Rainy Day Reminder!

What better opportunity than a rainy day to remind everyone the importance of proper irrigation, both for new sod and established lawns!

New sod

Immediately after you install your sod, soak it until it is saturated 2 inches below the soil surface. In the next 10 days to 2 weeks, keep the sod and the soil underneath damp, but not soggy. Depending on your sprinklers and weather, you will need to water 10-15 minutes, once or twice a day, possibly even as many as four times a day. Be sure to keep an eye on it – a melted chocolate consistency is key.

After the sod roots at about 10 days to 2 weeks, you should work toward watering only once or twice a week, maybe three times. This transition can take a couple months while the root system establishes and grows deeper into the soil. Note that some soil types in the Treasure Valley will always require more frequent irrigation due to faster drainage. If your sod turns silver or brown, water more! If it turns yellow and mushrooms pop up, water less!

Established lawns

The best way to water established lawns is via deep irrigation – one long set per week if possible, though our hot weather months might dictate twice weekly. Deep irrigation drives roots farther down into the soil, protecting the turf from extreme temperatures and disease.

Depending on your soil and exposure, 2-3 inches of water per week is satisfactory. Just like new sod, if it turns silver or brown, water more – if it turns yellow, water less.

In addition to a drink, your lawn needs a bite to eat, too! We recommend Triple Pro 15, which is a great all-purpose, homogenized fertilizer that should be applied 4 times a year over the growing season. And, we sell it at our shop! If you ever have questions or concerns about sod, feel free to give us a call or stop on by!

Triple digits = more water!


As temperatures reach triple digits in the Treasure Valley it is more important than ever to adequately irrigate newly installed sod.

Below are a few tips to give your new sod the best chances of survival:

  • Install sod immediately after delivery or pickup. The longer the pallet sits in the blazing sun, the faster it starts to decompose inside the rolls and dry out the outside of the rolls. This stresses the turf further, changing the color and decreasing the chances of survival.

  • Dampen the soil prior to laying the sod. Lightly water the sod as you install it, every 200-300 square feet.

  • After fully installed, drench every square foot of fresh sod so that the soil below the sod is muddy 2-3 inches down. It should be so wet that you can’t walk on it. NOTE: People and animals must stay off the sod until it fully roots — about 10 days to 2 weeks.

  • In temperatures above 90 degrees, and especially above 100, you will likely need to water the sod 2-3 times, maybe even 4 times a day until it roots. All soil types, yard grades and irrigation systems vary. Some yards require more water than others.

  • Carefully watch your sod in the few days following installation. If you see yellowing occur, that is likely too much water. If you see brown, silver/grey or purple tints, that likely means not enough water. Adjust accordingly.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or email our office at (208) 467-5106 or [email protected].

MARCH 2020: We are open; Estamos abiertas


Para leer en español, vea abajo.

NAMPA, Idaho — March 31, 2020 – McKellip Sod Farm will remain open for business for the foreseeable future.

As we navigate this uncertain territory, our first priority is the health and well-being of our employees and customers. As such, we have implemented practices to help keep our community as safe and healthy as possible as the COVID-19 illness continues to spread.

For example, our sales office will be staffed, but only open to in-person customers for necessary interactions. Customer receipts will be emailed and mailed and payment will be taken over the phone where possible. Customers will still need to come to our shop location like always to pick up sod.

As defined in Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s Statewide Stay-Home Order last week, farming and most areas of construction are considered essential services. This means our farm and many of our landscape contractors can remain open.

Because we are a diversified farm that raises sod, seed and grain corn, wheat and mint, the nature of our work allows our employees to carry out their daily responsibilities while maintaining proper distance. Most of our employees do not directly interact with the customers and work in relative solitude outside or operating machinery, irrigating and preparing the farm for spring planting.

We will continue to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations, as well as local and state guidelines to monitor this uncertain and ever-changing situation.

For more information regarding McKellip Sod Farm’s status during this time, do not hesitate to contact us.

Website: www.McSod.com

Office: (208) 467-5106

[email protected] Nick: (208) 965-3105, [email protected]

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NAMPA, Idaho — 30 de marzo de 2020 — McKellip Sod Farm permanecerá abierta mientras un nuevo aviso.

Mientras navegamos por este territorio incierto, nuestra primera prioridad es la salud y el bienestar de nuestros empleados y clientes. Como tal, hemos implementado unos prodecimientos para ayudar a mantener a nuestra comunidad lo más segura y saludable posible a medida que la enfermedad de COVID-19 continúa esparciendo.

Con ese fin, tendremos a unos miembros de personal en nuestra oficina de ventas, pero solamente estarán disponibles a clientes en persona para las interacciones necesarias. Los recibos de los clientes serán enviados por correo electrónico y/o por correo, y se puede hacer un pago por teléfono cuando que sea posible. Pero aún, los clientes tendrán que venir a nuestra tienda en persona para recoger el césped, como siempre.

En las aclaraciones de la orden estatal a refugiarse en casa que emitió este jueves el gobernador de Idaho Brad Little, se aclaró que la agricultura y la mayoría de los trabajos en el campo de construcción se consideran como “servicios esenciales”. Esto significa que nuestra granja puede permanecer abierta y muchos de nuestros contratistas de jardinería pueden seguir trabajando.

Como somos una granja que cultiva una diversidad de productos, tales como césped, semillas y granos de maíz, trigo, y menta, la rutina ordinaria de nuestro trabajo ya permitía que nuestros empleados lleven a cabo sus responsabilidades diarias mientras se mantienen la distancia adecuada. La mayoría de nuestros empleados no interactúan directamente con los clientes, sino que trabajan afuera con poca interacción con personas, u operando maquinaria, trabajando en el riego y preparando la granja para la siembra de primavera.

Continuaremos siguiendo las recomendaciones de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC), y también las sugerencias de las administraciones locales y estatales para monitorear esta situación incierta que sigue desarrollando cada día más.

Para obtener más información sobre el estado de McKellip Sod Farm durante este tiempo, no dude en contactarnos. 

Website: www.McSod.com

Oficina: (208) 467-5106, [email protected] 

Nick: (208) 965-3105, [email protected] 

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JANUARY 2019: We’re hiring!

 

McKellip Sod Farm is searching for an organized and experienced professional to provide support and assistance in the farm’s brand new office.

We are looking for an individual with a demonstrated track record of responsibility, organization and exceptional customer service. He or she will be responsible for answering phones and voicemail, processing customer orders, office organization and filing and regular communication with key farm employees regarding customer orders, pick-ups and deliveries. This position reports to the sales and marketing manager and the owners of McKellip Sod Farm.

This position is full-time seasonal (approximately middle of February until early December) and does not offer benefits. Compensation DOE. Hours are generally Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and some Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon. The opportunity for additional hours, responsibilities and duties is available for the perfect candidate.

Minimum qualifications

Have exceptional customer service and organizational skills, as well as integrity and professionalism

Proven ability to multitask at a high level and remain calm under sometimes hectic situations

Excellent written and verbal (in-person and over the phone) communication skills

Expert proficiency in Microsoft Office and QuickBooks

Overall computer literacy

High school diploma or equivalent

Desired qualifications

Bilingual (English and Spanish)

Previous work/professional experience in a secretarial or administrative assistant role

Completed college level courses, certifications or degrees in management, business, communications, etc.

To apply, submit a resume and a cover letter to Nick Groff at [email protected].

If you have any questions, please contact Nick at the aforementioned email address.