Should I Seed or Sod My Lawn?

Now’s the time to be thinking about the future health of your lawn. As we are still in the dog days of summer, later this season is the perfect time to set up your lawn for a continued healthy lifecycle. A popular question with homeowners centers around the debate, should you seed or sod your lawn towards the end of summer? 

The answer depends on your lawn, your goals, and your pocketbook. 

Things to Consider With Seeding 

Seeding is often a regular maintenance task for homeowners, as a healthy, thick lawn requires seasonal care. Just like anything, seeding has its advantages and disadvantages for individuals looking to improve the look of their lawn. 

Advantages 

• Lower initial cost 
• Small install investment 
• Wide selection of grass type 

Disadvantages 

• Slow growth period 
• Higher beginning care maintenance 
• Erosion potential 
• Weed potential 

Things to Consider With Sod 

In the case of sod, this lawncare choice delivers an instant solution to your property needs. Sodding your yard is an occasional action taken when a lawn needs to be started from scratch or the lawn has grown too unhealthy to fix with seeding and weed control. 

Advantages 

• Instant results 
• Fast root establishment 
• Erosion control 
• Limited weeds 
• Quick turnaround time for foot traffic use 

Disadvantages 

• High initial cost 
• Big labor install investment 
• Limited grass types 
• Small install window (24 hours from being cut to being laid) 
• Specific growing conditions (hard for sod to grow in shady lawn locations)

What’s The Right Choice? 

There is never a black and white answer when it comes to something as highly variable as lawn care. Each yard has its own makeup and needs. One thing that can be agreed upon is that a healthy lawn is one that receives regular attention and maintenance. So as late summer approaches and you are looking to safeguard your lawn heading into the fall, what should you do? 

If your lawn is in relatively good condition, with the majority of it featuring green grass, strong roots, few weeds, and little to no bare patches, then seeding is probably the right course of treatment. Developing a lawn that holds in place and grows in healthy stages is difficult, therefore, you want to avoid starting over with sod if possible. 

However, if more than half your lawn is dead, full of weeds, or bare, then starting fresh gives you the best opportunity for success. While sod can be expensive, it gives you the best shot at getting back on track for the fall and future warmer months. With proper soil preparation, sod can be laid and establish a root system in just two to three weeks.