Marathon Lite® is a soil-less, hydroponically grown tall fescue sod. Because it is grown on a barrier instead of in the ground, it weighs a little more than half as much as traditional field-grown sod. The pieces are also larger, about 2 feet by 4 feet, which means faster coverage and fewer seams during installation.

It is started on a thin layer of organic material placed over a plastic sheet. This setup guides the roots to grow sideways instead of downward, creating a strong, woven root mat. When the sod is ready, it lifts cleanly from the sheet with the roots fully intact, which helps it establish quickly after installation.

Careful control of water, nutrients, and growing conditions during production leads to thicker growth and a finer, denser lawn than typical field-grown sod, even though it uses the same Hubbard 87 and Baja tall fescue varieties as standard Marathon®.

Original Marathon® (Marathon I)

Marathon I is built for active households. It is known as the toughest tall fescue in the Marathon® line and is made to handle regular use from kids and everyday foot traffic.

Features and care:

• Great for family and recreational use• Handles daily activity well• Recovers quickly from wear• Mow at 2½ to 3½ inches• Coarse blade texture• Medium green color year-round• Tolerates up to 40% shade

While Marathon I is very durable, even the toughest grass can show wear in areas with constant heavy dog traffic.