Country Garden Farms

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Visit us in Palmer!
Thanks to all of our great customers for a fantastic season. We're closed for the season for sod but have summer hay in stock and are currently accepting new manure exchange customers.
View Country Garden Farms in a larger map with location addresses & hours

About Country Gardens
A family owned and operated farm in Palmer, Alaska, Country Garden Farms continues the harvest of high-quality sod, endeavors to keep local farmland in production of hay and other crops, and expands nursery and native plant growing capacity each season. We challenge ourselves to provide our customers with high quality products and services, create jobs for local young adults, and engage in dialogue about agriculture and landscape while preserving the abundant natural resources of our land.

Country Gardens' sod farm: closed for winter!
Check back with us in 2011 for direct sales of Alaska's best locally grown sod. Prices and opening dates will be posted here in April-May.
We grow and sell 100% Nugget Kentucky Bluegrass turf and are the leading producer of sod for Alaska. We produce sod in accordance with Turfgrass Producers International specifications, available at turfgrasssod.org.

Each smallroll measures 18" by 50" and weighs approximately 40 pounds; weight varies depending on moisture. There are 64 rolls per pallet weighing about 2000 pounds. Each pallet of small rolls contains approximately 400 square feet (64 rolls). You do not have to buy full pallets. We want to know the square feet you need to cover and will provide enough rolls for that area rounded to the next full roll. Pallets cost $25 each, to be refunded when returned in good condition.

Our sod weighs about 5 to 6 pounds per square foot depending on moisture. Large rolls are harvested as one piece of 100 square feet (2 ft. by 50 ft.) and can be cut into small pieces of almost any length. Just cut through to the center of the roll to create several small pieces. This makes even the largest rolls movable by hand or with a Bobcat or other small loader.
To measure area for turf, multiply length by width to get square feet. For triangles, multiply length by width and divide by 2 to get square feet. Use the "as-built" survey of your lot, if you have it, for dimensions.

We have wonderful new summer hay in our barn! This first cutting produced low-moisture brome, and we hope the weather will improve so that we can provide our customers with more hay.

Whether you're feeding goats or Guernseys, we can provide palatable, nutritious, locally grown hay and straw, available in Palmer or Anchorage by appointment. During the fall and summer, we carry brome and timothy hay in large and small square bales as well as barley straw from Delta.
Looking for something you don't see here? Just let us know, and we'll do our best to connect you to a local source.

Delivery service for sod and hay can be arranged anywhere in Alaska. Country Garden Farms can deliver from the Mat-Su Valley to South Anchorage: when you order, just request a price estimate for your location. Carlile is familiar with our products and is our recommended shipper: reach them at (907) 276-7797.

Looking for a better way to dispose of manure? Need to save space around your stable? Concerned about water quality in your area? Consider Country Garden Farms' unique manure bagging program.
Country Gardens manure exchange saves you time and money by eliminating extra handling and transport costs. Because we compost your manure, waste stays out of the landfill, provides much-needed compost to local farmers, landscapers, and gardeners, and reduces the import of outside products and invasive weeds.
In addition, when you have hay delivered with manure pick-up, you save shipping and handling costs and receive choice feed for your horses:: large and small square bales are available.
Moveable, lightweight racks made of aluminum are installed in a convenient location. A sturdy, 36 by 36 by 36 nylon bag is hung from the rack and is ready to fill. When manure bags are full, a pick up date and time are scheduled, and filled bags of manure are picked up with a forklift, stacked on a truck, and taken to Palmer to be composted. In winter when manure transport would ordinarily be difficult, even frozen bags can be transported, avoiding messy spring thawing.

Bag holder setup with bags and pallets is $200.
Contact us for a customized quote or for more information about our program and services.
Because Country Gardens is a locally-owned family business, we look forward to developing systems and equipment for the unique conditions at your home or facility in Anchorage or the Mat-Su Valley.

Did your neighbor's yard suddenly turn from a muddy mess to a scenic expanse of healthy grass? Chances are that Country Gardens made it happen: no other landscaping product transforms like turfgrass, and no one knows how to install sod better than the farm that nurtures the sod to harvest. We can also recommend landscaping firms that buy our sod and install it.
If you're dreading a summer of mud in your home and want to have a beautiful instant lawn this spring, never fear! Our years of experience all over Alaska have shown that sod can be installed as soon as it is available in late May. If you have soil prepared and ready or are still thinking about your project, just contact us for an estimate.
Interested in adding trees, cement block, wood chips, or soil-enriching compost to your landscape? Check out our products and prices on the items that enhance that spectacular sod.

The most important part of sod installation is preparation of the soil: we'll start there.
For areas that are not covered already, make sure any rocks are removed and that tree roots will not poke up through the sod or create tripping hazards. Areas with existing grass or weeds present a few more dilemmas. Options include renting a hand sod cutter to remove large areas of failed grass (we don't have one for rental, but Anchorage and valley companies do: check the phone book for equipment rental), adding topsoil over existing grass to smooth the surface, or using chemical controls to kill grass or weeds before you begin. All these techniques aim for a uniform surface that can support users of the area and the grass plants.
If you had grass die or languish in the area where you will be installing sod, be sure to check the pH of the soil and/or contact a Cooperative Extension agent about the growing conditions to make sure there are no underlying soil chemistry problems that would keep sod from thriving.

Make sure you have plenty of good-quality topsoil (4-6 inches). We use a string level, landscaping rakes, garden rakes, a screed board, and a water-filled roller, plus some elbow grease, to make sure the grade of the area to be sodded is sloped appropriately and that the soil is as smooth as possible. We rent rakes and rollers to customers who request them: just ask!
Stretch string between stakes, attach the level, and check to see if you have low or high areas and that the grade is directed the way you'd like drainage to flow, most importantly away from buildings. Use the landscaping and garden rakes to move soil from high areas to low areas. Roll the soil in several directions to make sure soil is uniformly firm. If soil is left loose, air pockets will settle later, leaving a lumpy surface that's hard to repair without removing the sod. Continue to check grade, rake, and roll until the surface is smooth. On a properly prepared site, you can walk across the dirt without leaving deep footprints.
With good topsoil, you shouldn't have to put lime or fertilizer down before you install sod, and the sod is delivered in great condition so that you don't have to fertilize unless you want to. Many of our customers mix a small amount of lime and 22-11-11 or 16-16-16 fertilizer into the top layer of soil to give their new lawn an extra boost.
Now you're ready to install the sod. Start with the longest straight line you have: use the string and stakes to lay your first line of sod rolls on a straight line if needed. Sod rolls are cut at a slight angle: lay the rolls out with the outer flap pointing the same direction throughout the yard, and the cuts will overlap enough to conceal the seams between the rolls. Be sure to stagger the seams of the rolls: no 4 corners together, like bricks.
If you need to trim pieces to fit curved areas or places where you need a narrower strip, use a steak knife or other serrated knife to cut the sod. Avoid leaving pieces smaller than your lawnmower's deck: they can get pulled up in the suction of the lawnmower and cut off if mowed before the sod roots down. To fill in a gap at the end of a row, slide a whole roll to the edge of the row and place a smaller piece in the gap to make sure the small piece is protected.
Many customers are used to rolling sod again once it's installed: we don't recommend you do this because rolling is extra work and is not necessary.
When you're all done (hooray!) be sure to water your new lawn: using a sprinkler or hose, put enough water on to thoroughly soak the soil but not so much that soil gets muddy. Depending on the weather, you should water deeply (1" to 2" of water, measured in a rain gauge) about once a week.

Help! My dog tore up my yard, I have brown circles everywhere, and I need to patch some areas. How do I replace dead grass?

Our tough three-year-old sod is perfect for patching. Simply contact us with the approximate area of sod you'll need or stop by one of our sales locations to pick up a few rolls.
When you get home, dig out the affected areas with a flat shovel about an inch deep with straight sides, lay the sod over the hole, cut the sod with a serrated knife to create a patch, and water your newly-placed sod generously.
The patch should root down within 10 days to 2 weeks: keep the offending dog off the area while the roots form, and your grass should be good as new.
If dog urine killed your grass, be sure to sprinkle some lime on the soil before you place the sod to correct the acidic pH.

Country Gardens sells primarily 100% Nugget Kentucky Bluegrass.
We sometimes have substandard sod available at reduced prices. Just call and ask for B-grade sod if you don't mind the occasional clover or timothy plant.
We also have utility sod for erosion control available at reduced cost.

Sod is generally available from June 1 through September depending on weather and demand.

We sell at installed prices as well as do it yourself.
Please see our turfgrass sod page for details. Very large orders are quoted. Please call if you need a specific quote.

For best results, sod needs 3" to 5" of packed topsoil.
Soil test is recommended to bring pH and fertility to optimum levels. See a fertilizer retailer or the University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service for recommendations.
Grass killed by animal urine will likely need to be replaced. Place a new piece of sod over the affected area and cut out the outline with a serrated knife or flat shovel. Dig up the affected area about 3 inches deep and replace with new soil leaving room for the new sod to match the surrounding area. Place the new sod and water to re-hydrate.

Your lawn may have grasses other than Nugget Kentucky Bluegrass, but if you water and fertilize them alike, usually the color will be very similar.

You can order sod by calling Country Gardens at 344-2088 in Anchorage, 745-0800 in the Valley or email 2 0 1 0 sales (at) countrygardenfarms.com.
Call us as soon as you know you'll be ready for the sod: if that's in two days or two months, we'll do our best to get the sod to you when you need it. We may not be able to fill orders placed within 48 hours of delivery.
To load your vehicle at the site, be prepared to tie down. Cover sod if possible. Rolls can shift when a truck or trailer moves.

For best results, install sod immediately. Usually two or three days will not hurt. Large rolls will deteriorate more quickly.

Unroll sod onto prepared area, staggering joints. On hillsides, lay sod horizontally or crosswise, and stake with lathe (cut stakes off below surface to prevent injuries) or turf staples.

Soak sod well with water when first installed but do not make soil muddy, then water like an established lawn. When watering new sod on a hillside, do not let water run unattended or soil and sod may slide downhill.
To mow new sod that has not rooted down, throttle down or raise mower blades to prevent pulling up the edges of the sod. Be sure to keep dogs or other digging animals off until the grass is well rooted.
Fertilize with 16-16-16 or 22-11-11 or as recommended by soil test.
If new sod needs to match existing bluegrass lawn, fertilize and water both established and new lawn similarly.

My neighbor's dandelions and clover have moved over into my yard! How do I get rid of weeds?

There will always be weeds, especially if weeds are not removed from existing lawn or subsoil, but numerous herbicides can control a problem if used according to their label, and of course you can pull the weeds as well.

Nugget Kentucky Bluegrass is shade-tolerant and will thrive with good soil conditions and water even in shady areas, provided they get at least some indirect light. If existing grass in a shady area died, be sure to test your soil to determine the cause. Most grasses are so hardy that pH or other soil or water issues are the usual suspects when grass doesn't grow well, not too much shade.

We will be planting more trees on the new farm.
Please let us know if there is a particular type of tree or plant that you would like to have available in the future.

We harvest timothy and brome hay from our fields. This hay usually contains a small amount of other native grasses and a minimum of weeds.

All of our hay comes from the state of Alaska. The hay is from our fields, and the straw is from a barley farmer in Delta.

We do installations and can quote you a price after a free estimate of your particular space. Contact us to schedule an appointment. If we can't take on your particular project (though we'd like to!) we can also recommend excavators and landscapers in your area that we trust to install our sod properly for a quality lawn and gorgeous landscape.

We can fill a pickup truck-sized load of topsoil on appointment in Palmer, though we do not have a large loader for dump trucks.

Country Gardens Sod ("CGS") is committed to respecting your privacy and recognizes your need for appropriate protection and management of any personally identifiable information ("Personal Information") you share with us, whether online or by other means.
CGS has established this Privacy Policy so that you can understand the care with which we intend to treat your Personal Information.
Personal Information means any information that may be used to identify an individual, including, but not limited to, a first and last name, a home or other physical address and an email address or other contact information, whether at work or at home. In general, you can visit Country Gardens Sod's Web pages without telling us who you are or revealing any Personal Information about yourself.
If you choose to provide us with your Personal Information on the Web, by mail or by other means, we may transfer that Information within CGS or to CGS's third-party service providers, across borders, and from your country or jurisdiction to other countries or jurisdictions around the world.
CGS strives to comply with all applicable laws around the globe that are designed to protect your privacy. Although legal requirements may vary from country to country, CGS intends to adhere to the principles set forth in this Privacy Policy even if, in connection with the above, we transfer your Personal Information from your country to countries that may not require an "adequate" level of protection for your Personal Information. In other words, our goal is to provide protection for your Personal Information no matter where that Personal Information is collected, transferred, or retained.
Cookies and Other Tracking Technologies
Some of our Web pages utilize "cookies" and other tracking technologies. A "cookie" is a small text file that may be used, for example, to collect information about Web site activity. Some cookies and other technologies may serve to recall Personal Information previously indicated by a Web user. Most browsers allow you to control cookies, including whether or not to accept them and how to remove them.
You may set most browsers to notify you if you receive a cookie, or you may choose to block cookies with your browser, but please note that if you choose to erase or block your cookies, you will need to re-enter your original user ID and password to gain access to certain parts of the Web site.
Tracking technologies may record information such as Internet domain and host names; Internet protocol (IP) addresses; browser software and operating system types; click stream patterns; and dates and times that our site is accessed. Our use of cookies and other tracking technologies allows us to improve our Web site and your Web experience. We may also analyze information that does not contain Personal Information for trends and statistics.
To protect your privacy, we have adopted the following principles:

Where CGS collects Personal Information on the web, we intend to post a purpose statement that explains why Personal Information will be collected and whether we plan to share such Personal Information outside of CGS or those working on CGS's behalf. CGS does not intend to transfer Personal Information without your consent to third parties who are not bound to act on CGS's behalf unless such transfer is legally required.

You may choose whether or not to provide Personal Information to CGS. The notice we intend to provide where CGS collects Personal Information on the Web should help you to make this choice. If you choose not to provide the Personal Information we request, you can still visit most of CGS's Web sites, but you may be unable to access certain options, offers, and services that involve our interaction with you.
If you chose to have a relationship with CGS, such as a contractual or other business relationship or partnership, we will naturally continue to contact you in connection with that business relationship.

Wherever your Personal Information may be held within CGS or on its behalf, we intend to take reasonable and appropriate steps to protect the Personal Information that you share with us from unauthorized access or disclosure.

To the extent that you do provide us with Personal Information, CGS wishes to maintain accurate Personal Information. Where we collect Personal Information from you on the Web, our goal is to provide a means of contacting CGS should you need to update or correct that Information. If for any reason those means are unavailable or inaccessible, you may send updates and corrections about your Personal Information to bill@countrygardesod.com and we will make reasonable efforts to incorporate the changes in your Personal Information that we hold as soon as practicable.
Third Party Services

CGS does not intend to transfer Personal Information without your consent to third parties who are not bound to act on CGS's behalf unless such transfer is legally required. Similarly, it is against CGS's policy to sell Personal Information collected online without consent.

Countrygardensod.com is not structured to attract children. Accordingly, we do not intend to collect Personal Information from anyone we know to be under 13 years of age.

We are committed to privacy, and CGS's Web sites are constantly evolving to meet these demands. If you have any comments or questions regarding our Privacy Policy, please contact us at 2009sales@countrygardenfarms.com. While we cannot guarantee privacy perfection, we will address any issue to the best of our abilities as soon as possible.

By using the CGS Web site or CGS products, you consent to the terms of our Privacy Policy and to CGS's processing of Personal Information for the purposes given above as well as those explained where CGS collects Personal Information on the Web. Should the Privacy Policy change, we intend to take every reasonable step to ensure that these changes are brought to your attention by posting all changes prominently on our web site for a reasonable period of time.