When you are redoing your lawn, you will be faced with the choice between sod or seed. This decision can be a challenging one to make, as there are people who advocate for both sides and say that their choice is the best way to go. But is sod or seed better for your lawn? And which one is cheaper?
The choice between sod or seed is entirely up to you; however, there are some things to take into account, such as the cost, time needed for the grass to grow, the type of grass you want, and your garden itself. Sod is the more expensive option between these two, but both choices have their place.
In this article, we will be going over everything you need to know about sod and seed, including all their pros and cons so that you can make an informed decision about which one will suit you and your garden best.
Is Seed Or Sod Better?
The debate on whether sod or seed is better for your lawn has been going for ages, but this decision is, in the end, up to you. There are various factors that you need to consider before you decide on the one that suits you.
You need to consider costing, the time you have to tend to the grass, as well as the sod or seeds pros and cons. Let us have an in-depth look at these two options so you can make an informed decision for your lawn.
Pros And Cons Of Sod
When you choose between seed or sod, there are a few pros and cons that you need to be aware of. Let us have a look at sod first.
Firstly, sod does supply you with instant results and immediate gratification once it has been installed. This gives your garden a nice, finished look in a very short time.
Sod is also known for its ability to establish itself well in a short amount of time, with only needing two to three weeks for it to root well into the ground and become permanently fixed in place. Sod is also a major help with erosion in the garden and offers immediate erosion control.
So, in areas prone to erosion issues like slopes, the sod will help to hold the soil together from the time you place it down. When you place sod down, then gone are your days of worrying about weeds as state-certified, quality sod has little to no weeds in it, and it can outcompete any weed seeds that come its way.
Sod is timing flexible; this means that you can get sod installed in your garden anytime in the growing season, as long as it is not in extremely high temperatures. Sod does have a quick traffic turnaround; this means that once its roots are established, in the two-to-three-week period, you can use the lawn as normal for entertaining, pets, and playtime for the children.
There are still some disadvantages to using sod for your lawn, though. Sod has a high labor expense for it to be installed properly, and if it is not installed properly, then the roots will not grow strong, and there will be visible seams, which could lead to the installation failing.
So, you do need to get trained professionals to install your sod for you; otherwise, you will risk it failing. The sod will be used to the conditions it was grown in, and your lawn may have different light levels or different soil conditions that the sod will need to adjust to.
This adjustment time can take a while, and if the sod is placed in a shady area, then the sod may have a difficult time establishing itself well, and it could fail. Sod will also limit your options of grass as sod only comes in a few types of grass.
This could mean that you may not get the grass you want for the goals you have for your unique house and lawn.
Pros And Cons Of Seed
Now that we know the pros and cons of sod, let us look at seed and see how sod and seed compare to each other.
An excellent advantage to using seed is that seeding a lawn is a pretty straightforward process, and there are many guides out on the internet that you can follow. These can help you avoid some common mistakes and ensure that you get the best lawn that you can, even if you are seeding your lawn for the first time.
If you seed your lawn, you have access to a wider variety of grass that better matches the growing conditions that your garden provides, which may lower the chance of the grass failing to grow.
Grass seeds can establish themselves well and grow a strong and deep root system where they are planted, and they are undisturbed as their roots are not damaged for the grass to be moved elsewhere.
Some disadvantages of using seeds are that you have to plant the seeds in a defined window of the peak growing time dependant on the grass you choose. If you miss this peak growing time, then you will have to wait to plant the seeds.
Seeds also take time to grow and establish themselves well in the soil. The seeds can take anywhere between 10 to 12 weeks to grow before they can handle light foot traffic. The weather in your area will also affect the growth of the seeds, and they can be affected negatively.
For example, there is a potential for erosion until the grassroots are established, so if there are some heavy rains, the soil and the seeds can be washed away, leaving you to start from scratch again.
Seeding your lawn will take a lot of effort from your side, as it is critical that you water them every day and carefully monitor them to ensure that they can grow properly. If you do not do this, then the seeds will fail.
Grass seeds are highly vulnerable when growing and can get into a competition for nutrients, water, and sunlight with weeds, which the grass seeds are more likely to lose as the weeds are more robust and more durable.
Is Seed Or Sod Cheaper?
When it comes to deciding between sod and seed, the most significant deciding factor is generally the cost of the two.
Sod is a great choice, but it is also the most expensive option of these two choices. With sod, you are paying for the work that someone else put into growing the grass and all the other materials they needed for this task.
You will also need to pay for a professional to install the sod correctly, which can also be expensive. With sod, you will generally be looking at about $1.29 per square foot, depending on where you get it from and the type of grass you want.
Seeding your lawn, however, is a more financially appealing choice, as you can get a good seed mix for a lot cheaper than sod. With seed, you will generally be looking at about $0.24 for enough seed to cover one square foot.
Wrapping Up
Both sod and seed have their place, but the one you choose depends on your budget, time, grass preferences, and the garden area itself. There is no wrong choice here, though, so you need to decide what suits you best. Good luck with your lawn!
Kevin is the owner of Land Lawn & Garden. In addition to taking a lot of pride in his lawn at home, he also helps manage the family land. You can find more about him here.