Having the perfect green lawn is not an impossible task. If you have been dreaming of having a well-planned lawn with the grass of your choice extended in your garden like those in fairy tales. Well, you can get exactly that with added features, if you know where to look.
However, even if you know how to plant grass in your lawn, another thing that can keep you from making a decision is choosing between sod or seed.
There is a huge probability that you may have seen people near you use either of the two and they got a good result, and you may have been thinking of doing the same. But before you take any step, you should find out what really works for you or talk to a company like Suns Out Landscaping for their expert opinion. Below are factors that can affect your decision, check them out.
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Sod
You can opt for this method as it involves hiring an expert to transplant turf that has matured to an extent. The turf can be prepared like a rug from its original place and rolled out on your lawn. It’s important to get a professional who is very good at what he does especially if you’re working on big lawns.
Seed
Another option is to plant the seed and grow it from scratch. This is something you can do yourself as it only involves planting seeds in a well-planned area.
Finance
Money is a factor that can also affect your decision. You need to know which of the methods won’t let you break the bank.
Sod is quite expensive given the process involved. Hiring a professional is the way to go so as to enable you to have the best result but this costs lots of money because you are paying someone to do the job. Getting the matured turf grass also cost a lot more than seed. Sod is a great option if you don’t mind the amount of money involved.
Seed may be the best option for you if you’re on a budget. You can buy seedling which is cheaper than sod and you don’t have to get someone else to do it for you.
Time
The time it takes to grow your lawn is also a factor to consider. There’s a particular time you can plant when you’re using either of those methods and the effort you are required to put in is also different.
Sod is the best option to choose if you need to have your lawn laid out as soon as possible. It is a very quick way of getting your dream lawn in a matter of hours. The time of the year you plant sod may affect the rooting process. Sod needs root to hold firmly to its new home and also to get nutrients to grow well. Another thing that can determine the growth pace of sod is the health status when being transplanted. If you have a means of artificial irrigation in your home, you can plant sod any time of the year but if you rely on natural irrigation, you should plant in spring or during fall. Sod is great if you’re in a hurry to have your beautiful lawn because they root very fast.
In comparison, planting seeds is a slow-paced option and it takes time to get the desired result. It can also be affected by the time of the year you planted it as seed tends to germinate faster in fall than any other season. If you are not in a hurry and you can make the effort to make the seed grow into your dream lawn, you may consider this option. You should know that you need to have an alternative watering system to make sure your grass doesn’t grow into the brown unhealthy lawn.
Quality of The Grass
Merely looking at sod, you may think it doesn’t have weed but in reality, it does, you just may not notice it at first. The seed is the only way to get a weed-free lawn. You may need to check your geographical area to know if you can plant the seed as land with slopes won’t favor seed growing because of erosion.
Also, some grasses are not planted as sod, and this means you may not be able to get your desired grass if it can’t be planted as sod so you are left with the seed option. If you want a custom lawn, you may need to opt for seed. Although sod can be infested with weed if an area became empty or dried out, it is more beautiful and cleaner.
On the other hand, You can get the same quality of sod if you care for seed for a long time. It involves watering, cleaning, and so on for years to get a perfect lawn grown from seed. Seed gives you the opportunity to choose good grass that is suitable for your environment and you can add so many species as you like. Nonetheless, seed planting requires lots of work and it may not be as attractive in the beginning as you will have to deal with mud.
Strategic Advantage
The soil you are planting on is the most important part of the process. It does not matter if you seed or sod, your chance of having a great lawn lies on how well you prepared your soil. Your grass needs to hold firmly onto the soil, as long as it is well-rooted, other added benefit will be able to reach it with no hassle.
Sod is the method that does not require land accessing, still, it is essential to ensure it gets all the required nutrients to make it grow well. The major secret to growing a lawn is the willingness to put in the required work needed. The more you tend to your grass, the more beautiful it will be. Note that you need loamy soil to grow the best lawn, but you can use sandy or clay soil also, you only need to add enough organic matter to them.
