People Ask: Lawn Sodding Q&A

By SHANNON HATHAWAY, Landscape Horticulturist and Sod Specialist Central North Carolina is considered a transition zone for grasses. We are on the southern edge of the cool season grass range and the northern edge of the warm season grass range. What does that mean...

By SHANNON HATHAWAY, Landscape Horticulturist and Sod Specialist In every aspect of life, from clothing to coffee cups to pick-up trucks to landscaping, I find myself talking about good design. Good design is design that combines function and form beautifully....

By SHANNON HATHAWAY, Landscape Horticulturist and Sod Specialist What’s in a Name? Well, if “Tif” is in the grass name, it came from the Tifton Turf Program at UGA. “Turfgrass breeding efforts at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus are focused on developing stress...

By SHANNON HATHAWAY, Landscape Horticulturist and Sod Specialist If your resolutions for 2024 include a more usable and hardy lawn for your kids, your dogs, or yourself, you have come to the right lawn experts! Every successful project starts with a plan.  Sunlight:...

By SHANNON HATHAWAY, Landscape Horticulturist and Sod Specialist There are so many landscaping companies and turf installers in the greater Raleigh area, and it can be confusing to choose the right one to work with. I have been in the horticulture business locally for...

By SHANNON HATHAWAY, Landscape Horticulturist and Sod Specialist Great minds must truly think alike because there are five questions we get asked most frequently. To help simplify your sod search, I have compiled the top five questions into one blog for you.  When...

By SHANNON HATHAWAY, Landscape Horticulturist and Sod Specialist It is no secret that our native soil in central NC is not the best. When you purchase a new home, you usually find your soil consists of heavily compacted clay or sand. When you purchase an older home,...

By SHANNON HATHAWAY - Let’s be honest. Zeon and Zenith are so easily confused because the names are too similar. I wish I had the power to rename one of these varieties to make them less confusing, but I don’t. I can, however, compare the two types of zoysia grass to...

By SHANNON HATHAWAY, Landscape Horticulturist and Sod Specialist Yes, it is that time of year again - fescue re-seeding time. If you have a warm-season lawn, be grateful that this chore does not apply to you. Kick back and relax. But there are diehard fescue fans out...

By SHANNON HATHAWAY, Landscape Horticulturist and Sod Specialist Choosing the very best lawn for your property can be very subjective. Many clients ask for an evergreen lawn, but here in central NC the warm-season grasses perform much better than cool-season grasses....

By SHANNON HATHAWAY - Picture this: you hire a company to install sod, and you have an image in your mind of a perfect, solid green lawn, similar to having new carpet installed in the home. Seems reasonable, right? But within two days, the lawn looks stressed; there...

By SHANNON HATHAWAY - The current trend is to demonize the lawn as a form of landscaping, encouraging everyone to plant a meadow instead. In some cases, this can be a lovely idea. But, as in most things, balance is the best practice.  Organic Landscape I have an...

BY SHANNON HATHAWAY - When I say I was born to work in horticulture, what I mean is that my family roots reach deep into the earth. Early Lessons on the Farm Farming, soil enrichment, herb gardening, pasture grass care, veggie gardening, and canning the harvest were...

BY SHANNON HATHAWAY - “The right plant in the right place” is a very common saying in gardening circles. Some plants like the sun, and some like shade. Some are hardy, some are delicate. Some are drought-tolerant, and some are not. Some prefer sandy soil, some can...