Landscaping - finding sod for the lawn

[Manassas]

Waiting for the rains to stop so I can start my landscaping. Need to bring in some dirt for leveling and do some excavating etc etc.

I have visited many plant stores/nurseries but haven't yet found one selling sod. Any tips on local shops that sell good lawn sod?

Then of course the bigger question - which variety of grass. I have a large area of the dense thin-blade Japanese grass that is very attractive (at least in the wet season). I have seen what is called the Malaysia variety but it is not as attractive. Any other varieties that fellow gardeners are pleased with for year-round durability and visual appeal?

Thanks and Cheers

[sceadugenga]

I've seen sod/turf in Chiang Mai but not here.

But then my garden establishment was done a few years back so other members may have later information.

[villagefarang]

We got ours, years back, on the highway past the airport, heading toward Mae Sai. It was on the right, if you were heading North. I have no idea if they are still there. You can always ask around at the nurseries in town for recommendations. Again you are welcome to come over and have a look, to see what has worked for us and what hasn't.

[hmj]

The place indicated by villagefarang is in Ban Den. They grow the sod on the
spot under shade netting.

Another place selling sod is located a few hundred metres past the first traffic lights

north of the Kok bridge. It is the garden centre on the west side of the highway.

You can order sods here. The sale of sods is seasonal.

A map has been attached.

[Garry]

We got ours, years back, on the highway past the airport, heading toward Mae Sai. It was on the right, if you were heading North. I have no idea if they are still there. You can always ask around at the nurseries in town for recommendations. Again you are welcome to come over and have a look, to see what has worked for us and what hasn't.

VF, the soil / sod that yuo had laid out on your property, was there much issue with weeds?

[sceadugenga]

Any lawn will have a weed problem, wind blown seeds are impossible to keep out and deep rooted weeds will usually survive the original ground clearing.

It's just a matter of keeping on top of them.

[hmj]

The thickness of the sod can vary a lot. Use the poorest/thinnest tiles in
places where they have the best growing conditions and/or where they are
the easiest to maintain. Regular cutting helps with weed control.

Sods of at least two species of grass are readily available. The fast growing
species, wide bladed, is 100% successful in keeping weeds down. I do not know
the names any more but the vendors will inform you.

[villagefarang]

Basically we planted two different types of grass, one on the slops and one on the flats. The wide blade is actually nicer to walk on because of the wide flat blades. I think the weeds which first appeared were from cow manure we spread or the seeds contained there in, as well as wind blown varieties.

Every time we used natural fertilizer we got more weeds, the thorny type. After a few years we began getting a clover like ground cover mixed in with the grass. The wide blade does a better job of holding it back but not in the entire yard. Now we have a blend of different things that look pretty good when cut short but looks a little uneven if we let it grow too long between cuttings.

So it may not be a classic lawn but it does stabiles the soil, it is green and it is nice to walk on.

[sceadugenga]

What more do you want?

I doubt mine has ever seen a legitimate lawn seed but when mowed regularly along with a little water in the dry season, does the job.

[Manassas]

I have an area of what I think is the thin-blade Japanese zoysia. Usually planted in plugs and then spreads. It grows very dense and is good at keeping weeds out. Other areas have mixed varieties which do look fine when cut. I guess it will depend on what's available. I need to raise a low lying area by bringing in truck loads of dirt. Then that will require sod to get it stabilized.

Working on the in-laws to accept the concept of a lawn that is cut regularly as opposed to letting the weeds grow a meter high then chopping them down to the dirt. I think I'm winning them over as they like the area I've done. Mae likes walking on it barefoot.

[sceadugenga]

I'm proud to say that the Thai neighbours now also have a specially planted lawn for their children and dogs to play on.

It's that flat leaf stuff that's not a true grass, it does a lot better than grasses in the dry season.

Edited September 20, 2013 by sceadugenga

[Manassas]

I'm hoping to spread the concept to the rest of the soi as well. The guy across the street is renovating his house and seems to be joining the lawn-care club. Others may take awhile as there are various vegetables growing amongst the meter high weeds.

[Joel Barlow]

Three places: one already mentioned above. One right by Gate #1 entrance to Rajapat. One on the east side of the "superhighway" not far north of the bridge from the Ha-yeak (big gardening supply area, lots of shops, as it were) which may get sod from the place further north (past MaeFahLuang U? I don't recall, although I have bought it there).

Usually it is cut too thin, so get it in before it gets dry!

[villagefarang]

Three places: one already mentioned above. One right by Gate #1 entrance to Rajapat. One on the east side of the "superhighway" not far north of the bridge from the Ha-yeak (big gardening supply area, lots of shops, as it were) which may get sod from the place further north (past MaeFahLuang U? I don't recall, although I have bought it there).

Usually it is cut too thin, so get it in before it gets dry!

The Baan Den location is before MFL University, perhaps half way between the airport turnoff and MFL. It is just past the 1209 turnoff heading toward MFL.