What’s the best sod grass for the Okanagan?

The Okanagan, located in the Interior of British Columbia has semi-arid climate which makes for cold winters and hot, dry summers. Areas in the Okanagan including Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, Summerland, Lake County, Peaceland, experience these extreme temperatures. The vegetation, including turf grass has to be adapted to be able to survive in these temperatures. For sod to survive and thrive in the Okanagan it must be hardy or drought tolerant.

As a homeowner or someone looking for sod grass for their sports field or golf course, having a thick, green lawn makes your property look beautiful and inviting. However, with so many sod varieties available, how do you choose the appropriate sod for your needs?

How do you choose the appropriate sod variety?

First, to choose a sod variety there are three things to consider:

What is the climate like where you live?
Where will the grass be used?
How will the grass be used?

After considering these three factors, it makes narrowing down the choices of sod varieties much easier. At Western Turf Farms, we carry a great selection for home and garden sod blends. Each of our sod blend varieties were developed uniquely to grow for the different climates each region in British Columbia and Alberta has.

The variety of sod blends range from being basic to versatile, organically grown low water use to more sophisticated ones for showcase lawns. This past summer, we harvested BC’s first-ever certified drought tolerant sod.

Here at Western Turf Farms, we have sod varieties to match your home project, budget size, and size of the area you’re looking to either replace or install new sod in.

What are some sod varieties that are suitable for the Okanagan region?

Specifically for the Okanagan region, we’ve specifically formulated sod varieties with withstand the drier, extreme climate. These seeds are able to grow into a drought tolerant and low maintenance turf.

Choosing a grass that thrives in your specific climate condition is extremely important. With the unpredictable weather conditions, a drought-resistant grass for both cool and warm seasons is a great way to go.

These sod varieties include:

Interior Bluegrass: One our highest drought-tolerant varieties. This is a blend of Kentucky Bluegrass and Fescue which keeps irrigation low in the summer and gives you a luscious green lawn in the springtime. Fescue grasses have deeper roots which make them a great low water option. The deeper rooters are beneficial and a preventative measure against chafer beetles and grub feeding.

Bluegrass Sport Sod: A premium sod blend suitable for playgrounds, sport fields and backyards. This blend of Perennial Ryegrass and Fescue is drought-tolerant, cold resistance, and un-netted. It requires 50 percent less water than other sod varieties. This variety has been grown on a sand base. It has a strong and mature root system. Because of the strong and thick root system this blend has, it makes the sod ready to be used sooner and stands up to wear better. It is also available with the Fibrelok High Performance Root System.

Bentgrass Sod: If you’ve ever thought about putting a putting green in your yard, this is the right blend to do the job. Besides being great for golf course putting greens, it also creates a great looking lawn for luxury homes. Our different Bentgrass blends are grown on washed sand to increase drainage. This blends meets the US Golf Course Association specifications. However, this blend requires more watering for drier climates like the Okanagan.

TWCA-Certified Drought Tolerant Sod: We are proud of our newest sod blend. This has been specifically formulated for Western Turf Farms and consists of Perennial Ryegrass, Chewing Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass. This blend has been certified by TWCA, a non-profit organization that is committed to water conservation. This special blend requires 30 to 50 percent less water than typical turf varieties. For the Okanagan’s drier climates, it can survive longer periods without water, stays green longer, and recovers faster.