Nu-Turf Sod, a Great Garden Supplier

Nu-Turf is not fancy. It's a man's man sort of garden supplier. It's large, it has acres of trees and shrubs, 7 acres to be exact and it's got a huge supply of sand, mulch, rock and garden tools. Nu Turf has been in business since 1973. They offer fertilizers, pesticides and organic product. It's not a pretty girlie place but if you're serious about gardening or are in the gardening business this is a great place to spend some time.

They will steer you around if you need help There are little golf carts to help you cruise through the vast lanes of plants and trees. You're driver can answer any questions you have. I discussed organic fertilizers with my driver as we went to check on some Xanadu plants for my walkway. I started landscaping our house in Florida and as a Northerner was really unaware of the incredible tropical affect on plants here. I over planted. Everything became enormous so I've had to go back in, rethink my plans and do alot of reading. Tropicals here seem to literally grow overnight. I've continuously marvelled at my grasses. I put in lemon grass that cost about $1.29 and came in a tiny 4 or 5 inch planter and watched as each morning when I went out I had at least several inches of growth. It now otwers over me and I'm still constantly cutting it back. It's become a family joke.

I put in Lantana and realized it smelled like cat pee. Out it went. Now I stop in at Nu Turf and check out information before I plant anything. They will fill you in on the benefits of organic fertilizing with neem oil so you don't burn your plant roots. They will suggest you buy your mulch in bulk and go for the red dyed recycled wood mulch. It has iron in it and iron will stunt your weed growth. You can choose other mulch by the bag but the red is the way to go. It's cheaper to by in bulk.

Nu Turf offers No float, No float red and Cypress Chip mulch. Cypress is a bug deterrant. They carry Pine bark as well. Mulch in general feeds your soil and encourgages good worms and beneficial organisms. Nu Turf has a complete selection of rock to use as mulch or as a decorative touch in your garden . Rock costs more at first but doesn't disintegrate. It holds up in wind and rain and comes in white or pink marble, Chatahoochie, which can be used around pools , laval rock, cap rock , crimson and salt and pepper rock. It depends on your taste and wallet.

They sell concrete and lawn sand as well as compost, all in bulk. You can buy those by the 1/2 cubic or full cubic yard and they will deliver if you don't have a truck. Their bulk soil is a muck, sand, soil combination 50-30-20 which is a beautiful soil to work with much better than 50-50 the usual soil you will find at landscape suppliers. Your plants will only be as good as your soil is and we have very sandy soil here in FLorida. The compost is mushroom based.

If you need herbs or cacti, orchids, perennials or annuals come here. They offer wonderful prices on flats of annuals. The herb selection is good and they carry all your basic herbs and a few unusual ones. The orchids are a decent selection but you have to go to a place that specialilzes in orchids if you're looking for anything really rare.

Park outfront, there's ample parking. You can peruse the plants set out front and then enter the areas to the left or right. To the left are garden tools, Chimineas, birdhouses and decorative garden ornaments. There are some to the right as well. There are really large urns and planters in this area and then further on the orchids and hanging plants. If you head out back this is where you will see the acres of trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals and shelves of herbs. Give yourself plenty of time there's a lot to see.