NG Turf’s multiple farms throughout the state of Georgia are much more than green fields of premium zoysia, bermuda, and fescue grasses. Take a closer look, and you’ll see a living, breathing laboratory for cutting-edge turfgrass research.

“There is always exciting research happening in the turfgrass industry,” explains Mark McWhorter, production manager at NG Turf. “Our goal is to grow the healthiest, most consistent-looking sod available on the market today. Employing the latest research and techniques helps us do that every day.”

Partnerships with Research Institutions

NG Turf has close ties with the University of Georgia (UGA) turfgrass research team, the turfgrass breeding program, and scientists at Bladerunner Farms. UGA turf scientists (creators of TifGrand, TifSport, and TifTuf bermudagrasses) use land on one of the NG Turf farms to conduct trials related to pathology and disease management, entomology and pest control, and to run evaluation programs for new varieties.

McWhorter adds, “We are also working closely with researchers from Texas A&M University who are field-testing a new variety of Texas bluegrass—a new variety that will remain green all year in Georgia and has better disease tolerance and summer hardiness than the green-all-year fescue varieties currently on the market.”

Bladerunner Farms, the creator of Zeon Zoysia, has thousands of varieties of zoysia in its breeding and testing programs. Several varieties have been selected for field-testing in Georgia using land on each of NG Turf’s farms. Who knows … the next world-famous zoysia variety may be growing on an NG Turf farm right now!

Investing in “Smart” Equipment

This time of year, you look out across a field on one of NG Turf’s farms and you see a lovely, consistent green. And that level of consistency takes a great deal of work and planning. Just one field can have close to a dozen different soil types and moisture profiles—each requiring a different set of nutrient amendments and different amounts of water to create the consistent sod we love.

How do they do it? It starts with GPS-assisted soil mapping to calibrate the fertilization requirements. The fields are also equipped with soil moisture sensors that communicate wirelessly with a “smart” irrigation rig that provides exactly the right amount of water to each part of the field. “Not only does this technology make our job easier and our grass healthier,” explains McWhorter, “it also helps us be more environmentally responsible.”

When it’s harvest time, the Firefly Proslab automated harvester is GPS-guided to cut laser-straight rows of perfectly trimmed sod slabs. “Not only is it the fastest slab harvester on the market,” McWhorter adds, “it also leaves zero waste in the field. We get a better harvest yield and our customers get the freshest sod possible.”

Whether you need one single pallet of sod for your project—or a whole truckload—NG Turf will deliver premium, farm-fresh sod right to your door.

Call them today for a custom quote at (770) 431-1344 or visit them online at NGTurf.com.