Sod vs. Grass Seed

People always want to know, which is better – sod or grass seed? While there are benefits to both, the answer depends on many factors including your budget and the amount of space you need to cover. There are certain steps you need to take with both sod and grass to ensure success and a beautiful, weed free lawn.

Sod is the fastest way to establish a thick, green lawn without any weeds. But it requires a lot of watering before it will take root. The overall cost of installing sod is more expensive than grass seed, but sometimes the time saved is worth it for people with a busy lifestyle or hectic schedule. Sod doesn’t require the nurturing that grass seed need, because it’s sturdier and more established than freshly planted grass seed. Most sod is over a year old when it gets to your yard. The seasonal window for installing sod is a bit longer and more forgiving than with grass seed, but we usually recommend added sod in the spring or fall. For some people trying to cover larger areas, sod is not always an option due to the higher cost.

Grass seed is a more cost effective way to start a lawn, but requires more patience than sod. You must make sure the seed is watered and stay off the seeded area while it is germinating. Otherwise the grass won’t grow properly. For those with children or large dogs, planting grass seed is going to be a challenge. It’s crucial you find a way to keep people off the grass until it’s mature.

Whether you decide on sod or grass seed, it’s important to test your soil and add the missing nutrients. If you don’t have the nutrients needed, you’re always going to be fighting an uphill battle getting grass to grow. Years of picking up leaves and grass clippings can leave yards starving for nutrients. Composting and putting grass clippings back into the yard from time to time are great ways to add nutrients to the soil, but sometimes lawn fertilizers are needed to get the soil just right.

If you’re still trying to decide between sod and grass seed, contact us. We love sitting down with customers to discuss their unique yard challenges and help determine the best way to create the beautiful green lawn they’ve always wanted.