architecture landscape drawing

Yes. We sell sod directly to anyone who wants to buy it.

Red Hen Turf Farm is located about six miles west of the South Bend International Airport. Our address is 29435 Darden Road, New Carlisle, Indiana (Click here for a GOOGLE MAP LINK). We deliver sod to customers in Indiana and Michigan. Or you can pick up sod at our farm.

Sod is sold by the square foot, so calculating how much you need is as simple or hard as measuring your site. Be sure and order enough to account for trimming because we cannot deliver you another 500 sq feet for the same price we just delivered you 5000 sq feet. However, if you do under measure, you can pick sod up at our farm for the same price as we just delivered.

Yes!  Red Hen’s currently has two different choices for an INSTANT LAWN: Red Hen’s Kentucky Bluegrass Sod and Red Hen’s Turf-Type Tall Fescue Sod.  To dive into the differences between the two, check out THIS ARTICLE that we wrote.

Yes! We sell several varieties of grass seed, including the seed that matches our Kentucky Bluegrass Sod and our Tall Fescue Sod. We also sell a select range of fertilizers, herbicides, erosion control materials, and landscaping tools. In addition, we sell soil test kits that include Red Hen interpreting the results and helping you apply the information to your own yard’s needs.

For homeowners and DIYers, our Little Rolls of sod are 2 ft x 5 ft (10 sq ft), each roll weighing approximately 35-50 lbs depending on precipitation and irrigation.

For landscapers and other professionals, we also offer our Big Rolls of sod, which are 2.5 ft x 80 ft (200 sq ft). Big Rolls are very heavy and require special equipment to install. In addition, to order big roll sod, we require a special agreement and commercial certificate of insurance.

A “standard full pallet” is 50 rolls of sod, which covers 500 sq ft, and weighs approximately 1 ton.

Make the soil 1 ½ inch lower next to driveways and side walks so water will drain into the lawn. Make the soil ½ inch lower than the neighbors existing grass so the sod will be about the same height. Sprinkler heads should stick up about ½ inch.

Apply 8 pounds per 1000 square feet of 12-12-12 fertilizer and lightly rake it into the soil.

Pick the best place to start unrolling the sod that minimizes the amount you might have to carry. For example, if you will be sodding your entire lawn, start in the back and work to the front. If you are sodding part of your lawn, start in the front and work to the back until you run out of sod.

Start by unrolling the sod to make a straight line. For the next row, place a roll so it will unroll in the right direction a couple of inches away from the previous roll. Unroll it and slide the sod together. Do not overlap or leave gaps. Stagger the ends to avoid long seams.  On steep hills lay the sod sideways across the hill rather than up and down.

Do not roll the sod because rolling will compact the soil and make new root growth difficult. Outside edges of sod that do not butt up to anything should have a little soil raked up to the exposed edge to keep the edge from drying out.

Begin watering when you can do so without making a muddy mess in the areas to be sodded. Water each section long enough to apply ½ inch of water. It generally takes 30 minutes or longer to accomplish this. After a few hours, check the bottom of the sod to see if it is moist. If not, water more. If you make deep footprints, the sod is wet enough.

Our pricing is based on the square footage – the more you purchase, the bigger the discount. Give us a call at 574-232-6811 for a free quote based on your project measurements and we would be happy to give you pricing based on your project.

Basically, you use a tape measure or a measuring wheel and measure the area (length, width, any unusual features) and sketch it out. You can calculate the square footage or we can help you.  For more tips, check out THIS LINK on our website.

In terms of purchase pricing, over the past few years, we’ve talked to quite a few people who’ve gotten quotes for sod and hydroseed, and many times they’ve found that sod actually costs less or about the same. It never hurts to get a quote for both so you can make a better-informed decision. Give us a call at 574-232-6811 for a free quote based on your project measurements and we would be happy to give you pricing based on your project.

We highly recommend calling ahead, whether it’s 24 hours or more in advance or the same day.. Since sod is a perishable item, we cut it out of the field fresh-to-order, on-demand, and aim for 0% waste. There are times when we cannot cut sod due to weather or equipment issues. To avoid potentially wasting a trip and going home empty-handed, we recommend calling ahead and reserving your sod so there are surprises.

Typically, once you’ve called ahead to confirm when we can have your sod available, cut fresh-to-order on-demand out of one of our many different sod fields, FIRST you’ll drive on out to our Shop / Office located at 29435 Darden Road, New Carlisle, Indiana. When you come into our shop, you might be surprised to hear that you will NOT see shelves of perishable sod plants waiting for you. Here at the Shop, we’ll take care of payment and we’ll be happy to talk over any questions you have about your sod project and lawn care in general. Then, we’ll let our sod harvesting crew know you’ve arrived so they have a head’s up that you will be driving out to the field we recently cut your rolls of sod out of. You’ll receive verbal turn by turn instructions, along with a printed map with turn-by-turn instructions. Once you arrive to the field location where our crew is loading sod, we will usually prefer to load your order by using a forklift to place the pallet(s) into your vehicle. From there, you won’t need to handle your sod until you get home.

First, to cover how much sod fits in various vehicles without being too heavy, in general we find that:

  1. Small car 8-10 Rolls
  2. Big car / crossover / SUV  15 Rolls
  3. Small pickup truck 45 Rolls
  4. 1/2 ton truck 50 Rolls
  5. 3/4 ton truck 100 Rolls

Red Hen Turf Farm does not offer installation services. However, we do deliver (call for delivery quotes) and would be happy to refer you to one of our recommended landscapers that provide installation services in your area.

We typically find that we’d need 4-5 DAYS notice for delivery. Sometimes we can fit you sooner, and at our busiest points in the season we may be more like a week out.

Check out THIS ARTICLE we wrote on how to make your sod delivery go smoothly.

Both science and experience shows that typically in our region (Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan) the very best time to plant grass seed is between August 15 and September 15.  The second best time to do a seeding is in winter after the ground has frozen for the season. Spring is the third best time (unless your area has lots of trees, and then you may find spring is the best time since the leaves are off the trees and this provides more sunlight).  

On the other hand, turfgrass sod can be installed at anytime, according to most growers, and this would include placing it on frozen ground, if the sod is available.  However, laying sod during a dry, hot period will mean that you’ll need to plan on watering it a LOT more than if rain were more plentiful. The spring and the fall are the easiest times to lay sod because the cool temperatures help stimulate root growth and you’ll save a bit on extra watering needed to jumpstart the transplant process.. Summer sodding can be very successful if the condition of the soil and grass are watched carefully, though – and especially if you have a sprinkler system installed.

First, to cover how much sod fits in various vehicles without being too heavy, in general we find that:

  1. Small car 8-10 Rolls
  2. Big car / crossover / SUV  15 Rolls
  3. Small pickup truck 45 Rolls
  4. 1/2 ton truck 50 Rolls
  5. 3/4 ton truck 100 Rolls

If you’re site is prepared ahead of time, in general you should expect that 1 person would take about 1-1 ½ hours to install a single 500 sq ft pallet of sod. Areas that are harder to access or require a lot of cutting / fitting will take longer.

It’s not actually terribly hard at all.  There are few projects that are less technical or more forgiving than laying sod. If you follow the GREEN SIDE UP Rule, you should be just fine. You just pick up a roll lay it on the ground and unroll, making sure to “butt” the edges tight with no overlapping. Then start watering. It’s basically that easy. The harder part can often be preparing your site ahead of time.  For more details on preparing your site and installing, check out THIS LINK, and for more details on watering your sod once it’s installed, along with general care tips, check out THIS LINK.  The good news is that unlike tiling or installing carpet, sod will grows together and looks better each day.

Here’s where sod beats seeding every time — your sod is ready to be used instantly. The only concern is how soft the underlying soil is. Making deep footprints when the soil is soft won’t hurt the sod, but will make for an uneven lawn. If children or pets play and turn up a corner, just pat it back down.

The Planning
Stages FAQs

architecture landscape drawing

Yes. We sell sod directly to anyone who wants to buy it.

Red Hen Turf Farm is located about six miles west of the South Bend International Airport. Our address is 29435 Darden Road, New Carlisle, Indiana (Click here for a GOOGLE MAP LINK). We deliver sod to customers in Indiana and Michigan. Or you can pick up sod at our farm.

Sod is sold by the square foot, so calculating how much you need is as simple or hard as measuring your site. Be sure and order enough to account for trimming because we cannot deliver you another 500 sq feet for the same price we just delivered you 5000 sq feet. However, if you do under measure, you can pick sod up at our farm for the same price as we just delivered.

Yes!  Red Hen’s currently has two different choices for an INSTANT LAWN: Red Hen’s Kentucky Bluegrass Sod and Red Hen’s Turf-Type Tall Fescue Sod.  To dive into the differences between the two, check out THIS ARTICLE that we wrote.

Yes! We sell several varieties of grass seed, including the seed that matches our Kentucky Bluegrass Sod and our Tall Fescue Sod. We also sell a select range of fertilizers, herbicides, erosion control materials, and landscaping tools. In addition, we sell soil test kits that include Red Hen interpreting the results and helping you apply the information to your own yard’s needs.

For homeowners and DIYers, our Little Rolls of sod are 2 ft x 5 ft (10 sq ft), each roll weighing approximately 35-50 lbs depending on precipitation and irrigation.

For landscapers and other professionals, we also offer our Big Rolls of sod, which are 2.5 ft x 80 ft (200 sq ft). Big Rolls are very heavy and require special equipment to install. In addition, to order big roll sod, we require a special agreement and commercial certificate of insurance.

A “standard full pallet” is 50 rolls of sod, which covers 500 sq ft, and weighs approximately 1 ton.

Make the soil 1 ½ inch lower next to driveways and side walks so water will drain into the lawn. Make the soil ½ inch lower than the neighbors existing grass so the sod will be about the same height. Sprinkler heads should stick up about ½ inch.

Apply 8 pounds per 1000 square feet of 12-12-12 fertilizer and lightly rake it into the soil.

Pick the best place to start unrolling the sod that minimizes the amount you might have to carry. For example, if you will be sodding your entire lawn, start in the back and work to the front. If you are sodding part of your lawn, start in the front and work to the back until you run out of sod.

Start by unrolling the sod to make a straight line. For the next row, place a roll so it will unroll in the right direction a couple of inches away from the previous roll. Unroll it and slide the sod together. Do not overlap or leave gaps. Stagger the ends to avoid long seams.  On steep hills lay the sod sideways across the hill rather than up and down.

Do not roll the sod because rolling will compact the soil and make new root growth difficult. Outside edges of sod that do not butt up to anything should have a little soil raked up to the exposed edge to keep the edge from drying out.

Begin watering when you can do so without making a muddy mess in the areas to be sodded. Water each section long enough to apply ½ inch of water. It generally takes 30 minutes or longer to accomplish this. After a few hours, check the bottom of the sod to see if it is moist. If not, water more. If you make deep footprints, the sod is wet enough.

Our pricing is based on the square footage – the more you purchase, the bigger the discount. Give us a call at 574-232-6811 for a free quote based on your project measurements and we would be happy to give you pricing based on your project.

Basically, you use a tape measure or a measuring wheel and measure the area (length, width, any unusual features) and sketch it out. You can calculate the square footage or we can help you.  For more tips, check out THIS LINK on our website.

In terms of purchase pricing, over the past few years, we’ve talked to quite a few people who’ve gotten quotes for sod and hydroseed, and many times they’ve found that sod actually costs less or about the same. It never hurts to get a quote for both so you can make a better-informed decision. Give us a call at 574-232-6811 for a free quote based on your project measurements and we would be happy to give you pricing based on your project.

We highly recommend calling ahead, whether it’s 24 hours or more in advance or the same day.. Since sod is a perishable item, we cut it out of the field fresh-to-order, on-demand, and aim for 0% waste. There are times when we cannot cut sod due to weather or equipment issues. To avoid potentially wasting a trip and going home empty-handed, we recommend calling ahead and reserving your sod so there are surprises.

Typically, once you’ve called ahead to confirm when we can have your sod available, cut fresh-to-order on-demand out of one of our many different sod fields, FIRST you’ll drive on out to our Shop / Office located at 29435 Darden Road, New Carlisle, Indiana. When you come into our shop, you might be surprised to hear that you will NOT see shelves of perishable sod plants waiting for you. Here at the Shop, we’ll take care of payment and we’ll be happy to talk over any questions you have about your sod project and lawn care in general. Then, we’ll let our sod harvesting crew know you’ve arrived so they have a head’s up that you will be driving out to the field we recently cut your rolls of sod out of. You’ll receive verbal turn by turn instructions, along with a printed map with turn-by-turn instructions. Once you arrive to the field location where our crew is loading sod, we will usually prefer to load your order by using a forklift to place the pallet(s) into your vehicle. From there, you won’t need to handle your sod until you get home.

First, to cover how much sod fits in various vehicles without being too heavy, in general we find that:

  1. Small car 8-10 Rolls
  2. Big car / crossover / SUV  15 Rolls
  3. Small pickup truck 45 Rolls
  4. 1/2 ton truck 50 Rolls
  5. 3/4 ton truck 100 Rolls

Red Hen Turf Farm does not offer installation services. However, we do deliver (call for delivery quotes) and would be happy to refer you to one of our recommended landscapers that provide installation services in your area.

We typically find that we’d need 4-5 DAYS notice for delivery. Sometimes we can fit you sooner, and at our busiest points in the season we may be more like a week out.

Check out THIS ARTICLE we wrote on how to make your sod delivery go smoothly.

Both science and experience shows that typically in our region (Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan) the very best time to plant grass seed is between August 15 and September 15.  The second best time to do a seeding is in winter after the ground has frozen for the season. Spring is the third best time (unless your area has lots of trees, and then you may find spring is the best time since the leaves are off the trees and this provides more sunlight).  

On the other hand, turfgrass sod can be installed at anytime, according to most growers, and this would include placing it on frozen ground, if the sod is available.  However, laying sod during a dry, hot period will mean that you’ll need to plan on watering it a LOT more than if rain were more plentiful. The spring and the fall are the easiest times to lay sod because the cool temperatures help stimulate root growth and you’ll save a bit on extra watering needed to jumpstart the transplant process.. Summer sodding can be very successful if the condition of the soil and grass are watched carefully, though – and especially if you have a sprinkler system installed.

First, to cover how much sod fits in various vehicles without being too heavy, in general we find that:

  1. Small car 8-10 Rolls
  2. Big car / crossover / SUV  15 Rolls
  3. Small pickup truck 45 Rolls
  4. 1/2 ton truck 50 Rolls
  5. 3/4 ton truck 100 Rolls

If you’re site is prepared ahead of time, in general you should expect that 1 person would take about 1-1 ½ hours to install a single 500 sq ft pallet of sod. Areas that are harder to access or require a lot of cutting / fitting will take longer.

It’s not actually terribly hard at all.  There are few projects that are less technical or more forgiving than laying sod. If you follow the GREEN SIDE UP Rule, you should be just fine. You just pick up a roll lay it on the ground and unroll, making sure to “butt” the edges tight with no overlapping. Then start watering. It’s basically that easy. The harder part can often be preparing your site ahead of time.  For more details on preparing your site and installing, check out THIS LINK, and for more details on watering your sod once it’s installed, along with general care tips, check out THIS LINK.  The good news is that unlike tiling or installing carpet, sod will grows together and looks better each day.

Here’s where sod beats seeding every time — your sod is ready to be used instantly. The only concern is how soft the underlying soil is. Making deep footprints when the soil is soft won’t hurt the sod, but will make for an uneven lawn. If children or pets play and turn up a corner, just pat it back down.

The Planning
Stages FAQs

Call for Current Hours:
1-800-359-8035

29435 Darden Rd        New Carlisle, IN 46552     1-800-359-8035

29435 Darden Rd        New Carlisle, IN
1-800-359-8035