Seed or Sod

[Superflyer]

So I have to put grass in my new lot this spring and have been going back and forth over using sod or seed. I have looked up opinions online and both seem good but I would like to get opinions of people around here.
The big differences I see are
1. Seed is MUCH cheaper
2. Sod is MUCH faster

So I guess can seed do as good of a job as sod for a full lot?

[TheGrimm]

I've heard that all sod is a variation on Kentucky Bluegrass, based on it's somewhat unique ability to keep it's roots really shallow, hence being easy to cut/transplant.. The issue is that we live in Alberta where it's either drought or winter. Other grass types can hold up better over time.

Now, I should preface this with the fact that my lawn looks like a minefield thanks to my dog and that pretty much the only thing that grows back there is weeds.

I've been looking at replacing my weeds this year as well though, so I am interested in what others have to say.

[MRCboicgy]

I'm a sod fan, personally.

[Madman]

Not even a close choice - sod 11 times out of 10.

The price of seed might look appealing, but the results are suspect and the babysitting it requires would drive me nuts. I really could not imagine doing an entire yard with it and waiting that long for a full and complete lawn.

I know a couple people who thought seed would be the way to go and they inevitably regret their decision and end up spending way more than they thought to either re-seed, (who knows how many more times), or simply put sod down.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Sod. It's not even a choice. You and everyone else in your neighborhood will be forever grateful if you sod.

[Northendzone]

when i did my yard, i went sod, you'll be cutting grass and usuing your yard in about 10 days.

if you choose to go with seed, it would seem to me that you need to buy a good seed spreader, and good quality seed, and then go back and forth over your yard in different directions to make sure you get good coverage. yard is likely unusable for a month.

i think after about 5 years, botyards would look similar, if you did a good job of laying down the seed and both were maintained equally.

[Kybosh]

Seeding is a good way to set up your lawn for a lifetime of weeds and irregularly leveled ground.

[Sliver]

Yeah, check out the people who seed. Every single time they're white trash with some rusty $#%t-box car out front instead of in their garage. Don't be like them. Sod is the only way to go.

[Envitro]

If you level your dirt before hand then it's not a problem. Proper prep is key in both instances (sod vs. seed).

I've seeded and it was about 10 times cheaper. I also installed underground automated sprinklers and could afford to wait around as we had no kids or dogs at the time. So it worked out perfectly and my lawn is greener and healthier than all of our neighbours' that sodded. I also make a point of feeding/fertilizing and watering it properly. Before I seeded I spread about 2-3 inches of peat moss so that the seed had something to keep it moist and it promoted good germination.

Sod is definitely quicker and it's very easy to do, but I've also seen sod jobs that look like ass 6 months later.

[Sliver]

Also, regardless of which way you go, buy some good loam to put down - the random dirt the builder left you will not sustain a nice, lush lawn.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

Seeding is a good way to set up your lawn for a lifetime of weeds and irregularly leveled ground.

If you do something like an idiot, it will look like an idiot did it.

[Buff]

Here is some advice from a guy who has done both. I'm no expert but if you're not an expert either you may appreciate hearing the tales from somebody with your similar experience.

Seeding and Sodding are both relatively easy, but how much time you want to spend is the key factor.

Want to use your yard right away? Sod.

Want to keep working on your lawn for the next several weeks? Seed.

Seed is cheap, but it takes a lot more time to get it going. You have to hope that it will be warm to promote fast growth, and you have to water it every day, but not too much, but enough. You don't get to use your yard for a few weeks.

With sod, you lay it down, you water it everyday, you get to walk on it after 10 days.

Seeding is great to do small patches, or when you just want to overseed your already existing lawn. I have seeded in the past. I did a small area and it worked out great, but I was constantly watching it every day, watering before I went to work in the morning, sometimes when I came home at lunch and again in the evening. I lucked out because it was nice and warm during this time and that stimulated the growth. I did it again in another area and I didn't have great results. The weather wasn't great, it was nice for a few days then became cold and rainy, the rain washed away seeds and the end result was a very patchy looking lawn.

Last year I removed some shrubs, and this time I decided to just lay sod. I was planning on moving and wanted the front yard to be appealing to buyers. It was quick and easy and I was mad at myself for not deciding to lay sod the previous times. I bought enough sod to fix the patchy area that I had tried to seed a couple of years previous.

[bc-chris]

after doing sod at our current house that is all i would ever consider doing

instant lawn is nice!

[tvp2003]

Anybody ever rent a sod cutter to remove (and/or replace) existing sod? We have a decent looking patch of grass in your backyard, but when you walk on it you can tell it wasn't properly levelled prior to installing sod (our neighbors tell us the previous owners had a dog that dug up the yard, and they basically put the sod right over it).

I figure we have three options -- (i) trying to level it out with topsoil (tried at the end of last year -- not going to happen), (ii) ripping it all out and installing new sod, or (iii) trying to pull up the existing sod, leveling it underneath (soil/loam mixture?) and then trying to put the sod back on. Can I save some money by doing #3 or will that even work? Or should I just suck it up and go with #2?

[SuperMatt18]

Prep and proper watering is the key. Spend the money and get some good screened loam and landscape rake the yard before you seed or sod.

If the cost isn't an issue then go with Sod, just an easier process.

[The Fonz]

Sod.

I've done both, and would never seed again (assuming I'm financially stable).

[Erick Estrada]

Anyone can put in sod and have it come out looking perfect. You need a lot of know-how, tools, and patience to seed and have it turn out as good as sod would. It's not impossible but it's not worth it especially with Calgary's erratic weather.

[Komskies]

Also regarding prep work, rent a roto-tiller from Home Depot and give the lawn a good bunch of passes with it. It'll help a ton getting your lawn nice and flat. Once you lay your sod, make sure to use a weighted roller on it or you can get some really strange ridges and lumps and bumps.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Komskies

Also regarding prep work, rent a roto-tiller from Home Depot and give the lawn a good bunch of passes with it. It'll help a ton getting your lawn nice and flat. Once you lay your sod, make sure to use a weighted roller on it or you can get some really strange ridges and lumps and bumps.

I don't agree with this. That's a recipe for a horrible lawn IMO.

Dump loam, landscape rake it out, weighted roller, lay sod, water, enjoy.

[Madman]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Anyone can put in sod and have it come out looking perfect.

Disagree, I've seen tons of terrible sod jobs from people who have no idea what they are doing or how to prep or lay it correctly.

Originally Posted by Sliver

I don't agree with this. That's a recipe for a horrible lawn IMO.

Dump loam, landscape rake it out, weighted roller, lay sod, water, enjoy.

This 100% - rototilling will just create a mushy base of poor soil. Do exactly what Sliver says and you'll be perfect. (and make sure it's not just a skim of new loam, have a nice base of 4-6")

Actually, the only thing I would add to his instructions is after you've raked everything you'll want to add a root starter fertilizer before laying the sod - not on top after you've laid it.