: Good - tolerates hot and cold weather well - has good winter hardiness - can be used in areas that are subject to widest temperature fluctuations. DROUGHT TOLERANCE: Very good drought tolerance for a cool-season grass can go dormant in summer if irrigation is withheld, upon return of moisture supply it will green up again. SHADE TOLERANCE: Moderate - most shade tolerant of all grasses but needs some sun - best cool season grass for dry, shady lawns. WEAR RESISTANCE: Moderate - grass blades are non-succulent and hardy making an ideal play surface - does not recover well from severe injury