Grass seed and sod guide

• Cost. Grass seed is, hands down, far cheaper than sod. The process of growing sod takes about two years, in which professionals weed, water, and keep grass pesticide free, all of which costs money. Cost is one of the defining factors that steer buyers towards seed. Plan out a budget for your new lawn, regardless of what you choose.

• Time. Planting a sod lawn gives you instant gratification, while waiting for seeds to grow can take several weeks. Depending on how long you want to wait for a full lawn will help you decide between sod and seed.

• Timing. The prime time to plant seeds is in late spring or early fall. If you have missed these times, seed may not be an option. Sod, on the other hand, can be laid at almost any time during the growing season.

• Custom blends. Depending on the terrain of your land, you may want to choose a custom blend of grass types, especially if there are areas that are excessively shady or where grass has a tendency to die. Seed allows you to plant what you want where you want. Sod, on the other hand, is pre-grown and cannot be customized.

• Appearance. Sod is pleasing to the eye right from the get go. Seed, on the other hand, takes a while to become uniform in appearance. It can be patchy or have uneven color for a year or more.

• Weeds. Seeds are more vulnerable to weeds than sod. Weed seeds have a chance to grow, along with grass seed, while sod helps keep invasive weeds from surfacing.

• Labor. Laying sod can be more physically challenging than sowing seeds. While planting seeds takes little effort and no heavy tools, sod can be bulky and heavy. If money is not an object, you can hire a professional landscaper to lay sod.

Preparing the soil

Planting areas need to be prepared well in advance of planting time–no matter if you are using sod or seed. Here are a few tips that will help get you ready.

• Remove weeds from soil. Weeds will continue to grow if left alone, and grass should never be planted on top of weeds.

• Till the area, preferably with a rototiller, 4 to 6 inches deep. This will allow you to break up dead grass and compact soil. It will also allow the soil to receive additional oxygen. At this time, organic matter or lime can be added. Organic matter, such as manure or compost, can add nutrients to problem areas while lime can be used to neutralize acidic soil.

• Rake the area. A steel rake can remove dead grass and other foliage. It can also help in removing stones. Once excess material has been removed, use the rake to even the soil.

• Smooth the soil. This can be done with a rake as well. Ridding the area of slopes means that both sod and seed will have an easier time taking root. It also ensures that water won't pool in an uneven area, which can kill grass.

Once you have taken all these steps, your soil is ready for planting! To plant sod, follow sod grower’s directions carefully. To plant seed, use a mechanical spreader. And remember, after seed or sod has been laid, watering is one of the most important things you will do in the first several weeks.