By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Texas students in grades 6-12 learned about how turfgrass is grown, maintained and harvested during the first fall session of Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Farm From School program.

This month, Caroline Krenek, a Wharton County turfgrass farmer, virtually taught the students about growing sod and preparing it for customers.

Krenek and her family operate Horizon Grass Farms, a sod farm with over 6,000 acres. Her family has been farming since 1978.

They grow Bermudagrass, St. Augustine and Zoysia, along with several other grass varieties.

She explained the grasses they grow thrive during warm weather but become dormant as temperatures cool.

“Right now, the grass is green, which is going to be normal because we’re in the warm seasons,” Krenek said. “In the cool seasons, you’ll notice the grass gets brown. It’s not dead, it’s just dormant because this is a warm-season grass.”

The grass begins turning green again when temperatures warm in the spring.

Krenek also discussed the differences between the varieties and how that impacts production.

“There is a big difference between varieties, starting with planting,” she said. “How you plant impacts the choice and even the size of the farm.”

Each variety requires different mowing, maintenance and water amounts.

“The mower stays running continuously,” Krenek said. “Most are mowed on average one-and-a-half times a week. St. Augustine gets mowed a little bit higher. Bermuda is cut with a wider blade, and Zoysia is mowed with a fine blade.”

Irrigation is another important part of production. The sod is grown on fields known as “turtlebacks,” which are designed with a raised center and drainage ditches along the edges to help manage water.

When the sod is ready, it is harvested using specialized equipment called a FireFly.

The students asked Krenek various questions about what happens after the sod is harvested to how long it survives on the pallets.

The turfgrass can be found on lawns, golf courses, commercial properties or sports fields.

“A lot of our turf grass does go to Home Depot and Lowe’s,” she said. “Customers can just go to Home Depot and Lowe’s and get you a few squares there if you just needed to fill in a small area.”

During the farm’s busiest season of the year, Krenek said they sell 100 to 120 loads of turfgrass a day.

More information about Farm From School

Sign up for the Spring 2027 program will open in October.

Click here for more information about the Farm From School program.

Visit texasfarmbureau.org/aitc for more information and the latest announcements on TFB’s Agriculture in the Classroom® activities.