Sod
(Courtesy: Max and Kristy at flickr.com)
Not many people are given the choice between laying out sod or seed to create their perfect lawn. If you are in the market to buy a home, then it is
or seed
(Courtesy: John Krakowski at flickr.com)
the construction company that created the subdivision in which your home is built in who makes the decision for you.
However, if you are lucky enough to get in early on the creation of a subdivision and can make the decision, which would you choose?
There are a number of factors involved in deciding sod or seed. They include:
· Cost. Simply put, sod is a lot more expensive than seed.
· Time. It takes time for grass to grow from seed. However, you have your lawn instantly if you decide on using sod.
· Quality. At first blush it appears that the turf is of better quality if you decide on sod over seed. However, no one can guarantee that the sod will remain weed free. However, seed is. Sod is ideal for property that includes sloped or erosion-prone areas. Seed won’t do well in this circumstance. However, if you need your lawn to survive in a specific environment, then specific species of seed that could generate grass that can thrive in the environment may be a better fit. For example, if there is a lot of shade with which the grass must overcome, then your best choice could be seed. Sod does not do well in shade. It can shrink and leave spaces in which weeds can grow. As far as quality is concerned, seed may be the best choice. Seed offers more variety of grass species to choose from so you can select a species that would thrive in the climate. Still, seed doesn’t always take on the first try. You may have to reseed and even then germination may still take place better in some spots than others. Moreover, rain can wash seed away. It can also be messier at first because there is a lot of dust and mud starting off.
· The soil. In this case, you can do something to help get the best results. You can prepare the soil to take on the grass. Before you do anything, perform a soil test and learn what is in the dirt from which the grass will grow. The best soil for growing grass is referred to as sandy loam, which is sand with some clay and silt. Still, the clay needs to be revised somewhat with organic matter like peat moss. You also may have to grade the area and add phosphorous, potassium fertilizer or nitrogen depending on the results of the soil test.
Believe it or not, technology has helped to provide you with other options to seed or sod. One is called hyrdoseeding, which is a mixture of seed, fertilizer and material that retains water. This concoction is sprayed on to the ground and is ideal for slopes and large areas. It has high germination rates and the grass grows quickly. This new alternative is less expensive than sod, but more expensive than seeding.
Another new alternative is plugs and sprigs. In this process you are starting a lawn using individual plants. It is less costly than sodding, but this process is closer to sodding than seeding. The sprigs are thin 3-inches to 6-inches sprouts of grass stems without soil. Plugs are 2-inches to 4-inches chucks of sod with soil covering the roots. One disadvantage to plugs and sprigs is that weeds can become an issue.
