Seed or Sod? - How to Put in a New Lawn

To seed or not to seed?

These are the questions facing the homeowner who either wants to put in a new lawn or replace an old one and they are not easy ones to answer. As you think about your choices, there are some things to take into consideration as you decide.

Do some research and find out what type of soil you have in the area where you live. Ask local lawn care professionals what type of seed has historically worked best in the area where you live. Keep in mind that there is no guarantee that seed or sod will take to every lawn. As you consider the soil, look at other elements of your lawn. For example, if you have lots of trees or shrubs you may want to consider seed instead of sod for your lawn. In this case seed may thrive better than sod in shady areas. On the other hand, if you property sits on a hill or slope, you probably want to with sod. In this situation seed would be susceptible to being washed away when you watered the area or it rained.

As you plan your new lawn, develop a realistic budget. Shop around and compare prices. Usually you will find seed is cheaper - but you need to consider the time and effort you will have to put into tending your lawn. Until the seeds are established, you will need to be diligent in caring for your new grass. Sod tends to be more expensive but this because it is grass which as already been established. Also, you are paying for someone to "install" your lawn if you select sod. However, with sod you will not have to be as diligent as you will with seed and able to enjoy seeing a lush green lawn almost immediately.

Think about the time of year you will be installing your new lawn. Sod can be installed almost anytime during the year - with the exception of winter - and take hold in the soil. Seed is limited to taking root in the late spring or early fall. Seeding a lawn at other times is a huge waste of money as the seeds will not
germinate and you will have to re-seed the lawn once the next growing season arrives.

The last thing to consider is the purpose for installing a new lawn. If you are looking to improve your lawn for a special occasion, say an outdoor wedding, you will probably want to sod the lawn rather than seed it. By choosing this option, you will have a lush green lawn almost immediately. Your guests will be able to walk on the lawn and you will not have to worry about them displacing the seed. In another situation, if you are building a new home and have some time
before moving in you might want to consider seed. It will be cheaper and you will have the time to let it grow in before your lawn has traffic on it.

Regardless if you choose seed or sod, be sure you talk to a lawn care professional to leanr how to properly care for your new lawn. Taking the time to "do it right" the first time, will save you thousands of dollars in re-seeding or re-sodding costs that you could potentially face if you choose to "cut corners" with your lawn care.