A Tradition of Sod at Hoerr Nursery Home of Hardy Turf ® Sod

Hoerr Nursery has been in the sod business for decades.  D. A. Hoerr started his company in 1926 and much of his early business was to sod customers.

Originally D.A. cut sod from pastures with a butcher knife. Later, he and his sons, John, Ralph (Rudy) and Jim, fashioned hand-equipment to cut sod. The first tool was similar to a hand-plow. Twin parallel wooden shafts had a heavy roller bar at the front end, with a sharp blade (similar to a lawn mower blade) about 15" up the shafts. Another 15" up the shafts was a wooden bar - a kick bar. The operator would kick the wooden bar to force the blade through the sod. Recently, Jim Hoerr mentioned that his dad, D.A., had many hip problems later in life and Jim figured it was from all those years kicking the manual sod-cutter through the sod.  Jim also mentioned that the manual sod cutters are still used today in certain situations where grass has to be removed from a narrow area.

The sod business has benefited from innovations in equipment and agricultural techniques, but for Hoerr Nursery -- the company that D.A. Hoerr founded 80 years ago -- the core of the business remains an exceptionally high quality product, with tender loving care from the growing team and superior customer service throughout the entire relationship.  The product is so unique that it is trademarked as Hardy Turf® Sod. It is available for residential and commercial applications from Hoerr Nursery, 309-691-4561.

The following is adapted from an interview with a manager in Sod products, Hoerr Nursery, Peoria, Illinois.

• How many total acres of sod does Hoerr Nursery grow?
  • "600 acres at the present time. We have had upwards of 740 ac. in the past. We can turn a crop of sod in 13 to 18 months depending on the severity of winter and natural rainfall."
• Where are the Hoerr Nursery sod fields? How much sod is cut daily?
  • "The fields are in Kickapoo, Peoria, and other farms from time to time.  About 8000-12000 yds are cut per day during May and June.  For our customers, sod is cut every day. We know that once sod is cut, it can deteriorate rapidly, particularly in the heat, and particularly if it is not carefully tended. That's one of the many differences between getting sod at a place where they specialize in growing fine sod, and from a big box store where it is shipped in and sits around."
• What makes the sod look so great? Why is it the preferred sod?
  • "Experience is the key. This spring's thunderstorms and lightning have provided a lot of free Nitrogen plus our soils are kept at an optimum fertility level through soil tests and cultural practices which are our secrets. Rain makes grain and it makes sod too."
• How many blades are there on the mowing machine? How long does it take to mow? How many people are entirely dedicated to mowing?
  • "9 blades per mower. 3 mowers with 3 men. They are mowing over 600 acres at least twice a week. The sod fields we are harvesting in June get mowed every other day during the heavy rush."
• What is the seed Hoerr Nursery uses for sod? Can a retail customer buy this same seed mix?
  • "Our mix is 100% Kentucky Bluegrass. Customers can't buy the same exact mix, but can come pretty close with our Professional mix or Scott's sun mix. There are 13 types of bluegrass and over 170 different varieties available to sod producers. We choose the latest cultivars available that exhibit the deep rich color, texture and disease resistance that we want, as well as growing characteristics such as spring green-up and summer heat tolerance."
• After the sod is cut, is it replanted immediately?
  • "August and early September are seeding times. If a field has to lay fallow for a few months before reseeding we plant a cover crop of soybeans to provide soil tilth and organic matter."
• Do you have to do anything extra to the soil before replanting?
  • "Compaction is our worst enemy in turf production. Our cultural practices and machinery used allows for air and water to get down into the root zone. Seed bed preparation is CRUCIAL and does take more time than row crop ag production."
• Did we ever install sod at Busch Stadium?
  • "We used to take sod to the St. Louis Arch every summer back in the 90's but never Busch stadium."
• Anything else about sod you want to mention?
  • "D. A. Hoerr, and now that the business is called Hoerr Nursery, has been in the sod business long before it was a business. This company has seen many changes over the years and has been a pacesetter in the industry from the beginning. Some of the biggest changes are the automation of sod cutting and irrigation as well as portable forklifts for unloading. We are the largest producer in the state outside the Chicago and St. Louis area. We have the capacity to sell over 1 million yards every year unless restricted by severe drought. Our drivers have many years of service with the company and are very good at what they do. Our repeat customer base is second to none. The service and convenience we provide adds exceptional value to every customer who patronizes us."

What is sod?
Most people have some idea of what sod is. (Although this idea may be vague; the other day a customer at Hoerr Nursery asked for "some of that rolled-up grass.") Sod has a long tradition in the USA.
And, although it might seem pretty simple (soil and grass), sod is a sophisticated blend of science, experience, tender loving care, marketing, and, as with any crop, the trials and tribulations of dealing with Mother Nature.
Sod is grass turf. Sod includes the grass on top and the part of the soil beneath the grass which is held together by the roots. Sod is cut in strips and generally laid in a "brick-type" pattern on prepared soil.

It is interesting to note that in the Midwest, sod was cut in blocks and used as a building material for homes and out-buildings. With a shortage of other building materials (like wood) using sod to build homes was not only thrifty, but an ingenious solution in the grasslands for finding a bountiful resource that would help insulate a building and provide structural integrity for decades. Sometimes called "soddies," these homes could last for years and were fitted with regular windows and doors. Many early photographs of families on the plains featured them standing in front of their "soddie" home.