When a person is deciding to replace their lawn, a common question that is asked is whether it is better sodding or seeding the lawn. Both these options are a good way to get natural turf as part of your lawn but they have key differences. Understanding these differences can help you determine whether you should sod or seed your lawn.

Here they are:

Soil Preparation

Sodding: Sodding involves installing strips or squares of pre-grown grass into the prepared soil. These strips become established in a few weeks into the soil and give your lawn an immediate lush green look. It also provides control against soil erosion.

Seeding: To successfully seed your lawn, you must first extensively check the pH of the soil and then prepare the soil with nutrients and herbicides to receive the grass seeds. This requires more care and effort than sodding. Because the maturity period is pretty long, soil erosion cannot be controlled until the grass is fully grown.

Transplanting Time

Sodding: The ideal time for planting sod is during the spring and early autumn months because of the moderate temperature and moisture in the air. However, sod can also be installed in the growing season as well. For best results, freshly harvested sheets should be transplanted within 24 hours.

Seeding: Seeds should be planted within a year of buying them. However, if you store them carefully, they can last for as long as two to three years. You should plant warm-season seeds between March and September and cold-season seeds between August and October.

Maturation Time

Sodding: If you go for the sod installation route, you can have an instant lawn, though it will not be traffic-ready for another two to three weeks. However, the roots may not be as strong and stable as a seed-grown lawn. In fact, some portion of your lawn may not take root at all.

Seeding: Although this method is longer as the grass is grown from scratch from seeds, it produces stronger and deeper roots. However, the grass can take up to two whole years to mature, which is pretty long.

Maintenance and Care

Sodding: Sod requires daily watering for the first two weeks until the roots are established. After these weeks, though, the amount of water needed to irrigate the grass should be reduced. The good thing about it is that it can handle foot traffic two to three weeks after the sod installation. It will also be less likely to sprout weeds and the grass can be mown after two to three weeks.

Seeding: A seeded lawn will require you to water it three times every day for the first three weeks until germination starts. The watering should be done carefully so that seeds do not get washed away. You may have to add more fertilizer as the seeds start growing. The major drawback of natural grass is that it has greater weed issues. The grass also cannot be mowed until it is fully grown.

Quality

Sodding: As mentioned above, sodding provides immediate control against soil erosion and hence is a great choice for slopes or other areas that see soil erosion. However, sods are available in only limited species of grass and some of them are not tolerant of shade.

Seeding: Because of the deep rooting and long maturation period, you will get high-quality, firm, and more stable grass. You also have a lot of options to select the grass specie you want which will give you better results. However, some seeds may wash away and these areas may need to be reseeded.

As you can see, both sodding and seeding can result in a lush green lawn. If you need an instant lawn, sodding is the way to go. If you don’t mind waiting for a while, reseeding your lawn is another great option.

Traditionally, most American homes have natural grass on their lawns. However, growing natural time takes time and effort. Regular maintenance is also required to ensure the grass thrives. However, all of these things are worth the cost and effort since natural grass has many environmental benefits.

Cleaner Air

Grass is a living plant and like all plants take in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen, effectively reducing the harmful greenhouse gases in our environment.

Natural grass that measures 2,500 square feet gives out enough oxygen for four people. In fact, an average lawn can capture as much as 300 pounds of CO2 every year. In the United States, natural grass lawns capture about 5% of the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year.

After capturing the excess gas from the atmosphere, carbon dioxide is held in the soil where it becomes organic matter. This process is called carbon sequestration.

Reduces Pollution

Natural grass reduces runoffs and traps about 12 million tons of dust and dirt every year. This is due to the dense vegetative cover of the grass.

The fibrous root system of the grass also stabilizes soil and prevents it from eroding and washing away during storms and showers. As a result, sediment is prevented from flowing out into creeks, lakes, and rivers. This way, fish and other organisms living in open water are preserved. The water used for drinking is also not contaminated.

Stormwater Redirection

As mentioned above, real grass reduces the amount of stormwater runoffs. It also redirects the flow of water by absorbing it into the soil. This not just prevents flooding but also replenish the underground water reserves.

Heat

Natural grass also protects us from the effects of global warming. A well-maintained lawn of natural grass is 30 degrees cooler than concrete and 14 degrees cooler than a barren soil. The overall effect is comparable to air conditioning. This is about 50% of solar heat that is offset by natural grass.

In contrast, if you take a look at artificial turf grass, its surface temperature can rise more up to 37 degrees Fahrenheit higher than asphalt, and almost double the temperature of grass during the same conditions.

Reduces Stress

There is a lot of scientific evidence that green spaces result in reduced stress and improved mood. Employees whose workspaces overlook lush green lawns are more productive, have greater job satisfaction, and suffer from less fatigue and headache than those employees who do not have a view of green spaces.

Therapeutic Effect

Green lawns also have a therapeutic effect on sick people. Research shows that patients in hospitals that have green spaces recover faster than those patients who only see man-made objects. In fact, many elderly and disabled people are encouraged to take care of natural grass as part of rehabilitation programs.

Lastly, natural grass can up the value of your home and makes a great playing field for your children and pet. Although it may cost you more than artificial turf, it has several benefits that give it an edge over its artificial counterpart. That is why it is important to consider natural grass if you are thinking of lawn replacement.