In this article, we will discuss why Empire Turf® a good choice as a low-country sod and the reasons why it looks beautiful in the South Carolina and Georgia landscapes.

What Makes Empire Turf® a Good Choice as a Low-Country Sod?

Empire® Zoysia is a versatile and hardy sod with medium blades. A beautifully dark, rich blue-green turfgrass, it is a great choice in warm climates for a variety of applications. It is installed on golf courses as well as residential lawns, parks, stadiums, and commercial landscapes.

But what makes Empire® Zoysia a good choice as a low-country sod?

There are many reasons why it looks beautiful in the South Carolina and Georgia landscapes:

  • Empire Turf® is an aesthetically beautiful sod. It is a beautifully rich, dark blue-green turfgrass. Soft to the touch, it makes for a wonderfully enjoyable place for children to play and families to entertain. On a golf course or in a stadium, its durability and the richness of color enhance the overall playing experience. Additionally, it holds up well when installed in a park setting or used in low maintenance commercial settings.
  • Empire Turf® is highly rated in functionality. When planting this sod, a soil bed of either sand, sandy loam, or clay is recommended. For those unfamiliar with sandy loam, it is a gardening soil made from a mix of sand, clay, and silt. The sod produces strong aggressive horizontal stolons and rhizomes, which are the emerging blades of grass and its roots. Because of its strength, it is a turfgrass that has an excellent injury recovery rate. This recovery rate lends itself especially well to golf courses, parks, and playing fields, where general wear and tear or divots are frequently made. It also recovers easily in residential lawns where playground equipment use can damage the turfgrass.
  • Empire Turf® is resilient against insects and disease. This turfgrass is highly resistant to insects and disease. However, it is still susceptible to a few of them. Nematodes, a microscopic roundworm, and fungi are potential problems for Empire Turf®. Regular fertilizing and frequent watering throughout the seasons can eradicate these infestations. To help the turfgrass stay healthy, some other fungal disease remedies are regulating the Ph balance of the soil and maintaining proper soil drainage.
  • Empire Turf® is an ideal sod for the hot South Carolina and Georgia summers. As the sod originates from Asia, Australia, and the South Pacific, it transitions easily to the Southeast part of the United States. It stays it natural rich blue-green shade until temperatures are consistently below 70 degrees. Empire Turf® can survive in the 6B-11 zones, which range from -5 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit in the cold months and it also tolerates shade and salty soils very well. Empire Turf® can also survive for long periods of drought or when water restrictions keep it from receiving water. Because of these characteristics, Empire Turf® has been used exclusively in many residual community projects throughout the southeast.
  • Empire Turf® is easy to maintain. Fertilization and regular cuttings with a standard rotary mower and lawn trimmer are the main ways to maintain the sod. After the warm weather returns in the early months of the year, and two weeks after the annual cleanup is complete, fertilize to ward off the few insects and fungus that could harm it. Repeat three to six fertilizations until late fall or when the grass starts to change color. If you so choose, soil tests can be conducted to maintain proper Ph level and soil quality. When mowing or trimming, maintain a healthy grass height between 1-2 inches and water regularly. In addition, regular aeration can help support a healthy lawn, golf course, park or stadium playing field. As it has an aggressive horizontal root and stem growth from stolons and rhizomes, it is not likely to be susceptible to weed infestations.

Nimmer Turf Farm is well-known as the Southeast’s leading sod company. With farms and outlet locations throughout South Carolina, we are able to outfit any type of landscape from residential plots to golf courses, commercial projects, and sports arenas. We provide a range of services, from sod delivery and installation to sprigging.

To learn more about Empire Turf®, contact Nimmer Turf. We offer free estimates and one of our experts can arrange to meet with you to help you decide on the best sod for your residential lawn, park or business. Contact Nimmer Turf today for more information!