The Benefits of Sod vs Grass Seed for Establishing a Lawn

 

When it comes to establishing a new lawn, the two most popular options are sod or grass seed. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages, and it's important to know what you're getting into before making a choice. In this blog post, we'll be discussing the benefits of using sod versus grass seed for establishing a lawn.

 

1) Instant lawn

With sod, you get a fully mature and lush lawn instantly. It's like rolling out a carpet. With grass seed, you'll have to wait weeks or even months before you see any significant growth.

2) Weed-free

Sod is much less likely to have weeds than starting from grass seed since it is grown professionally and will be well-established. Conversely, grass seed can be more prone to weed growth in the early stages, which you will need to spend additional efforts to remove for the long term.

3) Little soil preparation

When you use sod, you don't need to spend as much time preparing the soil before installation. This is because sod is grown in nutrient-rich soil, so you can install it in whatever soil you have. On the other hand, when planting grass seed, you have to prepare the soil by adding essential nutrients, and it can be very labor-intensive and time-consuming.

4) Erosion control

When you cover an area with sod, the roots travel deep and quickly into the soil, which helps prevent soil erosion. Grass seed often takes a longer time for the roots to anchor deeply into the ground, which can lead to increased erosion and difficulty in maintaining your lawn.

5) Water conservation

Generally, sod requires less watering than grass seed. This is because the roots often are already well-established, and the soil is typically in good shape to retain moisture. Grass seed would need extra watering during the first few weeks to ensure even growth and health of the seeds. Sod establishes itself quickly and needs less watering from the start.

 

Conclusion

While both sod and grass seed can establish beautiful lawns with proper care, sod still has many of its benefits. Sod is much easier to install, establishes itself quickly in the soil, and requires less watering and soil preparation in the long run. Even careful gardeners can have difficulty getting grass seed to germinate, let alone thrive. Therefore, if you're looking for a hassle-free and more instant solution, consider using sod for your new lawn. If you're interested in sod installation and are looking for sod contractors in Orlando, FL, contact From The Ground Up Landscaping today for free estimates, and let the professionals support your lawn care needs.