Subchapter L. SOD
GENERAL PROVISIONS Sec.
115.311. Purpose.
115.312. Prior use of land.
115.313. Inspection.
115.314. Units of certification.
115.315. Isolation.
INSPECTIONS
115.321. Preplanting.
115.322. Optional inspections.
115.323. Length of validity of inspections.
115.324. [Reserved].
FIELD STANDARDS
115.331. Age of field.
115.332. Maximum field tolerances.
115.333. Pests.
115.334. Quality of product.
115.335. Labeling requirements.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 115.311. Purpose.
The purpose of sod certification is to maintain and make available to the public high quality sod of turfgrass grown and distributed to insure genetic identity and purity and a high degree of freedom from weeds, injurious insects, diseases and other pests.
Source The provisions of this § 115.311 amended September 26, 1975, effective September 27, 1975, 5 Pa.B. 2522; amended April 6, 1990, effective April 7, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 1878. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (23084).
§ 115.312. Prior use of land.
(a) The land on which certified sod is to be established shall have been in the production of cultivated crops or clean fallow for at least one growing season preceding the seeding of the turfgrass for certification.
(b) A field which is in sod production shall be considered for certification only if the preceding crop has been a cultivated turfgrass.
(c) Soil fumigation or other appropriate weed control methods performed in accordance with recommended procedures may be used in preparation of a field in one growing season in place of the requirements of subsections (a) and (b).
§ 115.313. Inspection.
In all cases, inspections of the field shall show evidence of freedom from unacceptable weeds and volunteer plants of other varieties of species of turfgrasses.
§ 115.314. Units of certification.
A field or blocks within a field shall be considered the unit for certification. If for any reason sections of a field do not meet certification requirements, the portion or portions of the field meeting certification requirements may be certified.
§ 115.315. Isolation.
A field or block of sod, to be eligible for certification, shall be isolated from adjacent fields with a ten foot barrier, or less if approved by the inspector. The barrier shall be fallowed or seeded to the same variety of the turfgrass species considered for certification in order to prevent contamination of grasses at the margins.
INSPECTIONS
§ 115.321. Preplanting.
(a) Certified sod shall be the vegetative increase of certified seed.
(b) Samples of seed shall be obtained by the certification office and checked before planting. Field boundaries shall be designated at the time of the preplanting inspection.
(c) The seed standards for sod quality grass seed are as follows:
Kind Minimum
PurityMinimum
GerminationMaximum
Other CropMaximum
WeedKentucky Bluegrass 97% 80% .1% .02% Red Fescue* 98% 90% .1% .02% Chewings Fescue* 98% 90% .1% .02% Hard fescue* 98% 90% .1% .02% Turf-type perennial ryegrass 98% 90% .1% .02% Turf-type tall fescue 98% 90% .1% .02% * Hereafter referred to as fine fescue
(1) Kinds of grasses shall be free of big bluegrass, Canada bluegrass, smooth brome, reed canary grass and clover. A maximum of .02% Canada bluegrass is permitted in Kentucky bluegrass.
(2) A maximum of 2.0% other Kentucky bluegrass varieties is permitted in a named Kentucky bluegrass variety.
(3) Samples shall be free of prohibited noxious weed seeds and undesirable grass seeds.
(4) A sod seed analysis based on the rules of the Association of Official Seed Analysts, c/o Illinois State Seed Laboratory, Post Office Box 4906, 801 Sangamen Avenue, Springfield, Illinois 62706 and section 3 Pa.C.S. § 7104 (relating to labels and labeling) shall be the basis of determining seed standards.
(5) A maximum of 27 ryegrass seeds per pound will be permitted in tall fescue. Ryegrass seeds are not permitted in other kinds.
(d) To be eligible for certification, a turfgrass shall be planted on sites approved by the certification agency.
(e) On land recently inspected for a certified sod crop, the preplant inspection may be waived and no fee charged.
Authority The provisions of this § 115.321 amended under 3 Pa.C.S. § § 7111 and 7117.
Source The provisions of this § 115.321 amended September 26, 1975, effective September 27, 1975, 5 Pa.B. 2522; amended April 6, 1990, effective April 7, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 1878; amended May 22, 2009, effective June 22, 2009, 39 Pa.B. 2577. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (276772) to (276773).
Cross References This section cited at 7 Pa. Code § 115.462 (relating to minimum seed standards for interagency certification of turfgrass seed).
§ 115.322. Optional inspections.
(a) Inspections during the growing season and immediately before sale of sod shall be made for genetic purity and identity, presence of other perennial grasses, noxious, unacceptable and other objectionable plants, insects, and disease.
(b) A field harvested before inspection shall not be eligible for certification.
Source The provisions of this § 115.322 amended September 26, 1975, effective September 27, 1975, 5 Pa.B. 2522; amended April 6, 1990, effective April 7, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 1878. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (23087).
§ 115.323. Length of validity of inspections.
After fields have met the requirements for certification, inspections made prior to June 30 of the current year shall be valid until June 30; inspections made after June 30 shall be valid until December 31.
Source The provisions of this § 115.323 amended April 6, 1990, effective April 7, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 1878. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (23087).
§ 115.324. [Reserved].
Source The provisions of this § 115.324 reserved April 6, 1990, effective April 7, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 1878. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (23087).
FIELD STANDARDS
§ 115.331. Age of field.
Production of certified sod is limited to fields having stands not more than 3 years old.
§ 115.332. Maximum field tolerances.
(a) Kentucky bluegrass ‘‘blends’’ shall contain a minimum of 20% of any variety by seed weight.
(b) ‘‘Kentucky bluegrass—fine fescue mixtures’’ shall contain a minimum of 30% of either kind in the field. Kentucky bluegrass and Kentucky bluegrass blends may contain up to 1.0% fine fescue in the field.
(c) No ryegrass or tall fescue shall be allowed in Kentucky bluegrass or fine fescue.
(d) Bentgrass may not contain other turfgrasses.
(e) A maximum of 10% Kentucky bluegrass by seed weight will be permitted in turf type tall fescue and turf type perennial ryegrass.
(f) Except as otherwise provided in this section, certified sod shall be free of broadleaf and grassy weeds which may detract from a good esthetic appearance.
Source The provisions of this § 115.332 amended September 26, 1975, effective September 27, 1975, 5 Pa.B. 2522; amended April 6, 1990, effective April 7, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 1878. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (23087) to (23089).
§ 115.333. Pests.
(a) Every field within the certification program shall be maintained reasonably free of diseases.
(b) To qualify for certification, fields shall show evidence of proper chemical treatment of the soil for injurious grub species. It may also be necessary at times to treat for certain other insect pests in order to meet certification standards.
(c) Records of pesticides used and treatment dates shall be available.
§ 115.334. Quality of product.
The marketable product shall be of uniform density, color and texture.
§ 115.335. Labeling requirements.
Sod when sold as certified, shall have a certification label properly affixed to the invoice.
Source The provisions of this § 115.335 amended April 6, 1990, effective April 7, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 1878. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (23089).
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