Turf
I get more questions about grass than any other area of my business. And the best way to learn about grass is to read up on the differences between cold weather and warm weather grasses. In Charlotte we are considered zone 7b, which makes fescue very hard to keep happy when it gets hot and humid. In the summer folks tend to overwater(see irrigation) which creates fungus which then requires tons of chemicals to treat. Just knowing what you are getting into will make you much happier with your choice in the long run. The product library at Super Sod provides great information to help you choose the grass that is right for you.
Irrigation
Irrigation is the bane of my existence. I simply hate it, and yet people have become so dependent upon it that they think it will magically keep all their shrubs, trees and planters happy year round. I believe it can be super helpful if you monitor your system and manage the running times and duration based on the season and rainfall. My first piece of advice is learn how to operate your system. Let me repeat that…..learn how to operate your system. Second, educate yourself on how much water turf, shrubs and trees really require. To that end, here are a few links: watering turf, watering shrubs and trees.