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 species 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.
Royal Sodding will provide you the best sodding & lawn replacement services. You can select the species for sodding and our experts will take care of the lawn replacement. We will make your lawn look beautiful in no time.
Interested in getting a Free Estimate for your lawn replacement? Request your complimentary, no-obligation estimate today.
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