What does TexAgs know about this stuff? Looking to sod a few areas and the guy at the landscape store recommended Discovery Bermuda. Says it has a 3 week mow cycle and should 2" roots in 4 days. Says it is very heavy rooted and there for super drought tolerant.

http://www.sodsolutions.com/GNO-Sept10-Introducing_Discovery_Bermudagrass.php

Bump because I'm moving to a new house in June, will need pallets.

It was $150 a pallet here. I just worry slow growth means weeds will take over daily easily.

Stick with tifway(419) or better yet, zoysia.

why 419 or zoysia

Are you wanting it right now, or can you wait a few weeks/months for the perfect lawn? If you were going to sod why not St Augustine? Bermuda is usually sprigged or seeded, Bermuda sod is off to me. In my opinion I'd go with the poster above with Zoysia, or get a high end turf grade Bermuda and seed. If you're wanting to sod...st augustine is the best sod. PM me if you're in the CS area and I can give you some prices on seeding. Plus, king ranch has a turf farm in Millican for St Augustine.

You can sod Tiff Bermuda with no issues. I put in Tiff and it took just fine and looks great. No delays for seeding.

Bermuda is a lot nicer to walk on or have kids play on than St. Augustine, doesn't have the fungus issues, and drinks a hell of a lot less water. Between the brown patch early in the summer and the drought my brother-in-law lost half his St. Augustine lawn last summer and just paid to have it sodded.

Bermuda won't hold up as well to heavy dog traffic and play areas like under a swing set or the bottom of a slide.

What do you guys know about celebration Bermuda? Seems to be more shade tolerant than others.

I wouldn't choose any Bermuda for its "more shade tolerant" characteristic... my bet is its shade tolerance is "just slightly better than none at all"

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If you were going to sod why not St Augustine?

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Because St Augustine sucks.

And what `88 said. Even "shade tolerant" varieties are gonna need at least 4-6 hours of sunlight a day, and that's for St Aug which is known for being "shade tolerant".

Here are some links that might help.

http://aggieturf.tamu.edu/answers4you/publications/Turf%20Selection%20SCS-2009-05lr.pdf

http://aggieturf.tamu.edu/answers4you/publications/Select%20&%20InstallSod%20SCS-2009-07lr.pdf

http://aggieturf.tamu.edu/answers4you/selection.html

Use the resources at your LOCAL landscape store (here in BCS I'd use Aggieland Stone & Turf), not a box store, and your local extension agent/master gardener. They will know what specific hybrids will work best in your specific area.

[This message has been edited by rhoswen (edited 4/24/2012 11:15a).]

I have never had anyone recommending seeding to me over sodding.

What would be the advantage?

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What would be the advantage?

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Cost. More variety on different strains, hybrids, or types of grass.

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Cost. More variety on different strains, hybrids, or types of grass.

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not an expert on grasses, but in most other cultivars that I am familiar with, you don't typically get true strains of hybrids from seed. Is grass different, or is it possible (and practical) with all 1st generation seed?

Agbq06 I can see that new fertilizer gig is increasing your knowledge already.......I kid I kid, I'm sure you already new that stuff.

Anyways I agree with txag88 about Bermuda shade tolerance, from what I've learned in my recreational turf class this semester is if it says something like "more resistant" or "more tolerant" than another variety the difference is going to be very slight.

Grasses are introduced into the market because of seed yield for the producer, and how fast it grows back at the sod farm.